Thomas Tuchel agrees to become next England manager

Former Chelsea coach will be the third foreigner to take charge of country’s players – and the first German to do so

Thomas Tuchel has agreed to become the new permanent England manager with the Football Association preparing to confirm his appointment.
Talks between Tuchel and the FA advanced rapidly on Tuesday, with the German agreeing to become England’s third foreign manager after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Sources in Germany have indicated that Tuchel could start work on January 1, 2025, on an initial 18-month contract.
The move for Tuchel ends the uncertainty around Gareth Southgate’s full-time successor and ruled out Manchester United hijacking the FA’s interest in him. United spoke to Tuchel in the summer about the possibility of succeeding Erik ten Hag.
Tuchel has always been amongst the favourites for the full-time England job and, along with Pep Guardiola, was one of a number of managers to have been sounded out since Southgate stepped down.
Those talks advanced quickly towards a conclusion, with Tuchel excited to return to England and work with a squad that he believes is capable of winning trophies.
Tuchel is expected to try to appoint Anthony Barry, who is currently part of the Portugal backroom staff, as part of his England management team. Barry assisted Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern Munich
Tuchel fits the remit set out by interim head coach Lee Carsley of being “a world-class coach who has won trophies” and previously worked in England, at Chelsea, and with a number of England players – including captain Harry Kane, who he signed for Bayern Munich.
Tuchel has been out of work, despite remaining on the Bayern payroll after leaving his position at the end of last season, effectively meaning he has been on gardening leave.
Bayern refused to comment on whether or not his release would have to be negotiated, but sources in Germany have claimed the FA will not have to pay compensation.
Tuchel will relish the opportunity of working again with England captain Kane, who is a big fan of the 51-year-old.
“To be honest, I have not been told anything,” Kane told Sky Sport in Germany. “I know Thomas well from last year. Fantastic coach, fantastic person and I am sure the guys at the FA will contact me when they know more about it.”
The German has proved himself to be an excellent tournament manager, winning the Champions League at Chelsea and reaching the finals of the FA Cup and the League Cup.
While Tuchel’s track record cannot be questioned, the FA’s decision to appoint a foreign manager to permanently succeed Southgate will cause debate.
Tuchel will become the third foreign manager of the men’s national team, with the women already managed by Sarina Wiegman, who is from the Netherlands.
The plan has been for Carsley to remain in interim charge for the November Nations League games against Greece and Republic of Ireland and that is currently not expected to change.
As reported by Telegraph Sport, sources in and around the England set-up had become convinced that Carsley did not want the permanent job at this time and his public comments did little to disperse that belief.
Carsley even backed the prospect of the FA hiring a foreign permanent manager when asked if the next man should be English. He replied: “No, definitely not. It’s important that the best candidate gets the job.
“We’ve seen in the past that we’ve had different nationalities coach the teams, so the best candidate should get the job. We’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t, and we didn’t open our minds a bit.
“I think it’s important that any job that’s available, you know, everyone that’s at that level should apply for it.”
Carsley has said that he will be happy to step back to his job as manager of England’s Under-21s or take up a role in the staff of the new permanent manager if asked to do so.
Telegraph Sport reported on Monday afternoon that, despite being sounded out by the FA over the England job, Guardiola is considering renewing his Manchester City contract by a further 12 months.
While a prospective drop in salary to take the England job is not considered an issue, sources have tentatively suggested that the most likely scenario, at present, is that he signs another deal at City – albeit for just one more year.