Daily Times

LONDON: Wales manager Chris Coleman has signed a two-year contract extension, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced Monday.

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.”