FOOTBALL authorities could call on Sarina Wiegman to make a permanent move to the UK when she begins her England Women’s head coach job.
The Daily Mail claims the FA may insist on the move due to worries over her intentions to journey to work from the Netherlands during the pandemic.
Reports claim the FA may insist Sarina Wiegman moves to the UKCredit: Rex Features
Wiegman, who is currently boss of Netherlands Women, is due to start her Lionesses role after the Tokyo Olympics in August.
On Tuesday the FA announced Hege Riise, 51, as England Women’s interim head coach after Phil Neville left to become manager of David Beckham’s Inter Miami team.
Last August following her appointment Wiegman, 51, revealed she had no plans to relocate to England and would spend half her time in her country.
The Mail says the FA insisted they were content with the Holland coach’s proposals at the time
Officials believed a commute from the Netherlands would not stop her spending three days a week at St George’s Park and watching WSL games on weekends.
However, it is thought that such an arrangement could be up in the air with international travel in a state of flux due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since January 15 all overseas visitors arriving in the Netherlands have been asked to provide proof they have tested negative for the coronavirus in the previous 72 hours.
This week the Government introduced new restrictions ordering all arrivals to the UK to quarantine after they have provided negative test results prior to their departure.
Elite athletes and sports team managers have been exempted, but this is on the proviso they travel by private plane.
The Mail reports the FA would be unable to cover chartered flight costs for Wiegman to commute on a weekly basis.
Norwegian coach Hege Riise has become England Women’s interim head coachCredit: AP:Associated Press
England men’s boss Gareth Southgate and his staff have been attending several live matches each week during the pandemic
It is thought Wiegman would be expected to do same.
FA officials have reportedly told the Mail they are monitoring the situation and are keeping in close contact with in-coming Lionesses boss.
Wiegman’s appointment has been met with excitement in the women’s game over the past year.
Sarina Wiegman is due to start her job as the Lionesses head coach after the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The former defender made history in 2016 when she became the first woman in the Netherlands to coach a professional men’s side at Sparta Rotterdam.
In 2019 Wiegman led the Netherlands to the finals of the Women’s World Cup where they were beaten by the United States.
And the Dutch boss currently holds the record for the most wins by a coach of a Netherlands national football team.
Lionesses in training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
