Thomas Tuchel agrees to become England manager as unveiling timeline set | Football | Sport
Thomas Tuchel has agreed to become the new England manager and is expected to be unveiled in the role as early as this week, according to multiple reports. A swift conclusion to talks with the Football Association is set to see the former Chelsea boss become only the third foreign man to coach the Three Lions.
Tuchel’s expected appointment will end the search for Gareth Southgate’s successor, three months after his resignation following the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain. Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley has taken charge of England’s last four matches on a caretaker basis but has all-but ruled himself out of the full-time position.
The FA have taken a patient approach to finding Southgate’s successor but are set to land Tuchel over the coming days. They are understood to have made contact with other candidates including Pep Guardiola.
But in news first reported by The Times, a process led by chief executive Mark Bullingham and technical director John McDermott is set to conclude with Tuchel becoming the next permanent England boss. The 51-year-old is said to be ‘excited’ about the job and believes the Three Lions will be strong contenders to win the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich during the summer. Although he oversaw a disappointing third-placed finish in the Bundesliga last term, he was key to Harry Kane‘s remarkable first season in Germany. He is set to reunite with the England captain.
Carsley said last week that England need a “world-class coach” with a track record of winning trophies. Tuchel certainly fits that profile having won the Bundesliga during his first six months with Bayern, while he also won the Champions League under similar circumstances at Chelsea in 2021.
A successful two-year spell at Stamford Bridge saw Tuchel lift the Super Cup and the Club World Cup. He is reported to have kept a keen eye on the Premier League since leaving Chelsea.
Manchester United held talks with Tuchel over potentially replacing Erik ten Hag during the summer. Those discussions did not result in an agreement, with Ten Hag remaining at Old Trafford. The fact that AC Milan are also said to have been interested in Tuchel means this is a significant coup for the FA.
Tuchel, who also won Ligue 1 during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, will become the first German to manage England. He is widely understood to have agreed to take the job from January 1 on an 18-month contract, leaving Carsley to manage England’s final Nations League fixtures in November.
