Thomas Tuchel has been named the new manager of the England men’s national team, marking the beginning of a new chapter. With Gareth Southgate stepping down after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, his departure left a sense of uncertainty following eight years of stability. However, Tuchel’s appointment as the permanent successor has now been confirmed.
Tuchel will officially take charge from 1 January 2025, with a contract running through to the end of the 2026 World Cup. The Football Association (FA) has essentially tasked him with ending England’s near 60-year drought without a major trophy.
Tuchel’s appointment came as a surprise, especially since reports just a week ago had suggested Pep Guardiola was the FA’s top choice. However, with Manchester United showing interest in the German coach, the FA swiftly moved to secure him.
Tuchel becomes only the third foreign manager to lead the England men’s senior team, and there’s widespread belief that they have hired one of the best in the game.
As we reflect on Tuchel’s career so far, what key aspects of his managerial journey should we consider as he embarks on his first international role?
Thomas Tuchel’s Track Record of Immediate Impact
It’s important to note that since leaving Mainz in May 2014, Thomas Tuchel has not completed three full seasons at any job. Given that, few expect him to match Gareth Southgate’s eight-year tenure and participation in four major international tournaments.
However, Tuchel has consistently proven that he doesn’t need much time to make a significant impact. After leaving Mainz, he secured at least one trophy with every club he managed.
His swift success at Chelsea is a prime example, and it’s not just about winning trophies. After being appointed in January 2021, Tuchel led Chelsea to an unbeaten run of 14 matches, the longest such streak for a new Chelsea manager. This success was largely due to his immediate defensive transformation—Chelsea kept clean sheets in 11 of those 14 matches and conceded just a single goal in the others. By contrast, in the two months prior, Chelsea had allowed two or more goals on four occasions across all competitions.
Although Chelsea’s unbeaten streak ended with a 5-2 defeat to West Brom, where they were reduced to 10 men after Thiago Silva’s early red card, Tuchel’s influence remained evident. For the rest of the season, Chelsea didn’t lose by more than one goal in any game unless they were a man down.
This quick turnaround is a promising trait for international football, where time is limited, and Tuchel won’t have the luxury of long-term preparation on the training ground. His ability to implement changes rapidly will be crucial when he begins in January.
That said, there are concerns as well. His early results at Bayern Munich were less impressive, with only two wins in his first seven matches across all competitions after replacing Julian Nagelsmann in March 2023. However, Bayern still managed to secure the title, despite being a point behind when Tuchel took over.
Proven Big-Game Manager
While Gareth Southgate generally did a commendable job with England, leading them to a World Cup semi-final and consecutive European Championship finals, his shortcomings were evident in the biggest matches. Although he restored pride in the men’s national team, there was a perception that Southgate lacked the tactical nuance to secure wins in high-pressure games against top-tier opposition.
England’s losses in major matches highlighted this issue: outplayed by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, and defeated by Italy in the Euro 2020 final and by Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Both final losses, while close on the scoreline, were seen as one-sided affairs, reinforcing the notion that Southgate struggled tactically in such crucial encounters.
In contrast, Thomas Tuchel has demonstrated his ability to succeed on the biggest stage. During his early tenure at Chelsea, he masterminded victories over Manchester City in both the FA Cup semi-final and the Champions League final in 2021. While Chelsea relied on disciplined defending in the Champions League final, they also produced sharp, incisive football, often catching City out with quick transitions.
Tuchel’s ability to deliver in high-stakes matches, particularly with wins like those over Guardiola’s City, likely played a key role in the FA’s decision to appoint him. England’s struggles in these types of contests under Southgate make Tuchel’s experience in big-game scenarios especially encouraging.
However, Tuchel’s record isn’t flawless. His Chelsea side later lost to Liverpool on penalties in both the EFL Cup and FA Cup finals, and his Bayern Munich team allowed Real Madrid to mount a late comeback in last season’s Champions League semi-finals, ultimately finishing the season without silverware.
While Tuchel has notable achievements in major games, it’s clear his track record is not without its setbacks.
Tactical Adaptability
Given Tuchel’s stint in the Premier League, many England supporters will likely associate him with the tactical setups he employed at Chelsea, particularly the back-three system with wing-backs. However, there’s no guarantee that he will rely on this formation with the England national team, nor is Tuchel a coach who rigidly sticks to one style.
Tuchel has consistently demonstrated tactical flexibility, adapting his approach to suit the strengths of his squad. At Chelsea, a back-three was logical to accommodate the aging Thiago Silva, who could have been vulnerable in a traditional back-four. Meanwhile, at Bayern Munich, he predominantly favored a 4-2-3-1 formation, and during his time at Borussia Dortmund, he used a fluid 4-3-3 that sometimes morphed into a 4-2-3-1, similar to Jürgen Klopp’s setup but with a stronger emphasis on possession.
Possession-based play has been a common theme throughout Tuchel’s career. Since the 2015-16 season, only Pep Guardiola’s teams have averaged more successful passes per game than Tuchel’s sides across Europe’s top five leagues. Yet, Tuchel’s teams are not solely focused on keeping the ball—they are also aggressive and dangerous in transition. His Chelsea side, for example, displayed this quality in their victories over Manchester City during his first months in charge.
England fans will likely be eager to see Tuchel bring a balance of possession and attacking dynamism, especially after years of criticism surrounding Southgate’s cautious and slow style of play. Tuchel’s tendency to inject more urgency into his teams’ play could be a breath of fresh air for the national team.
Concerns were raised regarding England’s pressing strategy during Euro 2024, as they allowed opponents to complete an average of 16.1 passes before initiating a defensive action (PPDA). This made them less aggressive than 15 other teams in the tournament. In contrast, Tuchel’s Bayern Munich last season had a PPDA of 11.4 and averaged 9.2 high turnovers per match, compared to England’s 6.3 during the summer.
Tuchel also quickly increased pressing intensity when he first joined Chelsea. Under Frank Lampard in the 2020-21 season, the team averaged 6.3 high turnovers per game, which rose to 8.2 after Tuchel took charge.
After an initial adjustment period, Tuchel’s Chelsea registered at least 10 high turnovers in half of their final 14 league matches of the 2020-21 season, having only achieved that feat three times in their first 24 games. This further supports the notion that Tuchel has a proven track record of making a tactical impact relatively quickly.
Reuniting with Harry Kane
Just days ago, Harry Kane mentioned to Sky Germany, “I obviously know Thomas very well from the last year. He’s a fantastic coach and a fantastic person. I’m sure the FA will contact me when they know more about this issue.”
It’s safe to assume Kane’s phone started buzzing shortly after, as Tuchel was indeed selected by the FA, reuniting the two just a few months after their stint together at Bayern Munich.
As England’s all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals in 101 appearances, Kane has already excelled on the international stage. However, his prolific season under Tuchel at Bayern only strengthens the prospects for their future collaboration.
While they may not have secured silverware together, Kane’s remarkable tally of 44 goals and 12 assists in 45 appearances last season is impressive. His goal count, surpassing an expected goals (xG) total of 37.4, reflects his exceptional form under Tuchel’s guidance.
Kane netted 36 Bundesliga goals in just 32 matches, a feat only matched by Gerd Müller (on three occasions) and Robert Lewandowski in a single Bundesliga season.
Additionally, he contributed to 12 goals during Bayern’s journey to the Champions League semi-finals (eight goals, four assists), setting a record for the most goal involvements by an English player in a single campaign of the tournament.
A common critique of Kane’s recent performances for England, particularly during Euro 2024, has been his tendency to drop deep from his position as the lone striker. Whether it was under Tuchel’s instruction or simply his confidence in his Bayern teammates to create chances without his deeper involvement, Kane spent more time in and around the penalty area for Bayern. This shift may have contributed to his increased goal-scoring efficiency in Germany.
As shown in the touch zone maps below, 39% of Kane’s open-play touches in the Bundesliga under Tuchel occurred in the middle third of the pitch, compared to 44% for England at Euro 2024. Meanwhile, 23% of his touches at Bayern were in the central areas of the final third, compared to just 20% with England during the Euros.
It’s worth considering that this difference may also stem from Bayern’s greater dominance in matches compared to England. Last season, Bayern averaged 61.3% possession in the Bundesliga and took 18.8 shots per game, while England averaged 55.4% possession and 10.9 shots per game at the Euros.
Regardless of the manager, Kane is likely to continue scoring plenty for England, but under Tuchel’s leadership, there’s a chance he could unlock even more from the Three Lions’ star forward.
Evaluating Tuchel’s Winning Record
As Tuchel’s tenure and achievements are scrutinized in the upcoming weeks and months, a prevalent perspective is that his success with clubs like Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain should be viewed with some skepticism.
With that in mind, it’s essential not to get overly excited about Tuchel’s impressive 75.6% win rate in Ligue 1, given that PSG typically dominates the league. Instead, we should focus on his record in the Champions League, which serves as a more accurate benchmark for the major tournaments England participates in. While Tuchel has managed clubs expected to secure victories regularly, one can argue the same for England during World Cup and European Championship competitions, especially since the tournament formats share similarities with the Champions League.
Tuchel has managed 67 matches in the Champions League, more than any other English manager in history and only 14 fewer than the total for all English managers combined. His 40 victories in the competition surpass the 30 wins recorded by all English managers throughout its history. This statistic highlights his extensive experience at an elite level.
Although many advocate for an English manager to lead the national team—an argument that is entirely valid—there are no restrictions preventing foreign coaches from taking the role. Thus, hiring the individual deemed most likely to succeed makes sense, and currently, there isn’t an English coach with Tuchel’s stature.
Tuchel’s European credentials further bolster his case, as he holds a 59.7% win rate in the Champions League. Among those who have overseen at least 50 games in the competition, only Louis van Gaal (60%) and Pep Guardiola (63.6%) have achieved a higher percentage of wins.
Tuchel’s experience in leading teams to the Champions League final extends beyond Chelsea; prior to his time at Stamford Bridge, he took PSG to the tournament’s pinnacle in 2020. That season was affected by the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a condensed format where the quarter-finals and semi-finals were played as single matches instead of two-legged ties. Nevertheless, Tuchel managed to guide PSG to their first-ever Champions League final, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
The key takeaway is not his loss in that final but rather his familiarity with navigating deep into such competitions and his understanding of the high-stakes environment.
In addition to his Champions League experience, Tuchel has only lost eight times in 48 matches across various cup competitions, including the DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Coupe de France, and Coupe de la Ligue. While it’s worth noting that he faced lower-league teams in some of these tournaments, he has consistently managed to overcome the challenges in front of him.
This record of success is just one aspect of why Tuchel is an appealing candidate for the England managerial position at this time.
He is widely recognized as a football enthusiast with a profound tactical acumen. Tuchel possesses a strong personality, a history of winning, and is considered one of the top coaches globally.
While success can never be guaranteed, and he has faced challenges meeting expectations in the past, there are few managers in the current landscape who would represent a better choice for a team eager to achieve quick success.
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How old is Thomas Tuchel?
51 years old
