Wales manager Chris Coleman  has signed a two-year contract extension, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced yesterday. Coleman, who has guided Wales to next month’s European Championship in France, had been linked with jobs at Aston Villa and Swansea City in recent weeks. But he has now signed a new deal that will include the qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
Coleman succeeded the late Gary Speed, a fellow former Wales international, in January 2012. By overseeing qualifying for Euro 2016, Coleman took Wales to their first major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup.
“I am delighted to get this opportunity to build on what we’ve achieved so far,” Coleman said. “It’s a big challenge but it’s one that I feel we can conquer,” the 45-year-old added.
“Once you’ve had a taste of club management you do miss that day-to-day involvement because international management can be a bit lonely. But the over-riding factor is that I’m only going to manage Wales one time – it’s not a job you’re going to go back to. This is not the time to sit back and enjoy the moment. This is the time we push on and do something special.”
In March, Coleman said there had to be changes in the FAW set-up if he was to sign a new deal. “It was very important that everything came to a conclusion before we embark on this journey in front of us, and we can concentrate on what’s made us strong,” Coleman said yesterday.
“It wasn’t a case of looking at what we’ve done. We need to keep on improving things and pushing each other before we even get to the players. The FAW showed that they really wanted me and I showed them that I wanted to stay.”
FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “We are delighted Chris will be our manager not only at Euro 2016, but also for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. We wanted to acknowledge the fantastic work Chris has done with his staff in ensuring qualification to the Euros in France this summer.”
Ford added: “There is no one better qualified than Chris to lead Wales into its first World Cup in 60 years. We wish him the best for Euro 2016 and he carries all our hopes and expectations for the World Cup campaign as well.”
Wales begin their Euro 2016 campaign against Slovakia in Bordeaux on June 11 before playing Group B games against England and Russia.