Thomas Tuchel, who will be supported by English coach Anthony Barry, will start his tenure in January, ahead of England's qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup. — Reuters file
The FA's choice to appoint German Thomas Tuchel as the head coach of the national team has sparked significant debate about English coaching, according to former England defender Gary Neville. Tuchel, 51, who previously managed Chelsea and Bayern Munich, is the first German to lead England and only the third foreign manager after Sweden's Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello. Before the FA announced Tuchel as Gareth Southgate's successor on Wednesday, names like Newcastle United's Eddie Howe and former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter were also considered for the role.
"They likely secured the best coach available globally at this moment," former Manchester United captain Neville told Sky Sports News. "In that regard, they are absolutely correct. However, I'm uncertain if this aligns with the vision of St George's Park and the emphasis on English coaches and the recent growth in English teams' performances." Neville added, "Everyone in our country, including myself, will support him and hope we can secure a trophy, but there are serious questions the FA needs to address regarding English coaching. I believe we are undermining ourselves by accepting that Tuchel is superior to any other English coach."
Tuchel, with Anthony Barry as his assistant, will commence his role in January, ahead of England's qualification efforts for the 2026 World Cup. Under Southgate, England reached the finals of the European Championship in 2020 and 2024, as well as the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, but remains without a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
"I'm not the most patriotic person, and the England manager doesn't have to be this or that — it's not about England," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky. "It's international football. The essence of it, especially for major nations competing for titles, is our best against their best."
