England have made the sensational and in some ways controversial decision to appoint former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as their new senior men’s team manager.
Interim boss Lee Carsley will stay on until the end of the previous November break Tuchel takes the reigns in January 2025, 18 months before the next World Cup.
The 2021 Champions League winner with Chelsea had previously been targeted by Manchester United in the summer as a replacement for emergency Erik ten Hag. turning down the relegated Premier League giants.
The immediate reaction of the English media has focused on his German nationality. Tuchel will become only the third foreign head of the men’s national team, after Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2000 and Fabio Capello, who, like Tuchel, arrived in 2000. England as decorated European champion.
Outrage from some posts was expected, while many X users have questioned the decision to pass over Eddie Howe and Graham Potter, who may not even have wanted the job in the first place, due to the style of play of Tuchel among other things.
Here’s a snippet of what’s happening on social media.
A foreign coach should not be allowed to be in charge of your national team. The basic premise is passport against passport, nationality against nationality. What a shame for English football and the way for English managers. https://t.co/mriNEoJ6bB
— Tom Rennie (@thomasjrennie) October 15, 2024
England fans surely can’t really be happy with Thomas Tuchel, a 51-year-old German who, given his track record, will do well to take 2 years off him and still be here for the 2026 World Cup. Bad FA appointment in my honest opinion.
— Jay Dutton (@JayLfc94) October 15, 2024
Strange decision by the FA to rush Tuchel’s appointment because of a poor game against Greece. Winning a couple of trophies at club level doesn’t mean much when it comes to the Euros or the World Cup. Maybe it will be a great call…we won’t know for a while
— Alex Sebastian (@MrAlexSebastian) October 15, 2024
Someone has to say, Tuchel as England manager is a bad idea. The problem with Tuchel is that he is so stubborn and will keep playing with inferior players as long as he likes them.
— Soli-Man Kenobi (@SolimanKenobi) October 15, 2024
Tuchel’s appointment is horrible defensive football and has a 12 month shelf life
— Daniel Slater (@DanSlater91) October 15, 2024
#Tuchel Wow, I didn’t think the FA would go for him. His football is worse than Southgate’s and he clashes with the management and players all the time.
— Ciaran Wallace
(@oldbencjw) October 15, 2024
Thomas Tuchel is highly overrated, shocking decision
— dom #SellBeforeWeDai (@domwindle) October 15, 2024
Still, Tuchel has many defenders, many of whom are horrified that his impressive resume is worth overlooking in favor of patriotism.
That’s wild, regardless of your views on Tuchel. I can think of a few dark days in English football, but appointing a Champions League winning manager is definitely not one. pic.twitter.com/bK63tFWIIp
— Will Brazier (@willbrazier) October 16, 2024
GMB every morning until Tuchel is fired pic.twitter.com/h6NfzG7wc4
— Jay Motty (@JayMotty) October 15, 2024
I don’t think people realize how good Thomas Tuchel would be for England.
It’s a joke in playoff football.
He took PSG to the UCL final for the only time and narrowly lost to a Bayern side that tore everyone apart.
He won the UCL conceding just 4 times averaging quite… pic.twitter.com/juZzNIrRud
— Will (@willreyner) October 15, 2024
Thomas Tuchel getting the England job will only end in tears.
German tears when one of their own wins the World Cup. It’s happening What a man for the job. pic.twitter.com/KFBNQRO4O0
— George Benson (@MrGeorgeBenson) October 16, 2024
People who say the England manager must be English amuse me. An English manager has never won the PL and England have never won anything in our lifetimes.
Tuchel is a serial winner and much, much better than Lee Carsley or Graham Potter. It’s as simple as that
— Ball Talk (@Ba11Talk) October 15, 2024
Don’t care about the foreign/German angle with Tuchel. Finally, the FA has made a good decision with the aim of winning an important trophy
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) October 15, 2024
Although he is a proud Bavarian, Tuchel spent 18 months at the Premier League with Chelsea and has shown his appreciation for English talent by signing Harry Kane and Eric Dier while in charge of Bayern Munich, two players who could be in line for a meeting with the coach
Tuchel kept trying to sign random English players at Bayern and he might have finally found a job where he could work with lots and lots of them.
— Grace Robertson
(@GraceOnFootball) October 15, 2024
No fan base has been as enthusiastic as the Chelsea supporters. Although Tuchel was forced to leave the club in September 2022 after opening the Premier League season with defeats to Southampton and Leeds United, the memory of his trophies has lingered longer in the memory .
Enzo Maresca managing my football club.
Thomas Tuchel managing my country.
PLAY THIS TUNE.
— Uber Chelsea FC (@UberChelseaFC_) October 15, 2024
Chelsea during the season and Tuchel’s England during the international break. My life is complete.
— Conn (@Connfc_) October 15, 2024
Above the Champions League success, Tuchel boasted an unbeaten record in seven semi-finals (winning six) and led the club to the UEFA Super Cup and their first FIFA Club World Cup.
I really can’t believe that Thomas Tuchel is the manager of England.
I’ve always said I thought it would be perfect for England, but I don’t think I ever thought it would actually happen. SO excited
— Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo) October 16, 2024
