Coleman To Be Given Russian Mission

Chris Coleman will be given a brief of taking Wales to the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia when he agrees his new contract on Monday.

The Wales manager will sign a bonus-heavy two-year extension to his current deal with the Football Association of Wales, which is due to expire after the Euro 2016 finals this summer.

The FAW will hold a press conference on Monday afternoon where Coleman, chief executive Jonathan Ford, and president David Griffiths will all attend.

Coleman, who succeeded the late Gary Speed in January 2012, has guided Wales to Euro 2016 – the country’s first major finals since the 1958 World Cup. But his deal expires after the tournament, which starts on 10 June, and talks have been continuing for several months over new terms for the 45-year-old.

In March he suggested Welsh football needed to change behind the scenes, saying: “It is not just about my personal contract but what we see with the structure and whether we do the things we need to do to make sure it is not a one-off. Qualifying cannot be a one-off and has to be continuous.”

Coleman has admitted he misses the day-to-day involvement of club management and the former Fulham and Coventry manager had been linked with Aston Villa and Swansea in recent months.

But the former defender, capped 32 times, has agreed to try to build on Wales’ recent success and attempt to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Wales start their campaign at home to Moldova in September and also face Austria, Serbia, the Republic of Ireland and Georgia in Group D.

Coleman’s squad head out to Portugal this week for a pre-Euro 2016 training camp in the Algarve.

But they will be without their key player Gareth Bale, who is preparing for Real Madrid’s Champions League final with Atlético Madrid on Saturday, and the midfielder Joe Ledley, who remains doubtful for Euro 2016 after fracturing a leg in Crystal Palace’s final Premier League game of the season.

Wales will play Sweden in a Stockholm friendly on 5 June before heading to France.

Their opening Euro 2016 group game is against Slovakia in Bordeaux on 11 June.

Wales then play England in Lens five days later before their final group match against Russia in Toulouse on 20 June.

 

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