Thomas Tuchel sets the goal of leading England to a ‘second star’ at the 2026 World Cup, aiming to end the national team’s long-standing trophy drought.
The German coach, renowned for his successful stints at Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, has signed an 18-month contract that is set to commence in January, extending through to the World Cup in the United States.
Mark Bullingham, chief of the English Football Association, expressed optimism during Tuchel’s unveiling at Wembley Stadium, stating, “This is a really exciting day for the English game. We’ve appointed one of the very best coaches in the world. Our aim is always to win a major tournament, and we believe Thomas gives us the best possible chance to do that at the next men’s World Cup.”
The upcoming World Cup will mark 60 years since England achieved its only major victory, which was the World Cup title in 1966.
Over the years, fourteen different managers have attempted to break this trophy drought, with Gareth Southgate coming the closest by guiding the team to two consecutive European Championship finals before his resignation in July.
Having won the Champions League, Tuchel aims to replicate his European success with the English national team.
“I understood very quickly that it’s a big job,” he remarked, emphasizing his desire to push England “over the line and try to put a second star on the shirt.”
At 51 years old, Tuchel becomes the third foreign coach for the national team, following the late Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. This decision has drawn mixed reactions in British media, with some outlets labeling it a “dark day for England.”
While he received congratulations from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right-wing Reform Party leader Nigel Farage questioned on social media, “Why can’t we have an English manager?”
Tuchel responded to concerns about his foreign status with humor, stating, “I’m sorry, I have a German passport. Hopefully, I can convince them and show them that I’m proud to be the England manager and I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country.”
Bullingham mentioned that the FA had considered several candidates before selecting Tuchel, though he did not reveal any names.
Rumors suggested that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp were among the contenders.
Tuchel takes over from Gareth Southgate, one of England’s most successful coaches, who led the team to a World Cup semifinals and two European Championship finals during his eight-year tenure.
Southgate stepped down after the team’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Tuchel aligns with the FA’s goal of hiring a coach with a proven track record at the highest level, while also possessing knowledge of the English game.
During his time at Chelsea, he triumphed over Guardiola’s Manchester City to win the Champions League shortly after his appointment, also securing the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup during his reign.
His impressive resume includes league titles with PSG in France and Bayern in Germany, and he steps into the England role after leaving Bayern at the conclusion of the last season.
Joining Tuchel will be his former Chelsea assistant, Anthony Barry, who recently worked with the Portugal national team during the Euros.
By the time Tuchel and his staff assume their roles, the draw for World Cup qualifying will already have taken place in December.
In the interim, Under-21s coach Lee Carsley will continue to lead England for the Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland next month.
