Soccer-England manager Wiegman not for sale, says FA's Bullingham
ZURICH (Reuters) -England plan to hang on tightly to coach Sarina Wiegman, with Football Association executive Mark Bullingham saying she is not for sale at any price.
Wiegman, who is under contract with England until 2027, will coach the Lionesses at a third consecutive major tournament final on Sunday, at Euro 2025.
Asked if it would be difficult to retain the 55-year-old after another successful tournament, and if there was any price that would sway the FA to let her leave, Bullingham said: "No price at all.
"We are committed to her until 2027, she's committed to us, and I know that her focus, hopefully after a success on Sunday, will shift quite quickly to '27," he said in a media briefing on Thursday at England's base camp.
Wiegman is the first manager in either the men's or women's game to feature in five successive major finals, including two with the Netherlands, and Bullingham sang her praises on Thursday.
"Her record of ... reaching five finals is phenomenal, I don't believe anyone's been anywhere near that in the past," he added. "I think this could be really hard for anyone to do in the future."
Bullingham shared a hug with Wiegman after England squeezed through their quarter-final against Sweden, scoring two late goals and then coming out on top in a penalty shootout that featured more misses than goals.
Asked what the two shared in that moment, Bullingham laughed and said that it was not "anything that can be shared here."
While Wiegman has been lauded for her remarkable record, she has also been lambasted for her steadfast selection approach during the tournament, with critics arguing for earlier substitutions.
"We've got a really special coach, and I think we should all recognise that," Bullingham said. "The tournament record is incredible, but I also see the work she does with the players, the relationships she builds, the connection she builds in camps are phenomenal.
"And just a cool head, and the way she transmits that on the pitch, she normally at least looks like the coolest person in the stadium. I feel she's a really special coach and we're lucky to have her."
England, along with Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, is the sole bidder to host the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup and Bullingham hopes the team's success in Switzerland will create a groundswell of support.
"Our hope is that it will help inspire more positive momentum for that and for support for that, amongst fans throughout the country as well," he said.
"Hopefully a lot more younger girls throughout the country who will be looking at 2035 and thinking, 'what a fantastic opportunity for me'."
England saw a boost in the numbers of girls taking up soccer after the team's Euro 2022 victory, and Bullingham, who also coaches at the grassroots level, hopes to see more girls flocking to the game after watching the Lionesses this past month.
"Our hope is that we use this tournament as another trampoline to push further for women's and girls' football," he said. "I've seen the impact when we do well in these tournaments, and we're definitely looking for that impact again after this one."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Thousands gather to watch England women mark Euro win with London parade
Soccer Football - UEFA Women's Euro 2025 - England Victory Parade - London, Britain - July 29, 2025 Pyrotechnics and smoke is seen down The Mall as England players lift the trophy and celebrate with fans during the victory celebrations REUTERS/Toby Melville LONDON (Reuters) -Thousands of cheering fans gathered to celebrate the England women's soccer team in central London on Tuesday as the jubilant players celebrated their historic Euro 2025 win with an open-top bus parade. The team, known as the 'Lionesses', beat world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties in a nail-biting final in Basel to secure their second consecutive European title, retaining the crown they won as hosts three years ago. It is the first time an England soccer team have won a major trophy on foreign soil. Crowds standing 20 to 30 deep in places packed the parade route, many holding young children aloft to catch sight of the players as they waved, danced and filmed the scene from the top deck of their buses. The two buses, emblazoned with the word 'Champions', followed a marching band along The Mall to a stage in front of Buckingham Palace. "Everything we do, obviously we do it for us and our team, but we do it for the country and we do it for young girls," captain Leah Williamson said after the players had made their way to the stage to address the flag-waving supporters. "Thank you so much for being with us. Stay with us, this story is not done yet," she said. The celebrations kicked off on Monday when the team arrived home, greeted by excited fans who defied instructions not to gather at the airport. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner later hosted them at a reception at Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Downing Street residence. Starmer, who missed the reception as he was in Scotland meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, congratulated the players again on social media late on Monday, posting on X: "Back-to-back tournament wins. Inspiring the next generation. History makers." (Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by William James and Ken Ferris)
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Cricket-Broad, Hussain warn England against risking Archer at the Oval
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - International Test Match Series - Fourth Test - England v India - Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, Britain - July 26, 2025 England's Jofra Archer appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of India's Shubman Gill Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes/File Photo (Reuters) -England will be putting fast bowler Jofra Archer at risk of a fresh injury if they select him for the fifth and final match against India at the Oval this week, according to former test players Stuart Broad and Nasser Hussain. Archer is taking part in his first test series in four years after overcoming elbow and back injuries. The 30-year-old sat out the first two matches before claiming five wickets in his return to the format at Lord's and four in the drawn Manchester test. While India could draw the series with a win at the Oval, Broad told Sky Sports that England should prioritize Archer's long-term fitness. "We can't not have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years," he said. "(Josh) Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer." England have added fast bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton to their tiring pace battery. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse have played all four tests, while skipper Ben Stokes said he would "run through a brick wall" to try to be available for the final test beginning on Thursday. Gus Atkinson and Tongue are likely to feature in the decisive final test, and England are likely to rest Archer with the Ashes series against Australia in four months' time. "I don't think you can have Archer playing three on the bounce coming back after four years," former England captain Hussain told Sky Sports. "Gus Atkinson coming back after a long time, and then Stokes with a niggle as three of your four seamers - but I would definitely play Atkinson on his home ground if fit." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)
Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
England's Lionesses roar home to heroes' welcome after Euro 2025 glory
LONDON, July 29 — England's Lionesses returned to a heroes' welcome on Monday, less than 24 hours after their dramatic penalty-shootout victory against world champions Spain in the Euro 2025 final. Chloe Kelly converted the decisive spot-kick in the Swiss city of Basel as Sarina Wiegman's team successfully defended the European women's crown they won at Wembley in 2022. Supporters, many of whom were dressed in England kits and holding flags, cheered as they waited outside Southend airport, about 64 kilometres east of London. In a post on X, the team shared a photo of the trophy draped in an England flag on a seat on the plane, which had 'Home' painted in red letters on its side. The aircraft was welcomed with a water salute from two fire engines after landing. Captain Leah Williamson and manager Wiegman were the first off, with the skipper proudly holding the trophy. Among the waiting supporters were twins Poppy and Daisy Macdonald, 11, who were holding a sign asking for a photo with star striker Alessia Russo. 'We're so proud. They've won it two times in a row and they've worked so hard for it,' said Poppy. 'They've had a lot of injuries and setbacks but they've done really well.' The Lionesses were whisked straight to 10 Downing Street, the working home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer which was decked out in England flags. 'What a team. What a game. What drama. You dug deep when it mattered most and you've made the nation proud. History makers,' Starmer wrote in a message to the Lionesses on X. The team were hosted at number 10 by Deputy Prime minister Angela Rayner and Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock while Starmer was in Scotland meeting US President Donald Trump. Rayner hailed the players as a 'shining example of talent and excitement for women's football'. An open-top bus parade will follow on Tuesday, culminating in a celebration in front of Buckingham Palace. Victory in Switzerland was sweet revenge for Wiegman's defending champions, who suffered bitter defeat against the same opponents in the World Cup final two years ago. Late drama Victory in Switzerland on Sunday capped a remarkable tournament packed with late drama for England. Wiegman's team were slow out of the blocks, losing their first match against France, before comfortable wins over the Netherlands and Wales in the group phase. They came back from 2-0 down against Sweden in the quarter-finals before winning on penalties, and sealed their spot in Sunday's final with a last-gasp extra-time win over Italy. The defending champions again fell behind against Spain on Sunday but Russo cancelled out Mariona Caldentey's first-half opener and the teams were still locked at 1-1 at the end of extra-time. Two penalty saves by player-of-the-match Hannah Hampton and Salma Paralluelo's miss set the stage for Kelly, who also scored the winner against Germany in the 2022 final. In total, the Lionesses led for fewer than five minutes across the entire Euros knockout stage. 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' said Wiegman. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' The Dutch coach, who has now won three European Championship crowns in a row, having led the Netherlands to victory in 2017, said she hoped England's win would boost women's football across the globe. 'How I've experienced this tournament is that the level went up again, the intensity of the games went through the roof,' she said. 'That's what we've seen. 'We've seen it in the games, but also in the data we have. I think this tournament broke every record again and that's great, and I hope that that will boost the women's game everywhere.' — AFP
