Thomas Tuchel: The new England manager, feeling ‘proud’, seeks to ‘win over’ skeptics with a trophy.

**Tuchel ‘Very Excited and Honoured’ to Take the Helm as England Head Coach**

In a significant development for English football, Thomas Tuchel has expressed his excitement and honour at being appointed as the new head coach of the England national team. The German tactician, who has signed an 18-month contract starting January 1, 2025, aims to lead the Three Lions into the 2026 World Cup and beyond.

Tuchel becomes the third non-British permanent manager of the men’s team, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. His appointment has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, with many questioning whether the Football Association should have opted for an English candidate to replace Gareth Southgate.

Addressing these concerns at his inaugural press conference, Tuchel remarked, “I am sorry I have a German passport. Maybe these supporters felt my passion for the Premier League and the country, how I love to live here and work here. Hopefully, I can convince them and show them that I am proud to be the England manager and I will do everything I can to show respect to this role and this country.”

Tuchel’s credentials are impressive. During his tenure at Chelsea from January 2021 to September 2022, he secured the UEFA Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. However, the question of whether he would sing the national anthem has also emerged, a topic that has been raised with interim boss Lee Carsley, who previously played for the Republic of Ireland.

“I understood from FA CEO Mark Bullingham that it is a personal decision,” Tuchel stated. “I have not made my decision yet. The English anthem is very moving; I experienced it several times here in England at Wembley in FA Cup finals. I will always show my respect to the country and a very moving anthem, but as this is a news object, I will take a bit of time over this decision.”

Bullingham revealed that “approximately 10 people” were interviewed for the role, including English candidates, but he firmly believes Tuchel is the “best person for the job.” He added, “We feel like we owe it to the players and the country to give them that support, leadership in tournaments that will help them get over the line, to give us the best chance of winning a trophy in the men’s World Cup. We feel delighted that Thomas has joined us.”

**Aiming to End England’s Trophy Drought**

At the forefront of Tuchel’s ambitions is the desire to end England’s long-standing trophy drought. The Three Lions’ only major triumph remains the 1966 World Cup, with recent near-misses in the finals of the last two European Championships adding to the nation’s frustration.

When asked if this challenge is the biggest of his career, Tuchel responded, “I understood very quickly it’s a big job. I think it’s always the job you’re in which is the biggest job. It doesn’t make much sense to compare, but it feels big and a privilege. It’s very new because I come from club football, so the rhythm and responsibility, the role is a new role which is very exciting.”

Tuchel candidly admitted that he had reservations about stepping into international management. “Mark and John (men’s technical director John McDermott) made very clear this is about football. That excited me very quickly because I wasn’t sure before we had the first talk if this is a role for me in international football, because the schedule is very different from club football.”

However, he soon discovered many similarities that aligned with his approach and ambition. “I always wanted to come back to England; that was my big goal. I have the best memories of the country, the league and the players; the attitude towards the game from the supporters shapes the players and the character of the players.”

Tuchel concluded with a sense of pride, stating, “This role just brought the young me alive and brought back my teenage days, to get excited for such a big task. For the Three Lions, for preparing matches at Wembley.”

As Tuchel embarks on this new chapter, the hopes of a nation rest on his shoulders, with fans eager to see if he can deliver the silverware that has eluded England for so long.