England consider making history with FIRST female manager

FT Desk

17 Aug 2023 15:40 BST
3 min read

Harry Kane, England, World Cup 2022 — © ProShots

England are leaving the door open for Sarina Wiegman to succeed Gareth Southgate as manager of the nation's men's team.

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Wiegman, 53, has taken the Lionesses to the brink of glory at the 2023 World Cup.

After dispatching Australia 3-1 in the semi-finals, they will now go up against Spain on Sunday for the chance to win the tournament, clinching England's first senior World Cup crown since that famous victory in 1966.

Southgate, who took England to quarter-final defeat at the hands of France last year and reached the semis of the competition in 2018, is out of contract with the Three Lions following Euro 2024.

And Wiegman has emerged as a shock candidate to succeed him, which would see her in turn become the first woman ever to manage a major men's international team.

Will Wiegman replace Southgate?

© ProShots - The Lionesses have been on top form throughout the World Cup

"People always say it is the best man for the job or the best Englishman "Why does it have to be a man?" FA chief executive Mark Bullingham stated on Thursday.

"I think our answer is always: 'it's the best person for the job.' We think Sarina is doing a great job and hope she continues doing it for a long time. I think Sarina could do anything she wants in football.

"If at some point in the future she decides she wants to move into the men's game, that would be a really interesting discussion, but that's for her, right?

"I don't think we should view it as a step up. If she decides at some point in the future to go in a different direction, I think she's perfectly capable of that.

"It's the best person for the job, if that best person is a woman, then why not? You analyse the pool for any job at that particular time and do I think there's a really strong diverse pool of both men and women for any big national job?

"No, I think the talent pool is small for both actually. But I don't like the mindset that it has to be a man."

This is the second consecutive World Cup final reached by Wiegman, who took the Netherlands to that stage in 2019 where they were defeated by the United States.

She is under contract with England until 2025, though recent speculation has linked her with the now-vacant position at the helm of the USWNT following their disappointing showing in Australia.