New England manager Thomas Tuchel steps in amid criticism and high expectations for success

Harry Kane of FC Bayern München with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between FC Barcelona and FC Bayern München at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 23, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)

By Yanga Sibembe

24 Oct 2024

The appointment of England’s third foreign manager has sparked a debate on nationalism in sports.

The England men’s soccer side currently possesses a plethora of talented individuals. A new “golden generation” after the previous group of English soccer stars, such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes failed to deliver their country’s first piece of silverware since the 1966 World Cup.

At their most recent major tournament, the 2024 European Championship, the Three Lions reached the final only to be tamed by a ruthless Spain side, who beat them 2-1 to be crowned champions of Europe. It was the second consecutive continental final that England had reached and lost.

That disappointment saw Gareth Southgate, who had been manager of the English since 2017, resign. That was in July. After that, the English Football Association (FA) spent time searching for Southgate’s successor, with Lee Carsley (England’s U21 coach) stepping in on an interim basis.

On 16 October 2024, the FA finally announced their new manager following a few months of speculation.

It was German tactician Thomas Tuchel, whose senior coaching career truly kicked off at German side Mainz in 2009. The 51-year-old has also coached teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate. (Photo: Mika Volkmann / Getty Images)

Despite his vast experience, his appointment to the English national team came with some criticism, particularly from some sectors of the English media.

The Daily Mail was particularly scathing, terming Tuchel’s appointment “a dark day for England”. In his first press conference Tuchel, who is just the third foreign national to lead the men’s side (after underwhelming tenures by the late Sven-Göran Eriksson, as well as Italian Fabio Capello), joked that he was sorry about being German. But he added that he hoped he could do his talking with results.

“Hopefully, I can convince them and show them and prove to them that I’m proud to be the English manager. I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country and the target for the next 18 months, if nothing else,” Tuchel told journalists.

“Everyone can be assured that we will do it with passion and with emotions, and we will try to install values and principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream (of silverware) come true,” the 51-year-old said.

English pride

England prides itself as being the home of soccer, and is credited with inventing the sport as we know it in the 19th century. So it hurts the lovers of the sport in the country that their only major piece of silverware came all the way back in 1966, under the tutelage of Alf Ramsey.

Since then, silverware has been elusive for the English. When they finished fourth at the Russia 2018 World Cup with Southgate at the helm, it was the first major semifinal the team had reached since the 1996 Euros, when Southgate was still a player.

Despite not winning a trophy, Southgate’s tenure was deemed to be successful as a result. Reaching back-to-back European finals further enhanced this belief.

Harry Kane in action for Bayern Munich during their Uefa Champions League League Phase MD3 match against FC Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on 23 October 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo: Ion Alcoba Beitia / Getty Images)

Though Southgate was criticised in some quarters for failing to leap over the final hurdle, especially with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane at his disposal, it was said that at least he was English. This sentiment prevailed even when he was judged harshly for his team’s pragmatic approach.

Stylistically, Tuchel is the opposite, with the German favouring possession-based soccer, although he has shown himself to be quite adaptable, depending on the situation at hand.

“England are good until they play a good team. Thomas Tuchel is proven. The paths England have had to get through to finals have been quite simple,” former England and Manchester United midfielder Scholes said on the Stick to Football podcast.

“But then there is one of those games where as soon as you play a quality team, like Croatia, Spain or Italy, you come unstuck. This could be the man who takes us there. You’d prefer it to be an English coach, but is that English coach out there? (The FA) have got the best out there that was available,” Scholes said.

Wake-up call

As Scholes pointed out, there aren’t any active English managers with a better CV than Tuchel. Former Chelsea manager Graham Potter was an option, as well as Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe. However, neither possesses the achievements and aura of their German counterpart.

Moreover, the English Premier League is one of the most diverse leagues in the world, boasting talent from myriad countries. In addition, the last English manager to win the English top-flight was Howard Wilkinson in the 1991/92 season with Leeds United.

Still, there is a sentiment that international soccer is different. It is a platform for peak nationalism, therefore everything at that level should be about promoting the brilliance of a country. If the best coaches available to represent their country aren’t good enough, so be it.

England’s international rivals, such as Brazil, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France have traditionally stuck to their own coaches over the past few decades.

Former England international Gary Neville says Tuchel’s appointment may be an indication that England must change how they do things, in order to produce the required quality of manager in future.

“This is not an anti-Thomas Tuchel agenda, it’s purely around the fact that English coaches are struggling to build an identity, not just in this country but in Europe as well. So, if we can’t appoint an English coach to the national job, where are we putting our belief system in terms of what we’re doing?” asked Neville.

Interestingly, the coach of the English women’s soccer side, Sarina Wiegman, did not face a backlash when she became the first foreigner to coach the team in 2021. In fact, after winning the 2022 Euros and reaching the 2023 World Cup final, the Dutchwoman was linked with the very job that Tuchel has taken.

To silence his detractors, Tuchel will have to win. He will be under intense scrutiny. With any little mishap, he should be ready for a backlash. Which makes his job doubly difficult. DM

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