By Anadolu Agency
October 16, 2024 1:59 pmANKARA
The English football public has roared at German coach Thomas Tuchel following his announcement as the third foreign manager of the England national team in history on Wednesday.
The 51-year-old, who will officially begin his role with England on Jan. 1, 2025, follows Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson (2001-2006) and Italian Fabio Capello (2008-2011) as the third non-British manager.
After former head coach Gareth Southgate’s resignation following Euro 2024, Lee Carsley has served as the temporary manager.
Following the announcement of Tuchel as the new manager earlier this week, several prominent football figures and media outlets criticized the Football Association’s decision.
“It’s not like he’s been a massive success. He’s come and gone at a couple of clubs. I’m very patriotic; I think we should have an English manager, but obviously the field was very small to choose from,” former England international and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp told English sports channel Sky Sports, speaking condescendingly about Tuchel’s track record.
The English sports daily ‘Daily Mail’ is one of the most vocal opponents of Tuchel’s appointment.
“It’s a dark day for England as the manager’s job goes to a GERMAN,” the ‘Mail’ headlined on Tuesday.
The ‘Daily Mail’ published several articles belittling Tuchel, even commenting on his private life and reporting on his divorce in 2022 and subsequent relationships.
Another British daily, the ‘Telegraph,’ also opposed Tuchel’s appointment, publishing an article titled “Why Thomas Tuchel should not be England manager,” arguing that an English manager should have been hired instead.
Despite the criticism, some, like former England international Rio Ferdinand, have supported Tuchel’s management.
“You want the best to do it. I don’t care; I’m one of those guys, if we win a World Cup or a Euros, all those guys who are writing those articles, I’m going to save them because they’ll be the ones screaming, waving their legs about, losing their voice, (…) and celebrating. They will not be talking about, ‘oh no, we’ve got a German managing us,’” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel in support of the German coach.
“That will not be the conversation because if he [Tuchel] wins, it’s immortal. This is an opportunity for these guys to become immortal, and this is why I think Thomas Tuchel is licking his lips; this is a chance to put himself above anybody in this country right now, up there along with Sir Alf Ramsey,” he added.
English fans appear divided on social media, with some advocating for a national manager, claiming Tuchel is an “underachiever,” while others argue that he could be the new blood the national team needs.
England has secured only one major international title, the FIFA World Cup in 1966, and has struggled to clinch another trophy since.
Tuchel’s achievements
After a mediocre career as a footballer, Thomas Tuchel became one of the prominent figures, alongside Joachim Low, Jurgen Klopp, Julian Nagelsmann, and Hansi Flick, who pioneered a change in German football mentality that led to Germany’s World Cup success in 2014.
Tuchel began his coaching career at German club Mainz 05 from 2009 to 2014, then took charge of Borussia Dortmund in 2015.
He was appointed head coach of French Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, winning back-to-back league titles in 2019 and 2020.
Under his leadership, Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the 2020 Champions League final in Lisbon but lost to Bayern Munich.
Tuchel is no stranger to English football, having managed Chelsea from 2021 to 2022, where he led the club to UEFA Champions League, Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup titles.
He then returned to Germany, where he won the 2022-23 Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.
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