Germany’s Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as England’s new head coach, set to begin his tenure on January 1, 2025.
The 51-year-old takes over from Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after leading the team to consecutive European Championship finals and World Cup semi-finals.
Tuchel becomes the third foreign manager to take charge of the Three Lions, following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Tuchel, who was sacked by Bayern Munich at the end of last season, has an impressive coaching record, having won league titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern, as well as the Champions League with Chelsea. His arrival comes with high expectations, as England seeks to break a 58-year major tournament title drought, dating back to the 1966 World Cup.
Criticism has arisen over the FA’s decision to opt for a foreign manager, with many questioning why an Englishman was not trusted with the role. Tuchel will be supported by Anthony Barry, a fellow coach who worked alongside him at Bayern.
In a statement, Tuchel expressed his pride in leading the England team, emphasizing his deep connection to English football and excitement about working with a talented squad that includes stars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer. The FA’s CEO, Mark Bullingham, praised Tuchel as a world-class coach with the expertise and ambition to help England secure their first major trophy in over half a century.
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The new coach inherits a squad widely considered one of the most talented in recent history, and Tuchel’s pedigree has many fans hopeful that the Three Lions can finally lift silverware in the 2026 World Cup.
Widely regarded as a tactical innovator in modern football, Tuchel is considered one of the best coaches in the world. Born in Krumbach, Tuchel retired as a footballer at age 25 due to a knee cartilage injury. He began his coaching career in 2000 as a youth coach at VfB Stuttgart. In 2009, after a one-year period at FC Augsburg II, he was hired by Mainz 05, leaving the club in 2014. He was appointed at Borussia Dortmund in 2015 and won the DFB-Pokal before being dismissed in 2017. He was hired by Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 and won two league titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to its first UEFA Champions League final.
Tuchel became manager of Chelsea in 2021 and won the Champions League in his debut season, being named The Best FIFA Football Coach. After disagreements with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly, Tuchel was dismissed in 2022. He signed with Bayern Munich in 2023 and won the Bundesliga title before being sacked by Bayern the following season. He is set to become England coach in 2025.
AFP
