Thomas Tuchel press conference LIVE: New England manager says ‘I’m sorry I have a German passport’
The German has been officially unveiled as the third foreign manager of England’s senior men’s side
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.
Follow all the latest updates in our live blog below as Tuchel speaks to the media for the first time as Three Lions boss:
New England boss signed 18-month contract
Thomas Tuchel explained why he only signed a short term deal the with national team and explained, in a joking manner, that he has experience with 18-month deals.
“Let’s see, it’s 18 months, then we agreed to sit together,” said Tuchel when explaining his contract with England. “I have good experience with 18 months [laughs]. I’m working on my long-term game also.
“In this particular case it was important for me to have a frame around it as it’s a bit of a step into the dark for me as I’m used to working every day [with players].
“The last piece of it from me to understand that this is something that can really excite me to the fullest was the timeframe of 18-months but to demand from myself to not lose the focus. It’s a good timeframe because it will help us focus. It is very streamlined.
“I can understand some people would prefer an English coach but I think we deserve a fair chance, for having a good record in the country and for how much we love living in this country.
“We’ll try to convince them through results.”
Will Tuchel sing the national anthem?
Lee Carsley was given a shock by the response to his decision not to sing the national anthem when he took up the interim manager’s role. Thomas Tuchel is asked whether he will sing it.
He replied: “I understood from Mark [Bullingham] it is a personal decision, there were some who sang and others didn’t. I have not made my decision yet.
“Your anthem is very moving. I have experienced it here at Wembley in the FA Cup final. Either way, I will show respect to a very moving anthem.I will always show my respect to the new role and the country.”
Tuchel ‘unsure’ about international football
The new England boss admitted that he was unsure about making the jump to international football and whether it would be right for him.
He agreed with the FA about many things about the role and that he always wanted to return to English football after leaving Chelsea in September 2022.
He says “there are a few trophies missing” from the FA cabinet and he will aim to change this.
‘I’m sorry, I just have a German passport’
When asked about his response to the fans who would prefer an English manager, Thomas Tuchel says: “I’m very excited and honoured to be here as new head coach of England. I read a quote from Pele at the entrance saying Wembley is the heart of football and I agree.
““I’m sorry, I just have a German passport. Maybe these supporters felt my passion for the Premier League and the country, how I love to live here and work here. Hopefully, I can convince them and show them how I am proud to be the England manager. I am proud.”
Thomas Tuchel: The tactical ‘genius’ who won trophies and lost friends at PSG, Chelsea and Bayern
Thomas Tuchel had many influences and mentors through the fledgling years of his coaching career, most notably Ralf Rangnick and Jurgen Klopp. But perhaps the most intriguing was a German scientist, Professor Wolfgang Schollhorn.
Schollhorn advocated the benefits of ‘differential learning’, in which the student’s environment is constantly disturbed and disrupted, forcing them to come up with new solutions rather than simply repeating the same motions.
“If we want to have extraordinary performance, we need to train extraordinarily!” went Schollhorn’s maxim.
Thomas Tuchel: The tactical ‘genius’ who wins trophies and loses friends
Tuchel has won a string of trophies at major clubs across Europe, memorably delivering the Champions League inside six months at Chelsea, but his eccentric methods and abrasive character caused damage along the way
Thomas Tuchel explains reason behind short-term England contract
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his contract as England manager lasts only 18 months and that there will need to be talks with the Football Association following the 2026 World Cup about his future.
Tuchel was unveiled by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham at a press conference at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday. The 51-year-old German has signed a short-term deal that will formally begin in January and will take him up until the end of the World Cup in America the following summer.
Thomas Tuchel explains reason behind short-term England contract
Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract taking him up to the end of the 2026 World Cup
Thomas Tuchel reveals stance on singing national anthem as England manager
Thomas Tuchel insists he has not made a decision yet as to whether he will sing the national anthem as England manager.
The German was unveiled as the Three Lions boss at Wembley on Wednesday, becoming the third foreign head coach in the history of the men’s national team.
But, after the furore surrounding Lee Carsley’s decision not to sing the national anthem during his reign as interim manager, Tuchel was clear about his position and made a plea to be given time.
Thomas Tuchel reveals stance on singing national anthem as England manager
The German is the third foreign manager of the men’s national team and will lead his new side in its bid to win the 2026 World Cup
Harry Kane gives Thomas Tuchel verdict amid England manager talks
Harry Kane has said that he is unaware of talks between England and Thomas Tuchel, though stressed that the German is a “fantastic coach” as he seemingly moves closer to being appointed.
The England captain worked closely with Tuchel at Bayern Munich last year after joining the Bundesliga club from Tottenham Hotspur.
Although Bayern ended the season without a trophy and moved on from the manager, Kane flourished in front of goal, producing a fine scoring season.
Harry Kane gives Thomas Tuchel verdict amid England manager talks
The former Bayern Munich boss worked closely with the England captain last season
Who is Anthony Barry? England’s new assistant to Thomas Tuchel who coached at Chelsea and Bayern Munich
Anthony Barry had to submit a dissertation to achieve his FA Pro Licence, so the young coach studied 16,380 throw-ins and presented his findings to his classmates, who included Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.
It was 2020, and it would prove to be a formative moment in his career. Lampard brought Barry – then assistant manager at League One’s Wigan Athletic – to work with him at Chelsea, and the Liverpudlian coach stayed on under Lampard’s successors, Thomas Tuchel and then Graham Potter.
Tuchel was so impressed that when he joined Bayern Munich he “bought” Barry from Chelsea for £1m, and put the Englishman in charge of all his set-pieces. In the meantime, Barry worked as a coach under Roberto Martinez at Belgium and then Portugal’s national team, flying between club and national roles with a laptop for each job.
Who is Anthony Barry? Tuchel’s assistant who coached at Chelsea and Bayern Munich
England’s new assistant manager was hired by Chelsea after impressing on his Pro Licence course and was later snapped up by Bayern Munich, Belgium and Portugal as his reputation grew
England appoint German Thomas Tuchel as new head coach
German Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed as England’s new head coach.
The former Chelsea, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich manager becomes the third non-Englishman to hold the post after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Tuchel said on englandfootball.com: “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.”
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