Tuchel has agreed to become England’s new manager and will arrive in London this week to finalize his £5 million-a-year contract. The German coach is set to begin his role in January, with an 18-month contract leading him through the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Tuchel, formerly of Chelsea, will be the third non-English manager to lead the men’s national team, following Fabio Capello’s departure in 2012. A press conference at Wembley, featuring FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, is expected tomorrow to officially confirm Tuchel’s appointment.
The FA had initially considered other high-profile candidates, including Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe, after Gareth Southgate stepped down following the Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. However, negotiations with Tuchel quickly progressed as Manchester United also expressed interest in him.
At 51, Tuchel is a proven manager with significant international success, including winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021. His extensive knowledge of English football made him a strong candidate for the FA. He has also worked with England captain Harry Kane during his brief stint at Bayern Munich.
Tuchel is currently on gardening leave after leaving Bayern in the summer, but this won’t pose any serious financial issues for the FA. Having spent considerable time in London since his Chelsea exit in 2022, Tuchel views the England job as an exciting challenge.
Anthony Barry, who previously worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern, is likely to join the coaching staff at St. George’s Park. Meanwhile, Lee Carsley, currently in interim charge of England, will oversee the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Carsley’s chances of securing the role permanently diminished after England’s defeat to Greece last week, and his recent public comments further distanced him from the job. Although the FA initially supported Carsley, they moved forward with Tuchel as their final choice for the position.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola was a dream candidate for the FA, but their attempts to lure him yielded no positive signals since July. With Tuchel’s appointment, England will have foreign managers for both their men’s and women’s teams, as Sarina Wiegman continues to lead the Lionesses.
Tuchel’s track record speaks for itself, having won domestic titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, along with multiple international trophies at Chelsea. His appointment is bound to stir debate due to England’s footballing rivalry with Germany.
England captain Harry Kane, who played under Tuchel at Bayern, praised the coach. “Thomas is a fantastic coach and person,” Kane said. “I’m sure the FA will talk to me when more details are clear.”
Tuchel’s first game in charge is expected to take place in March during a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup. He had been considered Manchester United’s top choice to replace Erik ten Hag if the club chose to part ways with their current manager.
United had engaged in discussions with Tuchel over the summer but decided to continue with Ten Hag despite the team’s disappointing start to the season.
