Gareth Southgate will be permanently replaced as manager of England by 51-year-old former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel was fired the next season after leading the Blues to Champions League victory in 2021.
It is official that Thomas Tuchel will take over as manager of England.
The former manager of Chelsea will start work on January 1, 2025, in time for England to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Before taking up his position with the U21s, interim manager Lee Carsley will continue to lead the team for the final UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Anthony Barry, an English assistant coach, will work alongside Tuchel, who FA CEO Mark Bullingham has called “one of the best coaches in the world” in his job as Gareth Southgate’s replacement.
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“I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team,” Tuchel added.
“The game in this country has always held a special place in my heart, and it has already brought me some amazing experiences.
“It is an enormous honor to be able to play for England, and it is thrilling to be able to collaborate with such a unique and gifted set of players.
“As my assistant coach, Anthony and I will collaborate closely to do everything within our power to make England’s supporters and players proud.”
“I want to thank The FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together.”
The 51-year-old Tuchel joins Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello as the third non-English person to occupy the position.
The German has managed Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea to Champions League victory in 2021, giving him a wealth of elite-level expertise.
The Football Association (FA) had stated from the outset of its hiring in July that nationality would not be a factor in its selection of the most suitable candidate.
“An extraordinary situation…the deal is done,” is the analysis.
Rob Dorsett, senior correspondent for Sky Sports News:
“He’s accepted the offer to succeed Gareth Southgate by signing the contract.
“We anticipate that Chief Executive Mark Bullingham will be present at a press conference on Wednesday at Wembley at 1:30 p.m. to respond to inquiries and provide an explanation of his decision.
“I definitely expect Tuchel to be at that news conference, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.
“With England selecting just the third non-English manager to lead the men’s senior football team—and naturally a German coach as well—as well as the additional controversy it will undoubtedly bring and the long-standing rivalry between England and Germany, this is an extraordinary situation.
Still, the deal is finalized. Tuchel departed Bayern Munich in May, making him a free agent, so things have transpired swiftly. I had a feeling it would take a while because he would have to give up half of his €9 million income in Munich in order to move to England.
“I anticipate that he will make between £4.5 and £5 million, which is a substantial salary decrease for a highly esteemed club manager.
“This will be his first position in international management, and it’s one of the most prominent positions, if not the most. Without a doubt, this is a coup for the FA because he has won numerous championships in his previous endeavors. That’s why he’s employed here.
“John McDermott is searching for a coach capable of leading England to victory and their first major title since 1966. Tuchel is out tonight celebrating having signed the contract.”
“I don’t believe it to be. There were many repercussions at FA headquarters following the Greece loss. They were taken aback that England, who had dominated World Cup qualifying and matches against inferior opposition under Gareth Southgate, could lose a match to Greece.
“They were stunned, and I believe that made them reconsider if Carsley was the proper man for them going forward. Subsequently, he encountered difficulties with certain media responsibilities and became tangled in his responses to crucial inquiries on his prospects and the requirements of the Football Association.
“I believe it brought attention to the FA’s need for someone to step forward and take the reins quickly. The FA also required security and assurances for the fans and the organization going ahead. The manager of the England men’s team is a representative and a symbol of that group.
However, the players should also take note of this because they were beginning to question if he would serve as manager full-time. If there are questions in the squad about the manager’s long-term commitment, that is not helpful for the team.
That all moved their ideas along a little bit. Although Tuchel was always on their radar, the FA had not spoken to him until two weeks ago. It was unclear to me. We believed that Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Eddie Howe, and Jurgen Klopp were on the England shortlist, but none of them had been interviewed. What then was the procedure?
“They made the decision that Tuchel is the man they want rather quickly. John McDermott made the decision that he needed a person with a lot of charisma, experience winning awards, and comfort with any publicity-related situation.
“Thomas Tuchel has won numerous championships, although he has had past conflicts with his bosses.
“Despite his exceptional abilities as an ambassador, building a culture inside the England team, and inspiring players to aspire to represent their nation, Gareth Southgate was unable to bring home the championship.
“His FA superiors desired that. Here, they’ve torn the copybook quite good. Although Tuchel is German and far from being an FA guy—something that will undoubtedly cause controversy—Gareth Southgate was an FA man. Winning a significant prize should take precedence.
“If Tuchel delivers on that, the fans will be delighted.”
Under Tuchel, how will England perform?
“He has played forward, positive football everywhere he has been. People in his team have spoken to us today, and they made it very evident that his pitch to the FA was to promote this fast-paced, high-octane brand of football.
“Many of England’s offensive talent will be brought onto the field by him. They’ll play with a lot of intensity and force.
“He will anticipate that from him, and England supporters will find his manner appealing.
It’s something that Gareth Southgate was criticized for not using for a while, but just to be cautious, Lee Carsley attempted it the other day against Greece, and England lost badly and appeared extremely vulnerable.
“In actuality, the score may have been 4-1 or 5-1, but they fell 2-1. According to Gareth Southgate, he is the manager of England and not a fantasy football manager. He is unable to cram in all of his talent.
“He mentioned the importance of having a system, and Tuchel—a skilled tactician—is aware of this as well. He’ll keep England safe at the back and they’ll score. It is hoped that he can make it into a successful recipe.”
