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FA executive Mark Bullingham states that England's Sarina Wiegman is not available for transfer

FA executive Mark Bullingham asserts that England's Sarina Wiegman is not available for transfer

42 minutes ago
Sarina Wiegman after the match
Sarina Wiegman following the match Reuters / Bernadett Szabo
England intends to retain coach Sarina Wiegman firmly, with Football Association executive Mark Bullingham asserting that she is not for sale at any cost.

Wiegman, who has a contract with England until 2027, will lead the Lionesses in a third consecutive major tournament final on Sunday, at Euro 2025.

When asked if it would be challenging to keep the 55-year-old after another successful tournament, and if there was any price that would convince the FA to let her go, Bullingham replied: "No price whatsoever.

"We are dedicated to her until 2027, she is committed to us, and I believe her focus, hopefully after a successful Sunday, will quickly shift to '27," he mentioned during a media briefing on Thursday at England's training camp.

Wiegman is the first manager in either men's or women's football to appear in five consecutive major finals, including two with the Netherlands, and Bullingham praised her on Thursday.

"Her achievement of reaching five finals is remarkable; I don't think anyone has come close to that in the past," he added. "I believe this could be exceptionally difficult for anyone to replicate in the future."

Bullingham shared a moment with Wiegman after England narrowly advanced past Sweden in the quarter-finals, scoring two late goals and ultimately winning in a penalty shootout that had more misses than goals.

When asked what they shared in that moment, Bullingham chuckled and remarked that it was not "anything that can be disclosed here."

While Wiegman has been celebrated for her outstanding record, she has also faced criticism for her consistent selection strategy during the tournament, with some arguing for earlier substitutions.

"We have an exceptionally talented coach, and I believe we should all acknowledge that," Bullingham stated. "The tournament record is astonishing, but I also recognize the work she does with the players, the relationships she fosters, and the connections she creates during camps are extraordinary.

"And just her calm demeanor, the way she conveys that on the pitch, she usually appears to be the calmest person in the stadium. I feel she is a truly exceptional coach, and we are fortunate to have her."

England, alongside Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, is the only bidder to host the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup, and Bullingham hopes the team's success in Switzerland will generate a surge of support.

"Our aim is that it will help foster more positive momentum for that and garner support from fans across the country as well," he remarked.

"Hopefully, many more young girls across the country will look at 2035 and think, 'what a wonderful opportunity for me'."

England experienced an increase in the number of girls taking up soccer following the team's Euro 2022 victory, and Bullingham, who also coaches at the grassroots level, hopes to see more girls drawn to the sport after watching the Lionesses this past month.

"Our hope is that we can leverage this tournament as another launching pad to further promote women's and girls' football," he stated. "I've witnessed the impact when we perform well in these tournaments, and we are definitely looking for that impact again after this one."

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