By Abiola Olawale
The English Football Association (FA) has made an official announcement, revealing that Thomas Tuchel, a former Chelsea manager, will be taking on the role of England’s national football team manager.
This appointment comes as a succession to Gareth Southgate, who had stepped down from the position in July following England’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Tuchel, a 51-year-old German coach, will take over from interim boss Lee Carsley in January next year, following the UEFA Nations League group stage next month.
English coach Anthony Barry, who has had spells as assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Portugal, has been named as Tuchel’s assistant.
The pair will be reunited after working together at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, where they won four trophies.
Addressing the press after his unveiling, Tuchel said he is “proud” to become the next England manager, calling it an honour and a “huge privilege”.
He 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.
“Working closely with Anthony as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud. I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together.”
The New Diplomat reports that Tuchel made a strong comeback to English football following a triumphant stint at Chelsea, where he steered The Blues to a historic UEFA Champions League victory in the 2020/21 season.
However, he was relieved of his duties at the start of the 2022/23 season, shortly after the new owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, took charge.
Subsequently, the 51-year-old embarked on a one-year tenure with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. During this period, he initially guided the Bavarians to their 11th consecutive league title, but they finished as runners-up in the following season.
He also took Bayern to the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League, where they lost to eventual winners Real Madrid.
Tuchel was named the men’s UEFA Coach of the Year for his success at Chelsea in 2020/21. His list of honours also includes a German Cup title with Borussia Dortmund in 2016–2017 and two Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
