Germany’s Thomas Tuchel agrees to become new England manager
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss is understood to have been chosen by the FA to succeed Gareth Southgate.
German Thomas Tuchel is set to become the new England manager, the PA news agency understands.
It is understood confirmation could come as early as Wednesday after advanced talks between Tuchel and the Football Association progressed rapidly on Tuesday.
The FA has not commented on widespread reports linking the former Chelsea boss with the position vacated by Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024.
Yet, if confirmed, Tuchel would become the third non-Englishman to hold the post after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
The 51-year-old boasts considerable elite-level experience having led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and also taken charge of Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich.
The news, which began with similar reports in the German media last week, follows claims the FA had also made an approach to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
The FA had made it clear at the start of the recruitment process in July that nationality was not an issue, it was a search for the best person for the job.
Under-21 coach Lee Carsley has been in interim charge of the senior team for their Nations League matches so far this autumn.
Carsley was thought to have been a candidate for the job but a lack of clarity from him regarding his own ambitions had reignited speculation over the position in recent days.
England were beaten by Greece last Thursday and there had been a growing sense since the FA was likely to look elsewhere.
Tuchel, who has also coached Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, was available after leaving Bayern last summer.
His appointment would see him link up again with England captain and Bayern striker Harry Kane.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday on the prospect of Tuchel taking the job, Kane told Sky Sports News: “I haven’t been told anything. Until it is announced I can’t really comment but obviously I know Thomas well from last year.
“He is a fantastic coach, a fantastic person. I’m sure the guys at the FA will contact me when they know more about it.”
Former England defender Stuart Pearce believes a lot will be immediately expected of Tuchel after Southgate took the side to two major finals.
Pearce, who won 78 caps, told talkSPORT: “When Gareth left in the summer people were saying, ‘We need to go the next step.’
“Where is the next step from getting to finals and being runner-up? The next step is winning trophies.
“That will be the expectation and I think he’s got a really tough tournament in a year-and-a-half to attempt to win the World Cup in the (United) States, Mexico and Canada. That’s a tough prospect.”
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is disappointed the FA has decided to look abroad.
Redknapp, who also won the FA Cup with Portsmouth and was once a contender for the job himself, told Sky Sports News: “He’s lost his job quite quickly at a couple of clubs. It’s not like he’s been a massive success. He’s come and gone at a couple of clubs.
“I’m very patriotic, I think we should have an English manager but obviously the field was very small to choose from.”
