England have made the sensational, and controversial in some quarters, decision to appoint former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel as the new manager of the senior men’s team.
Interim boss Lee Carsley will stay on until the end of the November break before Tuchel takes the reigns in January 2025, 18 months before the next World Cup.
The 2021 Champions League winner with Chelsea had been targeted by Manchester United over the summer as a replacement for the under-fire Erik ten Hag, before turning down the fallen Premier League giants.
The immediate reaction from the English media has centred on his German nationality. Tuchel will become just the third overseas boss of the men’s national team, following on from Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2000 and Fabio Capello, who – like Tuchel – arrived in England as a decorated European champion.
There’s been expected outrage from some publications, while many user on X have questioned the decision to overlook the likes of Eddie Howe and Graham Potter – both of whom may not have even wanted the job in the first place – because of Tuchel’s style of play among other things.
Here’s a snippet of what’s doing the rounds on social.
It shouldn’t be allowed that you can have a foreign manager be in charge of your national team. The basic premise is passport v passport, nationality v nationality. What an embarrassment for English football and the pathway for English coaches. https://t.co/mriNEoJ6bB
— Tom Rennie (@thomasjrennie) October 15, 2024
England fans surely can’t really be happy with Thomas Tuchel, a 51 year old German who given his track record they’ll do well to get 2 years out of him and him to still be here for the 2026 World Cup. Bad appointment by the FA in my honest opinion.
— Jay Dutton (@JayLfc94) October 15, 2024
Odd decision by the FA to rush into the Tuchel appointment due to one bad game against Greece. Winning a couple of trophies at club level doesn’t mean much when the Euros or World Cup come around. Maybe it will turn out to be a great call… we won’t know for a while
— Alex Sebastian (@MrAlexSebastian) October 15, 2024
Someone has to say it, Tuchel as England manager is a bad idea. The problem with Tuchel is he so stubborn and will keep playing with inferior players as long as he likes them.
— Soli-Man Kenobi (@SolimanKenobi) October 15, 2024
Tuchel appointment is horrendous defensive football and has a shelf live of 12 months
— Daniel Slater (@DanSlater91) October 15, 2024
#Tuchel wow, I didn’t think the FA would go for him. His football is worse than Southgate and he falls out with upper management and players all the time.
— Ciaran Wallace (@oldbencjw) October 15, 2024
Thomas tuchel is massively overrated, shocking decision
— dom #SellBeforeWeDai (@domwindle) October 15, 2024
Tuchel does have plenty of defenders though, many of whom are aghast that his impressive CV would be worth overlooking in favour of patriotism.
This is wild, no matter what your views are on Tuchel. I can think of a few dark days in English football but appointing a Champions League winning manager is definitely not one. pic.twitter.com/bK63tFWIIp
— Will Brazier (@willbrazier) October 16, 2024
GMB every morning until Tuchel is sacked pic.twitter.com/h6NfzG7wc4
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) October 15, 2024
I don’t think people realise just how good Thomas Tuchel would be for England.
He’s a JOKE in knockout football.
Took PSG to the UCL final for the only time and narrowly lost to a Bayern team that smashed everyone.
Won the UCL conceding only 4 times with a pretty average… pic.twitter.com/juZzNIrRud
— Will (@willreyner) October 15, 2024
Thomas Tuchel getting the England job will only end in tears.
German tears when one of their own wins us the World Cup. It’s happening. What a man for the job. pic.twitter.com/KFBNQRO4O0
— George Benson (@MrGeorgeBenson) October 16, 2024
People saying the England manager has to be English is so funny to me. An English manager has never won the PL nor have England won anything in any of our lifetimes.
Tuchel is a serial winner and far, far better than Lee Carsley or Graham Potter. It’s as simple as that
— Ball Talk (@Ba11Talk) October 15, 2024
Do not care about the foreign/German angle with Tuchel at all. FA have finally made a good decision with the aim of winning a major trophy
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) October 15, 2024
While he is a proud Bavarian, Tuchel spent 18 months in the Premier League with Chelsea and has hinted at his appreciation for English playing talent by signing Harry Kane and Eric Dier while in charge of Bayern Munich – two players who could be in line for a reunion with the coach.
Tuchel kept trying to sign random English players at Bayern and he might’ve finally found a job where he can work with lots and lots of them.
— Grace Robertson (@GraceOnFootball) October 15, 2024
No fanbase has been as universally excited as Chelsea supporters. While Tuchel was forced out of the club in September 2022 after opening the Premier League season with defeats to lowly Southampton and Leeds United, the memory of his trophy triumphs have lingered longer in the memory.
Enzo Maresca managing my football club.
Thomas Tuchel managing my country.
PLAY. THAT. TUNE.
— Uber Chelsea FC (@UberChelseaFC_) October 15, 2024
Chelsea during the season and Tuchel’s England during international break. My life is complete.
— Conn (@Connfc_) October 15, 2024
On top of the Champions League success, Tuchel boasted an unbeaten record in seven semi-finals (winning six) and led the club to the UEFA Super Cup and their first-ever FIFA Club World Cup.
I genuinely can’t believe Thomas Tuchel is England manager.
I’ve always said I thought he’d be a perfect fit for England but don’t think I ever thought it would actually happen. SO excited.
— Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo) October 16, 2024
