Plenty of people expected Sarina Wiegman to walk away from the Lionesses after next summer's World Cup. She has just told them otherwise. The England manager has signed a two-year contract extension that now runs until the end of Euro 2029, and she did it while the team still has a play-off to win.
A contract nobody saw coming
Wiegman is 56, and her previous deal was due to expire once the World Cup in Brazil was over. Many in the game assumed that tournament would be the natural place to stop, with a trophy-laden spell behind her and a fresh challenge somewhere else. BBC women's sport reporter Jo Currie called the new deal a welcome surprise, and said it shows how strong the working relationship between Wiegman, the FA and the squad has become.
The Dutchwoman did not sound like someone planning an exit. "I am so happy to be able to carry on with this squad and cannot think of a better job in football," she said. She also praised the FA as a world-class organisation, and spoke warmly about the people dedicated to winning England teams and growing the women's game.
The record she is carrying
The numbers explain why the FA moved. Wiegman took over from Phil Neville in September 2021 and won Euro 2022 within a year, beating Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley. England then reached the 2023 World Cup final in Australia, where they lost 1-0 to Spain. At Euro 2025 they got revenge on the same opponents, beating Spain in the final to retain the European title. That made England the first team, women's or men's, to win a major trophy on foreign soil.
Her personal tally is just as striking. She became the first manager, in either game, to reach five consecutive major international finals, having also led the Netherlands to the Euro 2017 title and a runners-up finish at the 2019 World Cup. Only one other coach, Germany's Christina Theune, has won three successive European Championships.
FA chief Mark Bullingham described her as an "incredible coach with an unparalleled record in major tournaments". He added that she is only looking forward, and that nobody is better placed to lead the Lionesses into the next two tournaments.
First, the Ukraine tie
For all the long-term talk, Wiegman was careful to keep the focus where it belongs. "My main concern right now is absolutely the World Cup," she said, adding that there is an important job to do to confirm a place in Brazil. England crushed Greece 8-1 on aggregate last week to reach the second round of the play-offs, where Ukraine are next. Win that two-legged tie and the Lionesses are on the plane.
There is a sensible side to the timing, too. Announcing the extension now removes any chatter about succession while the squad is trying to qualify, and it lets the players know exactly who will be leading them for the next two tournaments. If she delivers the World Cup trophy that has so far eluded her, the extension will look like the cleverest piece of FA business in years. If not, England still have the most successful tournament coach the women's game has seen.
Contract facts: Sarina Wiegman, 56, England manager since September 2021. New two-year extension runs until the end of Euro 2029. Previous deal was due to expire after next summer's World Cup in Brazil. England beat Greece 8-1 on aggregate in round one of the World Cup play-offs and face Ukraine in round two.
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