Thomas Tuchel appointed as new England manager
Tuchel succeeds Southgate, marking a new era for England's men's football team
Thomas Tuchel has signed a contract to become the new manager of the England men’s football team. The German coach will be officially introduced on Wednesday, following Gareth Southgate’s resignation after Euro 2024. Lee Carsley has been serving as interim manager since Southgate’s departure.
Tuchel is well known in the UK from his tenure as Chelsea’s manager, but his career extends far beyond that role. The 51-year-old becomes the third foreign manager of the England men’s team and the first German to take on the position. He follows Sven-Goran Eriksson from Sweden, who managed from 2001 to 2006, and Italy’s Fabio Capello, who led the team from 2007 to 2012.
Tuchel was born in Krumbach, Bavaria, in the 1970s. As a youngster, he displayed a natural talent for football, helping his school win the German Schools Championship in Berlin in 1987. Initially set on becoming a helicopter pilot, he found his true calling on the football field.
Thomas Tuchel confirmed as new England manager.
The most excited I've been about our manager in my lifetime. Absolutely buzzing. pic.twitter.com/DfzTBte5Ix
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) October 15, 2024
At 18, Tuchel joined FC Augsburg’s youth academy but was released at 19 without making a first-team appearance. He then played for Stuttgarter Kickers in Bundesliga 2, making only eight appearances before moving to SSV Ulm in Germany’s third division. Ralf Rangnick, who later managed Manchester United, was the club’s manager and gave Tuchel a boost in his playing career. Tuchel made 68 appearances for Ulm and helped them secure promotion to Bundesliga 2. However, his playing career was cut short by a chronic knee injury in his mid-20s.
After retiring, Tuchel pursued a degree in business administration while working as a waiter. His love for football persisted, and his friendship with Rangnick, now managing Stuttgart, brought him back to the sport. Despite a trial with Stuttgart’s reserves, his knee injury re-emerged, ending his playing aspirations.
Rangnick encouraged Tuchel to consider coaching. Tuchel started in Stuttgart’s academy and quickly rose to manage the under-14s and later the under-19s, leading the latter to a youth league title in 2005. His coaching career advanced rapidly, and by August 2009, he was appointed first-team coach of Bundesliga side Mainz.
Taking over from Jurgen Klopp at Mainz, Tuchel led the newly promoted team to a ninth-place finish in Germany’s top division. He later secured a fifth-place finish and a Europa League spot in the 2011/12 season. In 2015, Tuchel replaced Klopp again, this time at Borussia Dortmund, guiding them to a second-place finish behind Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich.
Tuchel moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2018, winning the Ligue 1 title in his first season. He achieved a domestic treble the following year and took PSG to their first Champions League final in 2020, narrowly losing to Bayern Munich.
In January 2021, Tuchel took over as Chelsea’s manager and led the team to a Champions League victory against Manchester City. However, disagreements with Chelsea’s owners led to his dismissal six months into the next season. He returned to Germany, managing Bayern Munich from March 2023 until June 2023, overseeing Harry Kane’s arrival from Spurs.
Tuchel has two children from his marriage to ex-wife Sisi, which ended in 2022 after 13 years. He enjoys music from Simply Red, Jay-Z, and Abba, and speaks English, French, German, and some Italian. His favourite footballer from childhood is Hans-Gunter Bruns, a former Borussia Monchengladbach sweeper.
Read more:
– Southgate exit raises questions over the requirements for the England boss
– Outrage around England interim manager is an unwelcome throwback
What Other Media Are Saying
- Sky News reports Thomas Tuchel signs deal to become new England manager, replacing Gareth Southgate, emphasizing his big personality and potential impact on the team.(read more)
- New York Times. Thomas Tuchel agrees to become England’s manager after successful talks with the FA, bringing a new strategic approach to the team’s future.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is the new manager of the England men’s football team?
Thomas Tuchel.
When will Thomas Tuchel be officially introduced as England’s manager?
On Wednesday.
Who was the interim manager before Thomas Tuchel took over?
Lee Carsley.
Which teams did Tuchel manage before taking over England’s national team?
Chelsea, Bayern Munich, PSG, Dortmund, and Mainz.
What languages does Thomas Tuchel speak?
English, French, German, and some Italian.
