Summary

  1. What are Thomas Tuchel's tactics/formations?published at 11:04 British Summer Time

    Alex Howell
    BBC football news reporter

    Thomas Tuchel’s teams are very well organised with every player knowing their jobs to the letter.

    At Chelsea he had a structured 3-4-3 formation and at Bayern Munich he used a 4-2-3-1 formation.

    I was at the game when his Bayern side played Arsenal in the Champions League last season and he was straight on to every player if they did not do their jobs.

    Tuchel’s teams could be described as direct or playing through the lines quickly and in that Bayern v Arsenal tie Eric Dier had a role to hit long range diagonal passes to the quick wingers as fast as possible.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time

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    Tuchel has been a great club manager, but as a club manager you are working with the players day in and day out. Working with a squad of players for a few days is a different situation, but only time will tell.

    Jed, Cyprus

  3. A charming winner or divisive figure?published at 10:56 British Summer Time

    Constantin Eckner
    German football writer

    Some people receive the most appreciation far away from home - and Thomas Tuchel believes he is one of those.

    The former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain manager has agreed to become England's next full-time boss.

    German Tuchel will become the third non-British permanent manager of the men's team after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

    He will now have the challenge of trying to become just the second foreign coach to win a men's World Cup or European Championship.

    A control freak, the 51-year-old has been described as 'charming', an 'incredible coach', but also 'divisive'.

    One thing not in doubt, though, is Tuchel is a serial winner, having won league titles in Germany and France, and a Champions League trophy with Chelsea.

    He has long since wanted a return to England after winning the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup between January 2021 and September 2022 with the Stamford Bridge side.

    Tuchel believes England has treated him with more warmth and affection than his native Germany.

    When he interacts with English journalists, even in his most recent tenure as Bayern Munich manager, he often comes across as a friendlier individual. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the meticulous coach is less concerned about finding the right words when speaking his second language.

    In any case, Tuchel's wish of returning to England has come to fruition after the Football Association turned to him to replace interim boss Lee Carsley.

  4. Barry looking at the finer detailspublished at 10:53 British Summer Time

    A dissertation on throw-ins? Yes, you read that correctly. Anthony Barry has written everything there is to know on the throw-in.

    "His specialism in set-pieces is said to have played a key part of his role across various jobs," said the FA statement, external. "The Liverpool-born coach wrote a dissertation on throw-ins as part of his Pro Licence course and was in charge of all dead-ball situations at Bayern."

    Liverpool have shown throw-in coaches can be useful after they appointed Thomas Gronnemark in 2018.

    Anthony Barry looking onImage source, get
  5. get involved

    Get Involved - Tuchel as England managerpublished at 10:50 British Summer Time

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    The appointment of Tuchel as England manager should be regarded as one of the shrewdest moves the FA have made in quite some time. A manager able to outfox Pep tactically in the biggest games and universally loved by Chelsea fans and players alike. No transfer policy and interfering recruitment department/owners to ruin relations in the England set-up, so with the squad available I can only see more success for England under his stewardship but we must remember winning tournaments is never guaranteed.

    Dan, London

  6. FA acted 'quick' while 'opportunity lies' - Shearerpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time

    Has the mounting pressure on Erik ten Hag at Manchester United influenced Thomas Tuchel's appointment for England?

    BBC pundit and former England striker Alan Shearer believes the "quick" appointment is the Football Association nailing down the German as he has also been one of the rumoured candidates for the Old Trafford job should Ten Hag be sacked.

    "If you are right in what you are saying about Guardiola then fine, as he is the best manager in the world," said Shearer to Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast,

    "After that, you have to look at what is available to you. They have looked at whoever and come up with Thomas Tuchel because there is also the real live chance that he could get the Manchester United job soon.

    "Their [The FA's] opportunity lies now. If they didn’t act quick then they weren’t going to get one of the outstanding candidates because there is every chance that vacancy could become available soon."

  7. 'Secret weapon' Barry brings international experiencepublished at 10:45 British Summer Time

    Nizaar Kinsella
    BBC Sport football news reporter

    England's new assistant coach Anthony Barry was so highly regarded that Bayern Munich paid £1m in compensation to get him out of Chelsea.

    Tuchel has aligned himself with a mostly German-speaking staff throughout his career but Barry, who joined Chelsea through Frank Lampard from Wigan in 2020, quickly proved essential, especially as a set-piece specialist.

    The Liverpool-born coach rejected several roles in the EFL to continue his development under Tuchel despite someday having designs on becoming a manager in his own right.

    Barry has also proved hard-working, taking several international roles alongside his club commitments, including roles at the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Portugal.

    It only adds to his proficiency as he embarks on an England assistant role.

  8. 'I'm a coach who is always looking to evolve' - Barrypublished at 10:41 British Summer Time

    In 2017, Anthony Barry took the step into coaching with Wigan and now, the Liverpudlian will be assisting Thomas Tuchel in leading England.

    After impressing with Wigan, Barry decided to work with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard - who he shared a Uefa Pro Licence course with. However, Lampard didn't last long and that's where Barry's relationship with Tuchel was formed and this continued at Bayern Munich.

    Speaking on 'The Euros Essential Football Podcast, external', Barry said: "I'm a coach who is always looking to evolve, and I believe there is no final product. All the landscape is constantly changing, and if you don't update and evolve, you will become outdated."

  9. Get Involvedpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time

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    I don’t want to be that person who corrects others, but I’m going to do it. Patrick @ 10:32, it’s Gainsborough Trinity and not Gainsborough United

    Dan

  10. USA defeat in Poch's second gamepublished at 10:35 British Summer Time

    Mexico 2-0 USA

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Thomas Tuchel is not the only high profile club boss making the switch to the international scene - and the evidence of Mauricio Pochettino suggests it is not straightforward.

    Pochettino made a winning start as USA boss last week with a victory over Panama.

    But they lost 2-0 in Mexico on Tuesday night, albeit having allowed some key players, including Christian Pulisic, to miss the trip.

    Overseas appointments may be exciting - and expensive - but they also bring greater demands.

    Mauricio PochettinoImage source, Getty Images
  11. Get Involved - Tuchel as England managerpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time

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    Appreciate all the talk today is about Thomas Tuchel but wanted to give a shout out to Gainsborough United who won away at local rivals Boston 4-0 to progress to the first round of the FA Cup, great achievement.

    Patrick

  12. 'This is going to be a very different test' for Tuchel - Shearerpublished at 10:28 British Summer Time

    Thomas TuchelImage source, Getty Images

    Former England captain Alan Shearer says the Three Lions "need a manager who can deliver a trophy" after German Thomas Tuchel agreed to become the next boss.

    "We need a trophy - it's as simple as that. We need a manager who can deliver that," Shearer said on The Rest Is Football, , externalpodcast.

    "There's no doubt [Tuchel] has an incredible CV, but this is going to be a very different test for him. It's a bold move from the FA, there's no doubt about it.

    "You have to win the tournament, that's what he's been hired for. They [the FA] have seen the bunch of players are the best England have had for a long, long time."

    England have been without a permanent manager since Gareth Southgate resigned after eight years in charge following the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, with Lee Carsley appointed on an interim basis.

    "Tuchel will have looked at this squad and thought there is so much talent in there, this is an unbelievable opportunity of winning the greatest trophy of all," former England striker Gary Lineker said.

    Read more

  13. 'We have to agree that Tuchel is a winner'published at 10:24 British Summer Time

    Thomas Tuchel with he Champions League trophyImage source, Getty Images

    Former Manchester City and England right-back Micah Richards says "there are so many questions that need answering" around the FA appointing Thomas Tuchel but he "is an outstanding manager and a proven winner."

    "The more damning thing is that we have not got an English candidate strong enough to take that [England] job. That is one of the most interesting things," he said on the Rest is Football podcast.

    "I was of the opinion that you don't need an English manager and it is about getting the best person for the job.

    "I think Thomas Tuchel is an outstanding manager and a proven winner. I am not sure how he is going to fit all of these great players together because at Chelsea he played three at the back at times. He has also played with two number 10s as well.

    "There are so many questions that need answering but we have to all agree that Tuchel is a winner. No matter where he comes from, he could be the difference between winning and losing.

    "I understand why he has been given the job and I am excited to see what he can bring."

  14. The Royal seal of approvalpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time

    A screengrab of the Prince and Princess of Wales tweetImage source, X
  15. 18-month contract for Tuchelpublished at 10:18 British Summer Time

    BBC football news reporter Alex Howell has confirmed that Thomas Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract as England manager.

    This will take England and Tuchel together through qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and the tournament itself.

  16. FA reached out to Guardiola and Ancelotti, suggests Linekerpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time

    Carlo AncelottiImage source, Getty Images

    BBC presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker suggests on The Rest is Football podcast that the Football Association had shown interest in Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti before recruiting Thomas Tuchel as England manager.

    "They apparently did reach out in the summer to Pep Guardiola and I also understand that they spoke to Carlo Ancelotti," he said.

    "It’s happened so quickly, hasn’t it?" added former England forward Alan Shearer on Tuchel's appointment. "We said the other day that there was perhaps a reason that Lee Carsley was ruling himself out and perhaps he knew something that we didn’t all know.

    "I really hope that they have spoken to English managers. I am reliably told that they didn’t speak to Eddie Howe or sound him out at all. That is a big surprise for me because he would be the outstanding English candidate."

  17. How England announced Tuchelpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time

    In the age of social media, football announcements get more and more interesting. Let's take a look at how England told the world about the Thomas Tuchel era.

    09:25 - The England X account, external posted an 11-second video of a white baseball cap with an England badge on the front on a stool at Wembley Stadium.

    09:30 - England reveal on X, external: "Thomas Tuchel. Our Three Lions head coach from 2025.

    England have updated their X bio to "The Thomas Tuchel era begins in January" and a picture of Tuchel has been put up on the big screen at Wembley.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:06 British Summer Time

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    I am very happy that the FA has chosen the "best man for the job" approach regardless of nationality. Why limit themselves to English coaches if that means settling for a lower quality candidate? Time will tell whether Tuchel proves a success or not, but his credentials are undeniably better than any Englishman that was being considered.

    Tom, Belgium

  19. Last Tuesday...published at 10:03 British Summer Time

    October 8 was a big day in the boardrooms of English football, it turns out.

    Thomas Tuchel signed the contract to become the new England manager last Tuesday. The same day, Manchester United's executive committee held a much reported meeting.

    While United have insisted this was a regular board meeting, no doubt the future of manager Erik ten Hag was discussed. Had they sacked under-pressure Ten Hag, Tuchel was one of the bookies' favourites to replace him at Old Trafford.

    After England's defeat to Greece on Thursday, Tuchel was favourite with bookmakers for the England job.

  20. All smiles for Tuchel and Barry?published at 10:00 British Summer Time

    Will it be all smiles for Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry in their latest roles with England? Let's hope so!

    Anthony Barry embracing Thomas TuchelImage source, Getty Images