By The English Football Association (FA) announced on Wednesday that Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new head coach of the England national team, with his tenure set to begin in January 2026. The 51-year-old German tactician, renowned for his success with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, has been tasked with leading England to its first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
FA CEO Mark Bullingham expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world.” Tuchel becomes England’s third foreign coach, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Tuchel’s impressive resume includes a Champions League title with Chelsea, where he outmaneuvered Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the final. He has also secured league titles with PSG in France and Bayern Munich in Germany, demonstrating his ability to succeed across Europe’s top leagues.
The new England boss expressed his excitement about the role, saying, “I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.”
Tuchel succeeds Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after eight years following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Southgate’s tenure saw England reach the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020, setting a high bar for his successor.
The FA conducted an extensive search before settling on Tuchel, with the announcement delayed until after recent Nations League games against Greece and Finland. Tuchel’s appointment aligns with the FA’s goal of hiring a coach with experience at the highest level and familiarity with English football.
Anthony Barry, Tuchel’s former assistant at Chelsea who recently worked with Portugal at Euro 2024, will join the new England coaching setup. Bullingham emphasized the FA’s ambition, stating, “Fundamentally we wanted to hire a coaching team to give us the best possible chance of winning a major tournament, and we believe they will do just that.”
Tuchel will assume his role after the World Cup qualifying group draw in December. In the interim, Under-21s coach Lee Carsley will oversee England’s Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland next month.
The appointment of Tuchel represents a bold move by the FA, bringing in a coach with a track record of tactical innovation and success at elite clubs. As England prepares for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, expectations will be high for Tuchel to build on the progress made under Southgate and finally end the nation’s long wait for international glory.
With a talented squad at his disposal and his proven ability to compete at the highest level, Tuchel’s tenure as England manager will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike, as he seeks to write a new chapter in English football history.
