Sarina Wiegman's position as the head coach of the England women's national team is secure, regardless of the Lionesses' performance at the upcoming Euro 2025. This assurance comes directly from the Football Association's (FA) chief executive, Mark Bullingham, who has voiced his full support for the Dutchwoman.
England is considered among the favorites to win the tournament, with statistical models giving them a 16.1% chance of securing the title. However, they face strong competition, particularly from Spain, who have a 24.8% chance of winning and recently added the Nations League title to their trophy cabinet. The Lionesses have been drawn into a challenging group alongside France, the Netherlands, and Wales.
Wiegman's contract with England runs through the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. She signed a contract extension in January 2024, solidifying her commitment to the team. Bullingham has stated that he foresees no scenario that would change this. "We're delighted that Sarina's in place until 2027, and I don't see any scenario changing that," he told reporters. "I think she's done a phenomenal job, and we're really happy to have her with us. She's a very important part of our organization".
Since taking charge in September 2021, Wiegman has guided England to unprecedented success. Most notably, she led the Lionesses to their first-ever major title at Euro 2022, a historic victory on home soil. She also led the team to the Finalissima title and a first-ever World Cup final in 2023. Wiegman also holds the distinction of being the first coach to win the Women's Euros with two different nations, having previously won the tournament with the Netherlands.
Despite the unwavering support for Wiegman, there have been changes within the England setup. Arjan Veurink, her long-serving assistant, will be leaving after Euro 2025 to take charge of the Netherlands' women's team. Janneke Bijl and Arvind Smit will replace him. Additionally, key players such as Mary Earps and Fran Kirby have retired from international football, and Millie Bright will miss the tournament due to injury.
Despite these changes, there is still optimism within the squad. Lauren James, who made her senior debut shortly after Euro 2022 and has since recovered from an injury, emphasized the team's hunger for success. "A fresh start, a bit like a new era ... hungry girls wanting to do well," she said. "It's not really about defending a title because it's a completely different team. This team's got a lot of youth in it, and this will be some people's first big tournament".
Bullingham has also confirmed that the FA has general succession plans for every senior role, but they are confident in Wiegman leading the team through the 2027 World Cup. He also noted that Wiegman would be involved in appointing the next FA Women's technical director. While discussions about extending Wiegman's contract beyond 2027 have not yet begun, Bullingham acknowledged that they might occur in the future.
As England prepares to defend its title at Euro 2025, the focus remains on building momentum and securing the support of fans across the country. The Lionesses will begin their campaign against France on July 5, with the goal of continuing their winning streak under Wiegman's leadership.
