The Football Association (FA) has announced Thomas Tuchel as the successor to Gareth Southgate as England manager, taking up the position with effect from January 1st on a term of 18 months. Tuchel fills in the gap left by interim coach Lee Carsley, who took over in an interim capacity after Southgate stepped down during the summer period.
His assistant will be the highly-regarded English coach, Anthony Barry, as confirmed by the Football Association.
In a statement, Tuchel expressed his pride at being entrusted with the management of the England team, stating his long-held admiration for English football. The German sees the position as both a great honour and an exciting opportunity to work with an exceptional group of young talent.
Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, expressed enthusiasm about having Tuchel on board, describing him as one of the best in the world, along with Barry who is touted as one of the top English coaches. Bullingham mentioned a detailed recruitment process, carried out meticulously since before the Euros with an outline of the exact desired coach’s qualities. Tuchel was deemed to be the best fit following careful appraisal of various potential coaches.
Tuchel, previously managing Bayern Munich until May, has not been involved in any form of employment since then, thus avoiding any need for compensation, arguably increasing his attractiveness to the FA.
His appointment marks him as the third foreign male manager for England, following in the steps of Fabio Capello and Sven-Göran Eriksson. For Tuchel, who has previously managed Chelsea and led them to a UEFA Champions League victory in 2021, it’s a return to the English football scene. Given his proficiency in English and his experience of working alongside Harry Kane, England captain, during their Bayern Munich stint, it’s anticipated he will settle in easily.
Complementing Tuchel will be Anthony Barry, renowned for his previous work as assistant coach for Republic of Ireland and his relationship with Portugal manager, Roberto Martínez.
“Working with the national football team represents the ultimate achievement for any Englishman involved in football, and I did not hesitate for even a moment when Thomas invited me to join him once more,” he stated. “I am well aware of the tremendous advantages that St George’s Park provides to our England teams, and the unparalleled support it offers to coaches. This team is brimming with talent and they have unified the nation through their efforts, I can’t wait to meet them and embark on this thrilling endeavour.”