England’s Sarina Wiegman rewarded with contract extension and big pay rise
Sarina Wiegman has signed a contract extension as England head coach until 2027 with the Football Association agreeing a salary increase that will make her the best paid women’s coach in the world at the moment.
Wiegman, who won Euro 2022 with England and will now lead the team at the 2027 World Cup, has been given a pay rise that reflects her standing as “the No 1 coach in the world”, according to the FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, and it is understood it is similar to the amount Emma Hayes will be paid when she starts as the new USA women’s coach in the summer.
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US Soccer announced in November that Hayes will become the “highest paid female coach in world football” when she takes over as head coach of the USA women’s national team at the end of the Women’s Super League season. It is understood that Hayes’s salary will be £1.3m a year, in line with the USA men’s national team head coach, Gregg Berhalter.
On Tuesday, as Wiegman’s new deal was announced, Bullingham said: “You won’t be surprised to hear that I won’t give you an amount, actually for anyone other than those we have to report. What I would say is that we see Sarina as the No 1 coach in the world in the women’s game and we think that she’s paid accordingly. I don’t know what other people in other federations are paid, but I can say I think she’s paid accordingly.”
Asked whether she was feeling valued, Wiegman said: “Absolutely.”
Bullingham said Wiegman staying on is “fantastic news” for the FA. “She is, in our mind, the best international coach in the women’s game, we are delighted that she’ll be with us for that next cycle of two tournaments. We’re also delighted that Arjan [Veurink, Wiegman’s assistant manager] has renewed as well. So it’s great to have them continuing with us.”
Wiegman said she had “unfinished business” with the Lionesses after signing her new deal. “I am so happy to have the chance to lead England through to 2027 after an incredible two and a half years,” she said. “Looking forward, we have unfinished business and I know we are capable of even more, although nothing will come easy. Our game is becoming so competitive at the top level.
“I relish that opportunity and can’t wait to start the Euro qualifiers, followed by the World Cup. I would like to thank Mark Bullingham, Debbie Hewitt and the FA board for their support. I also must mention Arjan Veurink and I am delighted he has also extended his stay. It is a fantastic job working with these amazing players and alongside great colleagues. And, of course, it is very special to be able to play a part in giving our fans such wonderful moments.”
Bullingham said he was “never too worried” about Wiegman leaving after the Euro 2022 win. “We have had lots of positive conversations and we were always really clear that whatever felt like the best time for Sarina to turn positive conversations into legal discussions that we would do that. She felt it was the right time after the World Cup. We did that and it was really seamless discussion. I was obviously delighted that she chose to carry on and formalise that but I think we have had good discussions for some time.”
On Monday night Wiegman was voted the Fifa Best women’s coach for a record fourth time. Before joining England she was the head coach of the Netherlands, having been promoted from assistant coach in December 2016. She won Euro 2017 with the Dutch side on home soil before reaching the World Cup final two years later in France, losing against the USA.
