Thomas Tuchel signs deal to be England manager

Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach, Thomas Tuchel, has officially signed a contract to become the new England manager.

The German manager, who has been without a club since leaving Bayern in the summer, will replace Gareth Southgate, who resigned following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.

Tuchel, 51, previously led Chelsea to a Champions League victory in 2021, but was dismissed the following year.

He becomes the first non-English manager to take on the England role since Fabio Capello’s resignation in 2012 and only the third overall, joining Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson.

In addition to his Champions League success, Tuchel has also secured a Super Cup and a Club World Cup during his tenure with Chelsea, along with league titles in France and Germany while managing Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, respectively.

Before his appointment, Tuchel was among the bookmakers’ favourites for the England job, alongside Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was approached by the Football Association but did not pursue the position.

Lee Carsley, the England under-21 coach, served as the interim manager during the four autumn Nations League matches, leading the team to three wins. However, a 2-1 defeat to Greece raised questions about his suitability for a permanent role.

Tuchel’s coaching career began after a brief playing stint, cut short by a serious knee injury at age 24.

He earned a degree in business administration while working as a waiter and became a youth coach before being appointed as Mainz manager in 2009, leading the team to its first Europa League qualification and establishing himself as one of Germany’s most tactically savvy coaches.