LONDON: Sarina Wiegman is expected to become one of the highest-paid coaches in women’s football after agreeing a new England deal through to the 2027 World Cup.

The Dutchwoman, whose previous deal had been due to expire in 2025, will bank a similar salary to the $1.6m which Chelsea’s Emma Hayes has agreed to coach US women from May. That deal would have made Hayes outright the highest-paid female football coach in the world.

Wiegman, 54, was reportedly earning about £400,000 per year when she guided the Lionesses to glory at Euro 2022 and oversaw their run to last summer’s World Cup final, and said on Tuesday she feels “absolutely valued” by the Football Association.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We see Sarina as the No 1 coach in the world in the women’s game and we think that she’s paid accordingly.”

Bullingham added that “the impossible job has never seemed more possible” for both senior England teams under both Wiegman and men’s manager Gareth Southgate, who is believed to earn around £6m per year.

Wiegman, whose assistant Arjan Veurink has also extended his stay, said she has “unfinished business” with England and had no doubts about staying.

She added: “I am in the moment right now and I am really enjoying this job. It is very challenging too and I still see that we can improve a lot. So no, I didn’t have doubts. I just want to stay around a little longer, and I hope we do well and stay successful and win a lot of games.”

Wiegman’s success with England has led to links with a series of other high-profile jobs around the world.

Bullingham said: “I was never too worried, because 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. It was a really seamless discussion. We have had good discussions for some time.”

England will defend their European title in Switzerland in 18 months’ time before mounting a bid for a first world title in 2027.

Wiegman’s side have missed out on the summer’s Olympics on behalf of Team GB and narrowly missed out on a place in February’s Nations League finals, so their next action will be in February. They will play friendlies overseas before their campaign to qualify for 2025’s European Championship begins.

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