LONDON, UK — Thomas Tuchel, the former Chelsea manager, has agreed to take over as the new England men’s football manager, according to sources close to the matter.
The 51-year-old German will become only the third non-British coach to lead the team, following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
England has been without a permanent manager since Gareth Southgate resigned in July, shortly after the team’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Southgate, who had led the Three Lions to significant milestones during his tenure, decided to step down following the heartbreak at Wembley.
The Football Association (FA) has placed Lee Carsley in interim charge for the team’s remaining UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Carsley, who also manages the England under-21 side, will oversee the squad’s matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November, with Tuchel set to assume the role after those games.
Tuchel, who has a decorated history in European football, previously managed Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2022.
During his time at Stamford Bridge, he guided the club to victory in the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.
Despite his success, Tuchel was dismissed by Chelsea early in the 2022-23 season as the club embarked on a managerial overhaul.
The FA had reportedly explored other high-profile candidates, including an informal inquiry with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola over the summer.
However, Guardiola expressed no interest in the role, prompting the FA to pursue Tuchel more aggressively in recent months.
Tuchel’s familiarity with English football and proven track record in managing top-tier teams played a key role in the FA’s decision.
Beyond his Chelsea stint, Tuchel has held managerial positions at Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Borussia Dortmund.
During his time at PSG, he clinched two Ligue 1 titles and a domestic treble in the 2019-20 season.
In Germany, he won the DFB-Pokal with Dortmund. His last managerial role with Bayern Munich ended abruptly earlier this year after the club failed to retain the Bundesliga title for the first time in over a decade.
Earlier in the summer, Tuchel had ruled himself out of the running for the Manchester United job after meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of the club, in France.
His appointment with England now places him back on the global football stage, marking a new chapter in his career.
Neither the FA, Tuchel’s representatives, nor Manchester City officials have commented on the appointment despite multiple inquiries from the media.
Tuchel’s official tenure will begin in December, and expectations are already mounting for how he will shape England’s campaign leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, remains focused on the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
“We are committed to finishing strong,” a source within the FA said, emphasizing the need for stability before Tuchel’s arrival.
The appointment of a non-British manager has historically been met with mixed reactions, but the FA is betting on Tuchel’s experience and tactical acumen to guide the team through its next phase.
With England’s next competitive challenge around the corner and Tuchel’s imminent arrival, the future of English football appears poised for another dramatic shift.
