Thomas Tuchel has admitted he hasn’t yet decided whether he will sing “God Save the King” before matches as England’s new manager. The German coach, who became the third non-British manager of the England men’s football team, addressed the issue during his first press conference since taking the role. Tuchel replaces Gareth Southgate and now faces the challenge of leading the Three Lions toward success.
The question of whether Tuchel will sing the national anthem was raised after previous foreign England managers handled it differently. Sven-Goran Eriksson, the first foreigner to coach England, attempted to sing the anthem, although he admitted he never fully mastered it. On the other hand, Fabio Capello, the Italian who succeeded Eriksson, chose not to sing “God Save the Queen.” More recently, interim boss Lee Carsley, though born in Birmingham, opted not to sing the anthem due to his Irish heritage.
Tuchel revealed that he had discussed the matter with FA chief Mark Bullingham, likely aware that some fans might perceive it as disrespectful if he chose not to sing. While Tuchel has not yet made a final decision, he emphasized that he finds England’s national anthem “very moving and touching.”
Speaking to the press, Tuchel said, “I understood from Mark [Bullingham] that it’s a personal decision first of all if you sing it. There were managers who sang it and others who didn’t. I have not made my decision yet, I want to be very honest with you. The English anthem is very moving, I experienced it several times at Wembley. Even standing with the players at an FA Cup final, it was very touching.”
Tuchel went on to assure fans that, regardless of his decision, he would always show respect for the role, the country, and the anthem. “No matter what decision I take, we have a bit of time until March. I will always show my respect to the role, to the country, and to a very moving anthem. I will take a little bit of time for this decision,” he added.
Addressing some of the skepticism about a German coach leading the English national team, Tuchel acknowledged that a portion of the fanbase might not be pleased with his nationality. “I am sorry I have a German passport,” Tuchel said with a smile. He emphasized his love for England and its football culture, stating, “Maybe these supporters felt my passion for the Premier League and the country, how I love to live here and work here. Hopefully, I can convince them and show them how proud I am to be the England manager.”
Tuchel’s impressive record at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League, Club World Cup, and Super Cup in 2021, speaks for itself. His success at the club level was a major factor in the FA’s decision to appoint him, with FA boss Mark Bullingham praising Tuchel’s credentials during the announcement.
Bullingham called it a “really exciting day for the English game,” adding, “We have appointed one of the very best coaches in the world. Our aim is always to win a major tournament, and we believe Thomas gives us the best possible chance to do that at the next men’s World Cup.”
The FA underwent an extensive recruitment process, speaking with approximately 10 candidates before settling on Tuchel. Bullingham expressed confidence that the German coach was the best choice to guide England to World Cup glory, saying, “We were absolutely delighted to end up with Thomas, and we believe he gives us the best chance of winning the World Cup.”
Now, Tuchel’s task is clear: to lead England to their first major trophy since 1966 and meet the lofty expectations placed on him as the national team’s new leader.
