England's newly appointed men's football team manager, German Thomas Tuchel, addressed the media during a press conference at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday. — AFP
Thomas Tuchel expressed that the opportunity to become the England manager arrived at the perfect moment, as he sets his sights on ending the Three Lions' long wait to win a major tournament since their 1966 triumph. The former Chelsea manager was officially announced on Wednesday as the permanent replacement for Gareth Southgate, who guided England to consecutive European Championship finals. Tuchel, who has been without a job since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season, will commence his role in January on an 18-month contract, extending to the end of the 2026 World Cup.
"The offer came at the absolutely right time," Tuchel stated during his unveiling at a press conference at Wembley. "Now I have to live up to it, of course. I am aware that there are some trophies missing in the federation, and I want to help make it happen." Tuchel led Chelsea to Champions League victory in 2021 and has secured major trophies throughout his illustrious coaching career at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. However, the appointment of a third foreign manager for the England men's national team has sparked some criticism.
Tuchel humorously apologized for holding a German passport but is determined to silence his critics with results. "Hopefully, I can convince them and show them that I am proud to be the English manager," Tuchel added. "I will do everything to show respect for this role and this country, with the target for the next 18 months being the World Cup, nothing else, and the biggest one in football." England is expected to be a strong contender for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, thanks to a generation of exceptionally talented players.
Mark Bullingham, the Football Association chief executive, revealed that they had interviewed 10 candidates, including English ones, but Tuchel was the best option for securing a long-sought major title. "Thomas was absolutely outstanding, providing a really clear vision for the role and how he would work with our players to get the best out of them and give us the best chance in the World Cup," said Bullingham.
