October 20: Sarina Wiegman has signed a two-year contract extension with England that will keep her in charge until Euro 2029.
The 56-year-old’s previous contract was due to expire after next summer’s World Cup. He led the Lionesses to a second consecutive European title by beating Spain in the final of Euro 2025, making them the first England national team, men’s or women’s, to win a major trophy on foreign soil.
“I’m very happy to be able to continue with this team and I can’t think of a better job in football,” Wiegman said. “Working for a world-class organization like the FA, and alongside so many people dedicated to winning teams in England and growing our game, excites me every day.”
There is still work to be done to get to Brazil. England beat Greece 8-1 on aggregate last week and now face Ukraine in the second round of the World Cup play-offs.
“My main concern right now is absolutely the World Cup, and helping this team realize its potential in the years to come,” Wiegman said. “We have an important job to do to confirm our place in Brazil, and we hope we can do that and give the country another special summer to remember next year.”
Since replacing Phil Neville in September 2021, he has won Euro 2022 with a 2-1 win over Germany at Wembley, reached the 2023 World Cup final in Australia, where England lost 1-0 to Spain, and won Euro 2025. Before that, he led the Netherlands to the Euro 2017 title and the final of the 2019 World Cup.
This makes her the first coach, men’s or women’s, to reach five consecutive major international finals, and only the second after Germany’s Tina Theune to win three successive European Championships.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham called her an “incredible manager with an unrivaled record at major tournaments”.
“There is no one better to lead the Lionesses into the next two tournaments,” he said. “Sarina’s impact on English football has been immense, and she continues to inspire many throughout the game. We have so much more to do in the women’s game and she will be instrumental in helping us achieve that.”