This news is likely to make waves in England: a German is taking over the national team. But in the end it could be a blessing for both sides.
Sven Göran Eriksson. Fabio Capello. And now Thomas Tuchel. According to consistent media reports, the third foreign coach in the history of the English national team comes from Germany.
A lanky Swabian is now supposed to achieve what his two predecessors from Sweden and Italy failed to do: a title with the dramatically titleless “Three Lions”, who have been waiting for another trophy for the trophy cabinet since the 1966 World Cup. It is Tuchel’s first job as coach of a national team – and it could be a stroke of luck for both the association and, above all, for himself. What’s more: Maybe Thomas Tuchel has now even found his dream job.
Because as England’s “team manager” he has no one next to him, no one above him, no one to talk to him about day-to-day business, no one who could come into conflict with him, who is not exactly considered conflict-averse.
Review: According to reports, his downfall at Borussia Dortmund – in addition to disagreement over how to deal with the explosive attack on the team bus in 2017 – was also his unwillingness to talk to the notoriously talkative BVB managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke. During his time as coach of Paris Saint-Germain, the controversial Tuchel repeatedly clashed with the equally controversial sports director at the time, Leonardo, until it became too much for both of them and, in frustration, a contract termination was agreed.
Tuchel had to leave Chelsea FC in September 2022 at the instigation of the new owner Todd Boehly, whose sometimes grotesque ideas when putting together the squad he did not want to support. The American has now successfully sold off the once proud “Blues” to become an international transfer hub. At FC Bayern, Tuchel’s transfer requests bounced back time and again against a complacent club management and had to allow himself to be publicly insulted by club patron Uli Hoeneß.
At the sporting level, Tuchel was definitely successful in every one of his jobs. He left Dortmund as the DFB Cup winner, with PSG he won two championships and once the Coupe de France (with the third-best points average of all coaches in the club’s history). Chelsea fans still adore the German today for the Champions League victory in 2021, which brought him also helped him become “FIFA World Coach of the Year”. And the fact that they thought about continuing their collaboration in Munich after the early separation that had long since been publicly announced also speaks volumes.
Now he is reportedly tackling the task of celebrating success with the England National Football Team. It is the biggest challenge of his career. Now he is in demand, now he has perhaps always wanted – also, at least also handed over, because Thomas Tuchel only trusts Thomas Tuchel with absolute expertise. Sole decision-making power over personal details and nominations, no authority that demands explanation or even justification. At least no substantial interference is known from Prince William as President of the English Football Association (FA).
Except for the squeamish English press. But he already knows them – and is also bathed in steel from his time in Munich through the constant dealing with calf-biting “field reporters” in the German media landscape. Here, of all places, everything could actually be right for Thomas Tuchel.