Following discussions with the English Football Association on Tuesday, Thomas Tuchel, aged 51, has accepted the role of England’s manager, becoming the first German and the third non-British to lead the men’s team. The FA had earmarked Tuchel as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate from the onset of the selection process. Others considered for the position included Pep Guardiola of Manchester City and Lee Carsley, the acting manager.
Tuchel, whose track record boasts of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League victory, had been without a job since his departure from Bayern Munich in May. He is set to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello as the next foreign head coach. The FA, under the guidance of CEO Mark Bullingham and Technical Director John McDermott, has maintained that nationality isn’t a limiting factor for the job.
Bullingham had previously during the European Championship in June noted the appointment of Dutch-born Sarina Wiegman as the women’s team coach, implying their trust in non-English personnel.
Thomas Tuchel, an admirer of everything English, is proficient in the language – a critical requirement for international candidates for the FA. He spent roughly a year and a half as a beloved figure at Chelsea, largely due to his leadership and communication skills. This was evident when he spoke out against Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, though Chelsea’s owner was Russian magnate, Roman Abramovich. Tuchel appears to thrive on the personality-focused British media.
Though Tuchel is known for his firm stance, this approach has led to his departure under controversial circumstances from his previous four roles. He reportedly clashed with players and directors after leaving Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, respectively.
When Tuchel is at his peak performance, he possesses the capacity to fuel enthusiasm and generate momentum. His charismatic nature and proven track record of success at the elite level are defining characteristics. Tuchel can boast of winning numerous domestic titles from his time at PSG, despite just falling short of securing their first-ever Champions League title, ending as runners-up in the 2020 final against Bayern. However, he personally atoned for that with his achievements at Chelsea. Furthermore, Tuchel had clinched the DFB-Pokal during his stint at Dortmund and the Bundesliga at Bayern.
The anticipation is that Tuchel would invite English coach Anthony Barry to join him, having previously collaborated at clubs such as Chelsea and Bayern. Barry, currently serving as an assistant to Roberto Martinez in Portugal, has also previously worked with Stephen Kenny for the Republic of Ireland.
The FA had mulled over promoting former Irish international midfielder Carsley from his current post as England Under-21s coach. Despite this, certain questions regarding Carsley’s suitability for the role arose, along with his desire for the position. Critics heavily scrutinized Carsley following last Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley, and his struggle with effective communication in press conferences has come to the fore.
Guardiola was an early target for the FA, but separating him from City was always seen as a risky venture. English contenders for the position include Eddie Howe and Graham Potter. Presently, Howe is engrossed in his responsibilities at Newcastle, where it would cost approximately £5 million to trigger his contract’s release clause. Potter, unemployed since his departure from Chelsea in April 2023, appears more inclined to return to club management.
Harry Kane, the England captain who joined Tuchel’s Bayern Munich roster in 2023, remarked, “Until an official announcement arrives, I am not in the position to comment, so it’s a case of wait and see. I’ve had the experience of working with Thomas last year. He’s not only an extraordinary coach but also a remarkable individual. I’m sure the FA authorities will get in touch with me once they have more information.”