When Mark Bullingham was asked whether it was time Sarina Wiegman had a statue, a relaxed Football Association chief executive said with a smile: “She can have whatever she wants, she’s incredible.” He went on to outline that wheels are in motion for a statue outside Wembley to commemorate the Lionesses’ historic Euros win, though it will be a team tribute, rather than an individual one.
Wiegman can’t quite have whatever she wants, though. Pay equity with the England men’s manager, Gareth Southgate, is not on the cards anytime soon, despite her superior record and the FA’s desire to paint the sides as of equal value. Southgate is reportedly paid £5m a year, a significant uplift on Wiegman’s supposed £400,000 salary.
