England set to appoint former Chelsea boss as new manager | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola was sounded out about becoming England’s next manager, but Thomas Tuchel is now set to take the job instead.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

On Monday, news broke that Pep Guardiola had been contacted over the vacant England manager job. The Times confirmed that the FA had made informal contact, with no final decision on a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate.

The Times added that Guardiola would be the standout candidate if he chooses not to extend his contract with Manchester City, which expires at the end of the season.

But Jason Burt then reported for The Telegraph that Guardiola is also considering a one-year contract extension with City.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, talks to Phil Foden of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Speaking amid those links, Guardiola said: “If I had already decided whether I stay or go, I would tell you…I don’t know, myself.”

Yet the decision to link up with England now appears to have been taken out of Guardiola’s hands.

Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday that the national team were also in talks with Thomas Tuchel, and they later added that the manager has agreed to take the job.

Former Chelsea and PSG manager Tuchel was most recently in charge at Bayern Munich, but after winning the Bundesliga title in 2022/23, he was sacked after he failed to repeat the trick in 2023/24.

MUNICH, GERMANY: Thomas Tuchel, head coach of FC Bayern München reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg match between FC Bayern München and Arsenal FC at Allianz Arena on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Unlike Guardiola, Tuchel is available immediately. With England deciding they want to bring him in, they could have him in charge in November.

So although Guardiola was the favoured candidate, the uncertainty about his future and the fact they’d have to wait until next summer has seemingly pushed England in another direction.