England have their man; and it’s Thomas Tuchel. You may remember him from such feats as winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and now he’ll be hoping for more success – this time on the International Stage.
The 51-year-old takes over from interim boss Lee Carsleywho will remain at the helm until after England finish their current run in the ongoing Nation’s League tournament, which ends in November. Tuchel becomes the third non-British permanent manager of the England Men’s teamfollowing in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. The German will officially become England manager on January 1, 2025 ahead of England’s qualifying campaign for World Cup 2026 in USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Anthony Barry has also been named Tuchel’s assistant, which sees the pair reunited after their work and success together at Chelsea. Tuchel reportedly signed his 18-month contract on October 8, with the Football Association (FA) board approving the decision last week for their ‘preferred candidate’.
Speaking on his appointment, Thomas Tuchel said: “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already.
“To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.”
His appointment, of course, follows on from the memorable eight-year spell for Gareth Southgatewho led England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and two Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.
Thomas Tuchel has an impressive record at club level, having led Chelsea to win their second Champions League trophy before lifting the subsequent Club World Cup trophy in 2021. He left Bayern Munich last summer after finishing 2nd in the German Bundesliga and reaching the semi-final of the Champions League. Prior to Chelsea, he has enjoyed managerial spells at PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Mainz 05, and FC Augsburg II.
Interim manager Lee Carsley will manage England’s Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November, before making way for Thomas Tuchel, who officially steps in on January 1, 2025. Read more about his appointment on the England website.
