Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new manager of the England men’s national football team, starting from January 1, 2025. The 51-year-old German coach has signed an 18-month contract, becoming the third non-British manager to take charge of England, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Tuchel succeeds Gareth Southgate, who stepped down from his role in July after England’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Since then, interim manager Lee Carsley has overseen four matches and will remain in charge for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November.
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Tuchel expressed his pride at being given the opportunity to lead England. “It’s a great honor to manage the England national team,” Tuchel said. “I’ve always had a personal connection to football in this country, and to be able to work with such a talented group of players is incredibly exciting for me.”
The Football Association’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, described Tuchel as “one of the best coaches in the world” and stated that the German manager will be focused on guiding England to success at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. England’s national team has not won a major international trophy since lifting the World Cup in 1966, and the upcoming World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The FA initially approached Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola over the summer to gauge his interest in the role, while other potential candidates included Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter. However, Tuchel emerged as the FA’s preferred choice after interviews with several candidates. The FA board approved his appointment last week, and Tuchel officially signed the contract on October 8.
Tuchel’s assistant will be English coach Anthony Barry, who previously worked with him during his time at Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Lee Carsley will return to his role as the England Under-21 manager once Tuchel officially takes over in January.
Tuchel brings a wealth of experience and success, having won major trophies at multiple clubs. He lifted the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund, two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain, and guided Chelsea to victories in the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. Most recently, he left Bayern Munich after failing to secure the Bundesliga title last season, despite still having a year left on his contract.
The Prince of Wales also shared his support for Tuchel’s appointment, writing on social media: “Exciting times for England, with a generation of talented players and a new manager taking the reins. Thomas, wishing you the best of luck, we’re all behind you!”
As England prepares for the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, Tuchel will be expected to galvanize the team and help break their long-standing major trophy drought.
SOURCE: BBC
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