Tuchel’s Appointment as England Manager Met with Some Resistance
Thomas Tuchel’s recent appointment as the English national football team manager has raised eyebrows among a few experts, who believe there’s still some convincing to be done. “I think we do ourselves a disservice by accepting that Thomas Tuchel is better, better than any other English coach,” stated Gary Neville, a former player with 85 caps for the national team, during an interview with Sky Sports. He pointed out that Eddie Howe and Graham Potter have also achieved significant success with their respective clubs. “I firmly believe there were excellent English managers who could have been appointed,” he added.
Tuchel is set to take up his new role on January 1, aiming to lead the “Three Lions” to victory at the 2026 World Cup. He will become the third foreign manager of the English side, after Sweden’s Sven-Göran Eriksson and Italy’s Fabio Capello.
Voices Against a Foreign Hire
Sharing similar sentiments to Neville, Jamie Carragher, another former English national team player, expressed his concerns: “When I think of England right now, so close to winning a major tournament, it’s just not right to bring in a foreign manager after so much effort has been put into training these players,” said Carragher, who spent many years with Liverpool. He stressed the distinction between the national team and club football, noting that the national team consists of individuals from one country. “This isn’t just about England. I don’t think Italy, Germany, or France should do it, and I find Portugal’s decision to appoint Roberto Martinez quite odd,” he added, though he did acknowledge Tuchel as a “brilliant manager.”
England “In a Fix”
Echoing these views, a past football star remarked on the importance of national team coaches being from the country itself, during a discussion on the podcast The Rest Is Football. Gary Neville commented on the challenging state of English coaching, explaining that English managers are often the least respected among major footballing nations. “Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese coaches are known for their style and philosophy,” Neville observed.
Stuart Pearce, a former national defender, also expressed a preference for an English coach to succeed Gareth Southgate but now holds high expectations for Tuchel. “I will judge him based on what he contributes to English football, sometimes going beyond results. I want him to show genuine interest in the development of English football and coaches,” said Pearce, referencing his own experience of losing on penalties to Germany in the 1990 semi-finals, to the Mirror newspaper. Despite Tuchel’s 18-month contract, Pearce emphasized the importance of genuine commitment. “The role is bigger than managing a club team,” Pearce stated.
“A Proven Winner”
Just as Tuchel’s appointment was confirmed on Wednesday, doubts began to surface in England, with the likes of former English striker Alan Shearer weighing in. “I sincerely hope they have consulted with English managers,” said the 54-year-old during The Rest Is Football. He noted, based on reliable sources, that Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle United, had not been approached, which was a significant surprise for him: “He would have been an outstanding English candidate,” Shearer commented.
In the same discussion, former English professional player Micah Richards, who had an extensive career with Manchester City, shared his thoughts: “It’s a shame we don’t have a strong enough English candidate for the job,” he remarked, emphasizing the search for the best person suited for the position. “I believe Thomas Tuchel is an exceptional manager and a proven winner,” Richards asserted.
Looking ahead with optimism, former English defender Rio Ferdinand voiced confidence about England’s future under Tuchel: “I would even go as far to say that Thomas Tuchel will win a tournament with England during his tenure.”