Sarina Wiegman intends to stay put as England boss amid swirling rumours that the serial winner could be tempted into the recently vacated United States manager’s position.
On Thursday, U.S. Soccer announced Vlatko Andonovski would step down by mutual agreement following a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw the double-defending champions knocked out by Sweden for a worst-ever last-16 finish.
Wiegman and Chelsea manager Emma Hayes were already among the names frequently tipped to fill the post, but the 53-year-old issued a reassuring update two nights before leading the Lionesses into their first-ever World Cup final.
She said of the chatter: “I’m staying out of that. I’ve heard it. I’m with England, I’m really happy with England and I have a contract until 2025.
“I’m really enjoying my job and I have the impression that people still like me doing that job. I have no plans to leave.”
Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that his organisation would refuse an American approach for Wiegman.
The 53-year-old is the first manager in history to have steered two different nations to a women’s European championship title, having done so with her native Netherlands in 2017 and England last summer.
Four years ago in France, Wiegman reached a World Cup final with the Oranje Leeuwinnen but fell to the U.S. at the final hurdle.
Both boss and squad will be determined to secure the trophy that has so far eluded them when they line up against Spain in front of more than 75,000 people in Sydney on Sunday.
The Dutch manager has only been in her post since the summer of 2021, but arrived with a deep appreciation of what it feels like to be a long-suffering England fan.
Asked if she is aware of how much is invested in the Lionesses potentially ending 57 years of hurt since the men lifted the World Cup under Sir Alf Ramsey, Wiegman replied: “I don’t hear it that much because I get out of the noise. But I know it’s there.
“When we started working, I felt that the country was so desperate to win a final in a tournament. Everyone was saying that and the players too. I thought: it’s very real.”
“Football is so big in England, it’s so in the culture. That’s incredible to experience. It’s so big. It’s everywhere.”
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