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:
Who would Germany’s Thomas Tuchel join on list of foreign managers of England’s men?
Fabio Capello (2007-2012)
Overall record: Played 42, won 28, drawn eight, lost six, scored 89, conceded 35, win ratio 66.7 percent.
Tournament record: Last 16 at 2010 World Cup, qualified for Euro 2012.
Strengths: Arrived with a stellar CV and coaching record, having won league titles with AC Milan, Real Madrid, Roma and Juventus. Extensive tactical knowhow produced defensively strong, disciplined teams.
Weaknesses: The English language – he once said he needed only 100 words to communicate with the players. However, that did nothing for his relationship with the media. His man-management was also found wanting as Capello also treated the players like schoolchildren, which was a huge change from his predecessor and not one well-received with the squad who described their 2010 World Cup base as a “luxury prison”.
Who would Germany’s Thomas Tuchel join on list of overseas England managers?
Sven-Goran Eriksson (2001-2006)
Record: Played 67, won 40, drawn 17, lost 10, scored 128, conceded 61, win ratio 59.7 percent
Tournament history: 2002 World Cup quarter-final, Euro 2004 quarter-final, 2006 World Cup quarter-final.
Strengths: Loved by the players, to whom he was incredibly loyal, and that helped foster a great team spirit and character. Calm under pressure, both on the field and off it with the media after a number of stories about his private life.
Weaknesses: His loyalty to chosen players in a settled squad often left him hamstrung or reluctant to bring in wildcard selections. The style of football was not very entertaining and was criticised for not getting more out of England’s ‘golden generation’.
Can Tuchel win the World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel will be the England men’s national team’s 16th different permanent manager and just the third non-Englishman after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
According to Opta, Eriksson boasted a 59.7% winning record while Italy’s Capello’s was an impressive 66.7%. Tuchel has a 57.3% win percentage across 578 games as a manager with his best being 74.8% during his time with PSG.
These stats point to something but it’s unclear whether they will transfer to Tuchel actually winning the World Cup with England.
English coaches in a ‘rut’ says Neville
Gary Neville spoke about English coaches struggling to reach the high-end jobs. He told Sky Sports: “What the FA have done doesn’t feel strategic, it seems quite instinctive. Tuchel has been available since the summer, so they didn’t need to appoint an interim manager. It smacks of it being quite a recent decision.
“Let’s be clear, Tuchel is better than any of the other English candidates. But the likes of Graham Potter and Eddie Howe show there were outstanding candidates that could have been appointed and that were English.
“The reputational damage English coaching has taken means we are now in a rut. We are one of the least respected nations when it comes to taking charge of a football team. We don’t have a clear identity and we haven’t got a coach that has built a style that is unique to us. We’ve just copied what others do.
“We need to build an identity and let English coaches flourish. St George’s Park was set up to do that. So I do think the FA have got some difficult questions to answer.”
Ferdinand says Tuchel will ‘galvanise players'
Rio Ferdinand says the England players are likely to have feelings of “anxiety and apprehension kicking in” knowing that Thomas Tuchel is now the head coach.
“They want to be led to the promised land,” Ferdinand posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I know for a fact that these players will be sat there ringing each other and asking ‘what is he like?’ They will be calling all of their mates that have played under him.
“All of the players will be questioning themselves and asking whether they are what he likes. It will invigorate and galvanize some players but there will be a little of bit of anxiety and apprehension kicking in.”
Nigel Farage slams FA over Tuchel appointment: ‘Why the hell can’t we have an English manager?’
Nigel Farage has attacked the FA for appointing German Thomas Tuchel to succeed Gareth Southgate, asking: “Why oh why can’t we have an English manager?”
The Reform UK boss joined critics questioning the governing body’s decision to choose Tuchel who will take over from interim boss Lee Carsley in January following Southgate’s resignation after the Three Lions’ Euros campaign in July.
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.
Farage slams FA over Tuchel: ‘Why the hell can’t we have an English manager?’
Exclusive: Nigel Farage criticised the decision to choose a German manager to succeed Gareth Southgate
How would England line up under Thomas Tuchel?
Thomas Tuchel is the new favourite to become the next permanent England manager.
The former Chelsea head coach is now in line to succeed Gareth Southgate after holding talks with the FA. Tuchel has moved ahead of Lee Carsley, who has been the interim boss over the last four games.
But after confusing messages from Carsley to the media last week, Tuchel has emerged as the favourite, with Pep Guardiola, whose long-term Manchester City future remains unclear, also linked with the job.
How would England line up under Thomas Tuchel?
The German is the favourite to become the next permanent Three Lions head coach ahead of Lee Carsley, with Pep Guardiola also linked with the job
Thomas Tuchel sends message to England fans
Thomas Tuchel addressed his appointment as England manager with a short social media message posted to the England Twitter account.
It in he said: “I’m quite a bit nervous, this is my first message as England head coach. I’m at Wembley, where else? There’s also a reason to be a bit nervous, it’s a good thing.
“I can promise you that I’m very excited and honoured and I will do everything to qualify and have a successful World Cup.”
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 well 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
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.”
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