Thomas Tuchel, former Chelsea manager, is set to be unveiled as the new England manager later this week. This follows a successful agreement with the Football Association (FA), marking a significant milestone in English football history.
Tuchel's appointment comes after his departure from Bayern Munich at the end of last season. His interest in taking over England's managerial role sparked swift negotiations with FA chiefs, culminating in an agreement that positions him as only the third permanent foreign manager for England.
Following in the footsteps of giants
Tuchel will be following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Erikkson and Fabio Capello, becoming one of few foreign managers to take up this prestigious role. This change comes after Gareth Southgate stepped down from his position after the Euro 2024 final. In Southgate's absence, Lee Carsley has been acting as interim manager, guiding England through their Nations League journey. However, following recent performances against Greece and Finland, Carsley confirmed he would not be seeking permanent appointment.
As reported by The Times, Mark Bullingham - FA’s chief executive - and technical director John McDermott approached Tuchel last month about taking on this challenging role. Since leaving Bayern Munich last season, Tuchel has been on what can best be described as 'gardening leave'. It is not expected that Bayern will demand compensation for his move to manage England.
Tuchel brings with him an impressive track record from spells at Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Chelsea FC and most recently Bayern Munich. He boasts a Champions League title during his tenure at Stamford Bridge before leaving Chelsea FC in 2022. His trophy cabinet also includes a DFB-Pokal win with Dortmund in 2017, multiple Ligue 1 titles with PSG, and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 2023.
A familiar face for England's captain
England captain, Harry Kane, is no stranger to Tuchel's management style. Having worked under his guidance at Bayern Munich and scoring an impressive 44 goals in 45 matches, Kane has high praise for Tuchel’s leadership.
England captain, Harry Kane, said:
"To be honest, I haven't heard anything specific about it yet. That's why I can't really comment on it until it's officially announced.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens. I obviously know Thomas very well from the last year. He's a fantastic coach and a fantastic person. I'm sure the FA will contact me when they know more about this issue."
As England enters this new era of football under Thomas Tuchel’s stewardship, fans across the country and around the world eagerly anticipate what this change will bring to their beloved team. With his proven track record and strong rapport with key players like Harry Kane, there is much optimism about England's future footballing prospects.
