Thomas Tuchel has been all but confirmed as the next England manager.
The 51-year-old has reportedly agreed a deal to succeed Gareth Southgate in the hot seat and lead the Three Lions to the Fifa Men’s World Cup in North America in 2026.
The Football Association had looked at a number of high-profile candidates, such as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and even Jurgen Klopp.
But this week they zeroed in on Tuchel, who has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season. Here is everything we know so far as we await official confirmation of the hiring.
When will Tuchel be announced as England manager?
The FA could announce his appointment very soon, and it is expected Tuchel will be officially unveiled at a press conference at lunchtime on Wednesday.
What are the terms of Tuchel’s contract?
This has not yet been made public, but reports suggest that Tuchel will sign a deal that runs up until the 2026 World Cup. Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett says that he is in line to earn around £4.5 to £5 million per year, far less than he was earning at Bayern Munich. The Athletic claim that he will receive a bonus for winning the World Cup.
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When did the FA begin talks with Tuchel?
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham and and technical director John McDermott reached out to the former Chelsea manager in the summer, but no formal approach was made until this week. The organisation accelerated their search following last week’s defeat to Greece and interim head coach Lee Carsley’s confused messaging over his future in the role.
When is his first game in charge?
Although Tuchel will be installed before next month’s internationals, it’s expected that Carsley will remain in charge for their final two matches in the Uefa Nations League. England travel to Athens to take on Greece on 14 November. His first home game could be against the Republic of the Ireland at Wembley three days later.
The next international break isn’t until March, when the World Cup qualification campaign gets underway. The draw for the qualifiers has not yet taken place.
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Why have the FA chosen to hire Tuchel?
As Carsley outlined following Sunday’s 3-1 win over Finland in Helsinki, the FA felt they needed a “world-class coach who has won trophies” to take charge of the England team. That is exactly what they are getting in Tuchel.
Although he will be the third foreign-born head coach in the national side’s history, the German is an Anglophile with a keen interest in English football and speaks the language fluently. More importantly, he has a track record of success, having won trophies with every club he’s managed expect for Mainz.
Tuchel lead Chelsea to their second Champions League trophy in 2021, won league titles in France and Germany, and captured six domestic cups during his career.
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