Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
German Thomas Tuchel is set to be announced as the new England manager on Wednesday, the PA news agency understands.
The Football Association is expected to hold a press conference where the Champions League-winning former Chelsea boss will be named as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor.
It emerged on Tuesday the FA had been in advanced talks with the 51-year-old, who is out of work after leaving Bayern Munich last summer, and negotiations progressed rapidly.
The FA has not commented but it has been reported Tuchel has agreed an 18-month contract beginning on January 1.
He will become the third non-Englishman to hold the post full-time after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Tuchel boasts considerable elite-level experience having led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and taken charge of Paris St Germain and Bayern. He has also coached Mainz and Borussia Dortmund.
England have been looking for a new permanent manager since Southgate stood down after guiding the side to the Euro 2024 final – the second time he had reached that stage of a major tournament – last summer.
Under-21s boss Lee Carsley, who has been in interim charge, was thought to be a candidate for the job but his prospects diminished over the past week.
England were beaten in disappointing fashion by Greece in the Nations League last Thursday and Carsley had also given mixed messages over whether he wanted to make the step up full-time.
There were reports linking Tuchel with the position in the German media last week and there were claims on Monday the FA had approached Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
Tuchel will link up again with England captain and Bayern striker Harry Kane.
Kane told Sky Sports News: “I haven’t been told anything. Until it is announced I can’t really comment but obviously I know Thomas well from last year. He is a fantastic coach, a fantastic person.”
The FA made clear at the start of the recruitment process that nationality would not restrict the search to find the best person for the job.
It’s not like he’s been a massive success.
Harry Redknapp
The appointment of a foreign manager will be controversial, however.
Former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who was a candidate for the post himself over a decade ago, told Sky Sports News: “I’m very patriotic, I think we should have an English manager but obviously the field was very small to choose from.”
Redknapp also has reservations over Tuchel’s record with his spells at some clubs having come to unsatisfactory conclusions.
“He’s lost his job quite quickly at a couple of clubs,” he said.
“It’s not like he’s been a massive success. He’s come and gone at a couple of clubs.”
