Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has officially agreed to take over as the next England manager, according to reports from BBC sources. The German will be the third non-British manager to helm the England men’s national team, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
England has been without a permanent manager since Gareth Southgate stepped down after their loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Tuchel’s formal introduction is expected at Wembley on Wednesday, with his first mission to guide England through the 2026 World Cup qualification, scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Earlier this summer, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was also approached for the role but expressed no interest. Tuchel, however, is no stranger to English football, having led Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2022, where he secured the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup before his departure.
Despite recent links to Manchester United, Tuchel ruled himself out of the running after meeting with the club’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. His career highlights include winning the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund and two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel’s last managerial role was at Bayern Munich, where he parted ways after the club’s disappointing Bundesliga season, despite having one year left on his contract.
The FA, Tuchel’s representatives, and Manchester City declined to comment publicly on the appointment when approached by BBC Sport.
‘Tuchel Was More Accepted in England’
After a turbulent spell at Bayern Munich, Tuchel may find the transition from club management to the England national team smoother, according to Christian Falk, head of football at BILD.
“He’s not always the easiest person to work with,” Falk mentioned on BBC Radio 5 Live. “While he struggled with German club executives, he was much more embraced in England, which is why he’s been keen to return.”
Tuchel’s past challenges largely involved disagreements over player transfers, something he won’t have to contend with as England manager.
Former Chelsea defender Pat Nevin believes Tuchel’s flexibility will benefit the national team.
“Tuchel’s ability to adapt is what stood out during his Chelsea tenure,” Nevin said on 5 Live. “He used a three-center-back system with wing-backs like Marcos Alonso and Reece James, but that wasn’t his only approach. At Dortmund, PSG, and Bayern, he adapted his tactics based on the squad’s strengths.”
The Football Association’s criteria for Southgate’s successor emphasized finding a manager capable of winning major tournaments. Former England defender Stuart Pearce believes Tuchel will face high expectations.
“After Gareth, the next step has to be winning a trophy,” Pearce told talkSPORT. “Tuchel’s main challenge will be leading England to World Cup success, which is a huge task.”
However, not everyone is pleased with the FA’s decision. Harry Redknapp, who was once considered for the England job, voiced his disappointment that the role went to a foreign manager.
“The pool of English candidates was limited because English managers rarely get Premier League opportunities,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “With all the FA’s investment in coaching courses, it’s frustrating that an Englishman wasn’t given the chance.”
Lee Carsley, who has been managing the team on an interim basis, will remain in charge for the final two Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November before Tuchel officially takes over.
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