Thomas Tuchel has revealed his pride at being confirmed as England manager following the announcement of his appointment.
The German was confirmed as Gareth Southgate’s successor on Wednesday, and will start work in early January, with Lee Carsley in charge of the two remaining games in 2024.
He is the third foreign coach to be appointed coach of the men’s team and a press conference following his appointment is expected to be held soon at Wembley.
Tuchel’s appointment ended a nearly three-month search for an appointment, with the likes of Pep Guardiola and Carsley considered, as well as, according to one report, the likes of Carlo Ancelotti.
The German, however, won the race and has now broken his silence on his new role, citing his connection with English football as a major selling point.
New England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed his pride at being announced as the boss of the Three Lions.
The German’s appointment was confirmed on Wednesday morning and he will begin work in January
Tuchel revealed that “a personal connection to the game in this country” was a key factor in his decision
“I am very proud to have had the honor of leading the England team,” he began. “I have long felt a personal connection to football in this country and it has already given me some incredible moments.
“Having the opportunity to represent England is a great privilege and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.
“Working closely with Anthony (Barry) as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and their fans proud. I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark (Bullingham) and John (McDermott), for their confidence and I look forward to beginning our journey together.
Anthony Barry will help Tuchel, having worked with the manager at both Chelsea and Bayern Munich. From Liverpool, he has also worked with teams such as Belgium and Portugal.
“For any Englishman in football, working with the national team is the pinnacle and I didn’t hesitate when Thomas asked me to rejoin him,” Barry said in his own appointment. “I know what a great place St. George’s Park is and the great advantage it offers to our England teams and the support it gives to the coaches.
“This team is very talented and has done a lot to bring the country together, and I look forward to meeting them and working with them on this exciting project.”
Meanwhile, Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best managers in the world, and Anthony Barry, one of the best English managers, to support him.”
Tuchel enjoyed a season at Chelsea and thanked the FA for confirming his appointment
He will be assisted by Anthony Barry (pictured), who worked alongside him at Chelsea.
‘Our hiring process has been very thorough. Before the European Championship we had a contingency plan and described exactly the qualities we would look for in a coach. Since Gareth (Southgate) resigned, we have worked with the candidate pool, meeting with various coaches and assessing them against those criteria.
‘Thomas was very impressive and stood out for his vast experience and drive. Anthony is a top-class English talent and also has international experience with the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Portugal.
“Basically we wanted to hire a coaching team that would give us the best possible chance of winning a major tournament, and we believe they will.” “Thomas and the team have the sole objective of giving us the best possible opportunity to win the World Cup in 2026.”
