Thomas Tuchel has agreed to become the next England soccer manager.
Football Association chiefs are expected to confirm Tuchel’s appointment on Wednesday after extensive negotiations. Former Chelsea manager Tuchel is believed to have flown to London to finalize contract details and the FA have finally got their man.
It means the England national team will be managed by a coach from England’s biggest footballing rivals as a German takes charge for the first time. Tuchel, 51, has been on the FA’s radar ever since Gareth Southgate’s departure in July after the Euros.
The FA’s search has intensified in the past few weeks as they have sounded out leading candidates and have made it clear they do not believe the England manager has to be English.
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They made contact with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in the summer but the Catalan has not given them an answer and there is a strong belief he will stay at the Etihad for another year.
The FA have accelerated talks with Tuchel in the past few days and he is viewed as an experienced manager with an outstanding CV. He is also hugely popular and highly-respected in England from his time at Chelsea.
Tuchel led Chelsea to the Champions League trophy in 2021 and that fits the FA’s desire to have an experienced, successful manager from the highest level. Tuchel has also managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and also took over at Bayern Munich last season when he worked with Harry Kane.
That has underlined his credentials to work with top players and the hope is that his arrival will help England go from being beaten finalists in the last two Euros to winners in major tournaments.
Gareth Southgate stepped down from the England job in July (
Getty Images)
Lee Carsley has been in interim charge and was given the six Nations League games this autumn and he was viewed as a candidate but the FA have gone in a different direction and gone for a proven manager.
Carsley is likely to go back to being in charge of the under-21s and the FA moved quickly for Tuchel as he was on Manchester United’s list of candidates had they sacked Erik ten Hag.
Tuchel has effectively been on gardening leave since leaving Bayern at the end of last season and it remains to be seen when he could take up the position.
The World Cup draw takes place in Geneva on Friday, December 13, with the new manager then expected to oversee the qualifying campaign.
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