Thomas Tuchel press conference LIVE: New England manager says ‘I’m sorry I have a German passport’ | OneFootball

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Thomas Tuchel set to be appointed England manager

England have officially announced Thomas Tuchel as the new manager of the men’s national team, with highly-regarded English coach Anthony Barry as his assistant.

The German succeeds Gareth Southgate as the permanent boss of the side in an eye-catching appointment made by the Football Association (FA). The former Chelsea manager has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, but carries real pedigree, leading the Stamford Bridge club to Champions League triumph in 2021 and winning league titles in both Germany and France.

The 51-year-old will lead England into the 2026 World Cup on North American soil having emerged as the FA’s preferred appointment this week – with official confirmation coming on Wednesday morning. A number of candidates, including Pep Guardiola, were sounded out over the vacancy while Lee Carsley performed the duties on an interim basis, but Tuchel fits many of the criteria outlined by the stand-in manager last week.

Having worked closely with captain Harry Kane at Bayern last season, Tuchel will be unveiled as the third foreign holder of the role after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, but leading pundit Gary Lineker isn’t sure the Three Lions have made the right choice.

Thomas Tuchel appointed as England manager

Neville ‘disappointed’ for English coaches

Gary Neville also explained that the appointment of Thomas Tuchel speaks of a failing at St. George’s Park to properly prepare and promote English coaches at home and in Europe.

He acknowledged that Tuchel is a great coach but admitted to being disappointed that there wasn’t an equally great English coach available to replace Gareth Southgate.

Neville told Sky Sports: “There is an element of disappointment in my head thinking about the fact that the FA have gone to an international coach.

“I was a sceptic of St. George’s Park, I was with England under Roy Hodgson when England moved there. I was worried whether it would succeed or not. What you can’t deny over the last seven or eight years is the relative success of the England teams right the way through the youth teams to the women’s team to the men’s team getting to two finals which hasn’t happened for 50/60 years.

“If we’re not going to promote English coaches in out own country then we can’t ask anybody to promote English coaching either in the Premier League or leagues around Europe. It’s been a difficult time for English coaches over a 15-20 year period to try and gain some reputational success in Europe.

“I think Gareth [Southgate] restored a bit of faith, not just in English coaching but in English players. What the FA have done doesn’t feel like a strategic decision, it feels like an instinctive one. Thomas Tuchel has been available for months and there was no need to appoint an interim in Lee Carsley if they want Tuchel months ago.”

England appointing Thomas Tuchel shows as much desperation as inspiration

When Thomas Tuchel sat down with the Football Association over the last week, there was one detail that weighed over everything. That was simply to win the 2026 World Cup. That was the huge attraction of the job for him. That was the primary impetus for the FA.

It was obviously about so much more than Lee Carsley’s defeat to Greece last week, given that Tuchel had already signed his contract at that point. It was as early as 8 October. The FA certainly did will to keep the story under wraps in quite an old-fashioned way. The German’s own existing interest in the job also increased once it became clear that Manchester United were not going to move off Erik ten Hag any time soon.

A narrative could be formed about how the Old Trafford hierarchy has let another manager, who could have been the right man, go, but there is a grander storyline to this. England have certainly made a statement with this appointment, even if it says a few different things about the national game.

England appointing Thomas Tuchel shows as much desperation as inspiration

The German represents a shift away from years of planning by the FA, writes Miguel Delaney, yet his appointment also highlights the ultimate desire for the Three Lions on the road to the 2026 World Cup

Mike Jones16 October 2024 15:45

Shearer has no problem with Tuchel’s nationality

Thomas Tuchel’s German nationality will no doubt displease a certain section of fans, but Alan Shearer says he does not have a problem with it, stating: “If he’s the outstanding candidate, yeah.

“There’s no doubt he’s got an incredible CV, what he’s won and managing at the highest level, working with superstars. But this is going to be a very, very different test for him. It’s a bold move from the FA, there’s no doubt about it.

“We need a trophy, it’s as simple as that. And we need a manager that can deliver that.”