Summary

  1. 'English coaching is in a rut'published at 12:08 British Summer Time

    Sky Sports

    Graham PotterImage source, Getty Images

    More from Gary Neville on English coaches struggling to reach the high-end jobs: "What the FA have done doesn’t feel strategic, it seems quite instinctive. Tuchel has been available since the summer, so they didn’t need to appoint an interim manager. It smacks of it being quite a recent decision.

    "Let’s be clear, Tuchel is better than any of the other English candidates. But the likes of Graham Potter and Eddie Howe show there were outstanding candidates that could have been appointed and that were English.

    "The reputational damage English coaching has taken means we are now in a rut. We are one of the least respected nations when it comes to taking charge of a football team. We don’t have a clear identity and we haven’t got a coach that has built a style that is unique to us. We’ve just copied what others do.

    "We need to build an identity and let English coaches flourish. St George's Park was set up to do that. So I do think the FA have got some difficult questions to answer."

  2. Tuchel's appointment 'will galvanize some players'published at 12:05 British Summer Time

    Former England centre-back Rio Ferdinand says the England players are likely to be ringing teammates who have worked under Thomas Tuchel to find out what he’s like as there will be "a little of bit of anxiety and apprehension kicking in."

    "They want to be led to the promised land," Ferdinand posted on X, external. "I know for a fact that these players will be sat there ringing each other and asking 'what is he like?' They will be calling all of their mates that have played under him.

    "All of the players will be questioning themselves and asking whether they are what he likes. It will invigorate and galvanize some players but there will be a little of bit of anxiety and apprehension kicking in."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I believe Tuchel can be a success but how depressing is it that not one of our top ten clubs have an elite English manager. Could you imagine Germany, France, Spain or Italy employing an English coach.

    Roger from London

  4. Tuchel addresses England fanspublished at 11:58 British Summer Time

    Newly appointed England boss Thomas Tuchel has posted a short video on the nation's social media accounts, external: "Hi guys, Thomas here. I am quite a bit nervous. It is my first message as the English head coach.

    "I am here at Wembley, where else, and there's also a reason to be a bit nervous. Nerves are a good thing. I can promise you that I am very excited and very honoured.

    "I will do everything I can to qualify for the World Cup first and then we have a successful World Cup and try to get a second star on our shirt.

    "All the best and see you soon in the stadium."

  5. Watch: The making of Thomas Tuchelpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time

    Want to know what the new England manager was like as young boy and then later a professional football player?

    Watch this four-minute video of the making of Thomas Tuchel, first published before Chelsea winning the Champions League in 2021, by BBC Sport.

    Media caption,

    Thomas Tuchel's career path: From TSV Krumbach to Chelsea and the Champions League final

  6. 'Element of disappointment that they have gone to an international coach'published at 11:50 British Summer Time

    Sky Sports

    Former England right-back Gary Neville says he understands why the Football Association has appointed Thomas Tuchel, but it raises difficult questions for them to answer over progression of English coaches.

    Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: "They’ve got a great coach, that is of no doubt. The FA cannot be any way criticised as they’ve probably got the best available coach in the world right now.

    "I am not sure it fits the criteria of St George’s Park and the belief in English managers. It’s tough to get those jobs high in the Premier League still.

    "So there is an element of disappointment in my head that they have gone to an international coach.

    "The challenge for me is that I worked with Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson, but I came to the conclusion that the damage to English coaching was significant. If we are not going to promote them in our own country then we can’t ask others to around Europe.

    "Gareth Southgate had restored a faith in English players and manager ability."

  7. Tuchel 'can do a great job' - Martinezpublished at 11:46 British Summer Time

    Media caption,

    Roberto Martinez on new England manager Tuchel

    Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has told the media that Thomas Tuchel "is a wonderful coach" and he "can do a great job" for England.

    The experienced club and international manager added: "I think he is someone that is going to carry on what Gareth Southgate has done for England."

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time

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    Come to think of it, I can’t remember any recent England manager who has as much experience as Tuchel has. PSG, Chelsea, Bayern, Dortmund. Also managed some of the biggest egos in world football. A few of our youngsters need that to finally get over the line on the big stage.

    Ryan

  9. Chelsea backroom staff 'absolutely loved working for him'published at 11:40 British Summer Time

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There are guys at Chelsea, the backroom staff, absolutely loved working for Thomas Tuchel. They thought he was one of the best managers they've had there. They thought he was brilliant.

    With tournament football you need everybody on board, you need everyone in same boat, you need all your backroom staff to have their input and feel like they're having their input. He does that.

    They felt really valued and I think that's going to be key.

    Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea background staffImage source, Getty Images
  10. Tuchel's difficult personality is the main question markpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    There is no doubting Thomas Tuchel's ability as a tactician, player developer and motivatior.

    However, the German has fallen out with people at almost every club he has managed at.

    He has an intense personality which can both win over a dressing room and supporters but ultimately also prove his downfall while managing his bosses.

    At Mainz, Tuchel was an overwhelming success but he left in fraught circumstances for Borussia Dortmund, where he similarly exited after conflict.

    It was a similar story at Paris Saint-Germain where Tuchel was unhappy with some of the transfer decisions at the club, including the decision to allow Thiago Silva to leave and go to Chelsea, where he soon reunited with the defender.

    It was a love story for Tuchel at Chelsea under Roman Abramovich's team of executives, which included legendary goalkeeper Petr Cech, but in trying to help an inexperienced interim sporting director in new owner Todd Boehly in 2022 - a rift grew over strategy and his inability to focus on coaching the team amid his need for guidance on transfers.

    And in February, Tuchel left German giants Bayern due to a planned "sporting realignment".

    There will likely be questions asked today, as he takes the most important post in English football, whether he buck the trend and keep his bosses at the FA happier than he perhaps did in his club roles?

  11. 'Let's make the most of Harry Kane'published at 11:33 British Summer Time

    Rob Green
    Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

    We’ve probably got one more tournament out of Harry Kane, our greatest ever goal scorer. Let’s make the most of him, who’s better to do that than the guy who was in charge of him last season when he scored a bonkers amount of goals.

    If there was a job interview you’d go in with a tape of that [2021 Champions League] final against Manchester City [where Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea won 1-0] and say ‘there you go’. The underdogs tactically outdid the best.

    Harry KaneImage source, Getty Images
  12. England must keep fan connection - Southgatepublished at 11:30 British Summer Time

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    It is less than a week ago Gareth Southgate spoke at the European Clubs' Association meeting in Athens.

    The former England boss outlined one of his key strategies in helping the team perform to their capabilities at major tournaments.

    "It was the reconnection with our fans," he said.

    "Why was that? Yes, the players were likeable but our communications department was a big part of it. They produced a paper that showed the impact of social media and interaction with the media on performance.

    “Embedding a photographer with the team seemed a small thing but you get pictures of the players enjoying themselves and the younger generation of fans are connecting with social media.

    “All of that helps the team to feel more relaxed going into games. We saw that in the summer when there was a shift with the media because it brought more pressure onto the team.

    "That is a watch out for England going forward. They need to keep that strong relationship with the fans and the media because it is much harder if you don’t.”

    Southgate felt he could sense the switch in attitude amongst the players, which made them more likely to succeed.

    “(Previously) perhaps players had stopped thinking what might be possible and were worrying about what might go wrong. It can be a painful experience. I have been a player in the middle of that story. Some of our players weren’t delivering at the highest possible level because they were inhibited and thinking about not being the guy who was responsible for losing rather than how do we go and win.”

  13. Postpublished at 11:27 British Summer Time

    If the England cricket team play Bazball, what are the football team going to play?

    Tuchball? Tomball? Tazball?

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    To all the folks who are concerned that the FA have not appointed an English manager, just look at the way that Brendon McCullum has transformed the England cricket team. No one seems worried that he is from New Zealand, now that England are winning.

    Stan, Solihull

  15. Tuchel not shy in making views heardpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time

    Media caption,

    Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich: It's a wrong call - Tuchel

    Thomas Tuchel certainly isn't one for holding back if he feels his side has been wronged, just as he did in May 2023 when Bayern Munich were beaten 2-1 away at Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

    The German hit out at the refereeing in the match after Matthijs de Ligt thought he had equalised but assistant referee Tomasz Listkiewicz had already raised his flag for offside.

  16. 'There does seem to be a lot of conflict'published at 11:20 British Summer Time

    John Murray
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Thomas Tuchel attends a press conferenceImage source, Getty Images

    With Thomas Tuchel one thing that has always stood out from his career is that there does seem to be a lot of conflict but very often that conflict is based around where the club goes next and who they're going to sign next.

    That's clearly not an issue with the national team because that doesn't come into it.

    Will Thomas Tuchel be strong enough to leave out some of the big name players? If he feels that that's the wrong blend, will he be prepared to make the big decisions?

    I think his track record would suggest he would.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    What do supporters want from an English team? Do we want an English manager who will do the best he can but England may not reach semis/finals due to his lack of experience in big tournaments. Or do we need an experienced manager, whatever nationality, who has won big trophies. There wasn't an English manager in any of the top six teams in the Premier League last season. That indicates to me that foreign managers are more successful nowadays.

    Lorraine (Man Utd supporter who would have been interested to see what Tuchel could have done at Old Trafford)

  18. City want Pep to staypublished at 11:15 British Summer Time

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    England's decision to bring in Thomas Tuchel is good news for Manchester City.

    They are desperate to persuade Pep Guardiola to remain as manager and are hoping he will sign an extension to his contract, which expires this summer.

    They have more chance of doing that with the England situation resolved.

    Talks will continue on that one. Guardiola's last two City contracts have been announced in November.

    Pep GuardiolaImage source, Getty Images
  19. Does Tuchel live in London?published at 11:11 British Summer Time

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    Tuchel is known to be a regular visitor to London, having enjoyed his spell at Chelsea so much.

    However, it is unclear whether the city is his main permanent residence with his connections to Bavaria, where he grew up and then returned to manage Bayern Munich in his last role as a club manager.

    The German also went on an extensive world tour after losing his job at Stamford Bridge but his love of English football has seen him meet Sir Jim Ratcliffe over a potential chance to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer.

    It is clearly one of the factors behind his long-standing interest in the England manager role, which extends back to 2022 when there were doubts over Gareth Southgate’s future after the World Cup in Qatar.

  20. Tuchel excellent in small dosespublished at 11:07 British Summer Time

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    I spoke to someone who worked with Thomas Tuchel at club level last night.

    He thinks the German will be excellent as an international manager - precisely because he won't be around the players and the 'club' all the time.

    Tuchel has a history of falling out with people due to his demanding nature and his intensity.

    The person I was chatting to felt that can make it difficult for those around him, players and support staff.

    The fact that, until we get to major tournaments, the intensity is in short bursts means the exposure is not as extensive.

    Mind you, I covered England when Fabio Capello was in charge and they said similar things about him. The Italian delivered excellent results until we got to the 2010 World Cup - and then it all went wrong.