Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed as the new manager of the England men’s football team, becoming the third non-British coach to take the reins. The 51-year-old German was unveiled by FA chief Mark Bullingham at Wembley, following his agreement to replace Gareth Southgate. Southgate resigned after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, leaving the Three Lions without a permanent manager for several months.
Tuchel, who previously managed top clubs like Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain, will officially take charge from January 2025. In the meantime, interim manager Lee Carsley will oversee England’s Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November before returning to his role with the U21s.
In his first statement as England manager, Tuchel expressed his pride: “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. To represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.”
Tuchel’s appointment followed an extensive search by the FA, who considered several candidates before settling on the former Champions League-winning manager. Bullingham praised Tuchel’s expertise and his partnership with English coach Anthony Barry, who will serve as his assistant. The FA hopes this coaching duo can guide England to success in the 2026 World Cup in North America, where the Three Lions will aim to end their 60-year trophy drought.
Tuchel’s contract runs for 18 months, and his tenure will be reviewed after the World Cup. If England performs well, he could potentially lead the team into Euro 2028, which will be co-hosted by the UK and Ireland.
Tuchel joins Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello as the only non-British managers to have led the England men’s national team. His illustrious career includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 and league titles in Germany and France. Despite his success at Chelsea, Tuchel was dismissed in 2022 amid reports of tension with the new ownership, and he parted ways with Bayern Munich at the end of the 2022-23 season.
The FA’s decision to hire Tuchel signals their ambition to build on Southgate’s legacy, which saw England reach back-to-back European Championship finals and make deep runs in the World Cup. Now, Tuchel’s task will be to elevate the team to new heights as they prepare for the challenges ahead in 2026.