For only the third time in the nation’s history, the England men’s football team will be coached by a foreign manager, following the news that Thomas Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract to lead the team to, what the FA hopes will be, victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
German Tuchel has already proved his credentials as a serial winner at club level, following successful silverware-packed stints at some of Europe’s biggest teams including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain.
As such, he certainly fits the profile of coach the FA was looking for thanks to his “significant experience of English football [and] strong track record delivering results in the Premier League and/or leading international competitions”.
A self-professed Anglophile, Tuchel was quick to hail his “personal connection” to English football following his appointment. Yet the selection of a foreign manager – not least from historic rivals Germany – has raised more than a few eyebrows, both in the English and German press, prompting Tuchel to jokingly apologise for holding a German passport.
Looking on as a Welshman, I find the furore over Tuchel’s appointment both amusing and somewhat perplexing. Publications like the Daily Mail slammed his appointment, calling him a serial ‘underachiever’ despite a trophy haul that includes the Champions League, French and German domestic titles and cups, and FIFA Club World Cup. Gareth Southgate took England to two successive European Championship finals, but the Three Lions have fallen at the final hurdle each time. Both the Welsh and indeed English national rugby teams have found success with foreign managers, and one may feel it is the strength of a coach’s credentials rather than their nationality that is likely to be the ultimate arbiter of their success.
While Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and England U21 coach Lee Carsley – who was appointed interim England manager following the resignation of Gareth Southgate – were all being mentioned in connection with the job, and presumably would have pleased the domestic tabloid press more, none has anything approaching Tuchel’s track record. Given the relative dearth of elite homegrown options, the FA clearly felt a big international name with a proven track record offered the best opportunity to build on Southgate’s legacy and give the national team the best chance of finally attaining silverware.
After the relatively uninspiring style of football under Southgate, some commentators initially talked up Carsley’s chances, following his work transforming the U21 team with his brand of dynamic, free flowing ‘Carsball’. Yet a disappointing experiment, leading to a first ever loss to Greece, was seen to have destroyed his chances.
However, despite a feeling that the FA was in no rush to make a permanent appointment, it has now become clear Tuchel was initially approached in late August, and signed his contract on 8 October, two days before the surprising loss to Greece. Amazingly the news was kept under wraps until the official announcement of Tuchel’s appointment. In the interim, Carsley faced some awkward questions about his chances of securing the job on a full-time basis. One can only feel for him being placed in such a position when the decision had already been made. Given Manchester United’s long-standing interest in Tuchel, and current boss Erik Ten Hag’s dismal start to the season, the FA may have felt it necessary to move quickly to secure their top target.
Both Southgate and Carsley have progressed through the St George’s Park pathway, the FA’s model for developing young British coaches, so questions have inevitably been asked about Tuchel’s appointment and whether it is a sign of a shortage of elite managers in the domestic game. The FAs chief executive Mark Bullingham recently told the BBC “We’ve got a really strong talent pipeline of young coaches. What’s important is they get the opportunities to prove their worth.” No such opportunities were offered this time around.
Tuchel has only signed an 18-month contract, which suggests he views the project as short term, and raises the prospect that England will be searching for another permanent manager after the World Cup. It is no secret that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is highly coveted by the FA (why wouldn’t he be?!) and with his contract at City running down and the ongoing legal case against his club still rumbling on, perhaps the thinking is the mighty Pep may finally be available in the not too distant future to take the reins. Such an appointment would be a coup for the FA, but would represent a seismic shift from the prevailing consensus that English managers should lead the English team.
The draw for the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will take place on Friday 13 December, and Tuchel will take charge of the team from 1 January 2025. By the date of the next World Cup, it will be 60 years since England lifted the trophy in that infamous final against Germany. Can a German now lead England to glory and in doing so prove the FA was right to look to an international manager? Only time will tell…
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The above is accurate as at 23 October 2024. The information above may be subject to change.
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