New Delhi: Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new manager of the England national football team, starting from 1 January 2025. The 51-year-old German coach has signed an 18-month contract, making him the third non-British permanent manager of the men’s team, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
This decision comes after Gareth Southgate resigned in July following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Since then, Lee Carsley has taken over as interim manager, overseeing four matches. He will continue in this role for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month.
Tuchel, who previously managed Chelsea and Bayern Munich, expressed his pride in taking on this role. He stated, “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.” Tuchel has a deep connection to English football and highlighted the incredible moments he has experienced in the country. He sees the chance to represent England as a huge privilege and is excited to work with the talented group of players at his disposal.
Mark Bullingham, the Chief Executive of the Football Association (FA), described Tuchel as “one of the best coaches in the world.” The FA stated that Tuchel was their preferred candidate from several managers interviewed for the position. The FA board approved this decision last week, and Tuchel officially signed his contract on 8 October.
Thomas Tuchel. Our #ThreeLions head coach from 2025. 🏴
— England (@England) October 16, 2024
During Carsley’s time as interim manager, England faced ups and downs. The team lost to Greece on 10 October but secured a victory against Finland on 13 October. The FA decided to delay the announcement of Tuchel’s appointment to avoid distracting the team during the international camp.
Joining Tuchel as his assistant will be Anthony Barry, an English coach who has previously worked alongside him at both Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Tuchel has had a successful coaching career, winning the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund and two Ligue 1 titles at Paris Saint-Germain, including a domestic treble in the 2019-20 season. He became Chelsea’s manager in January 2021, leading the team to victory in the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup before being sacked in September 2022.
Tuchel’s recent stint at Bayern Munich ended when he left after the team failed to win the Bundesliga title last season, marking the first time since 2011-12 they finished outside the top spot. He still had a year left on his contract when he departed. With Tuchel at the helm, England fans are hopeful for a bright future for their national team.
