German coach Thomas Tuchel is excited with his new role as England men’s football team manager, Afrosport reports.
The 51-year-old, who has been confirmed as the new Three Lions boss on Wednesday, will begin his role on January 1, 2025, having agreed on an initial 18-month contract with the Football Association.
Tuchel’s appointment ensures he becomes the third non-British permanent manager of the England team, following in the footsteps of Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian coach Fabio Capello.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager, who replaces Gareth Southgate, who resigned in July after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, said he is extremely proud to get the appointment and looks forward to leading the Three Lions.
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.”
Thomas Tuchel. Our #ThreeLions head coach from 2025. 🏴
— England (@England) October 16, 2024
The German has been without a team after departing Bayern at the end of the 2023-24 season having failed to win a silverware with the Bundesliga team, the first such occurrence for the Bavarian in over a decade. His managerial career includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, along with numerous domestic titles with Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as being named as UEFA and FIFA’s coach of the year in 2021
According to the FA, Tuchel, whose appointment was approved by the Board last week and signed his contract on Tuesday, October 8, will be joined in the England setup by longtime assistant Anthony Barry, who worked with him at both Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
“Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud,” Tuchel added. “I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark [Bullingham] and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together.”
Ready to get to work 👊
— England (@England) October 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Lee Carsley, who has led England in the past two international breaks, will continue in his interim capacity for the remainder of the year, before returning to manage the Under-21s after Tuchel officially takes over.
Tuchel’s first line of action will be to guide England through their 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with the Three Lions currently atop Group I with 26 points after securing eight wins and two draws in 10 matches as they look to book a spot in the finals slated for Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
