Sport Editor Charlie King discusses the potential impact of a controversial appointment
The Lee Carsley period as interim manager achieved its main goal. Promotion back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League was secured with a record of five wins and one defeat. The most recent international break helped England achieve this feat in style, coasting past Greece 3-0 in Athens, before thumping Ireland 5-0 at Wembley. It was a period which will give Thomas Tuchel plenty to ponder before he takes charge in March, with thirty-two players being used and eight handed their debuts.
The appointment of the German to the England role raised eyebrows among many, despite his undeniable pedigree. Tuchel’s job description is likely to represent quite the departure from the role and responsibilities Gareth Southgate oversaw for eight years. His remit will be, first and foremost, to win matches, and without looking too far ahead to the 2026 World Cup, deliver trophies. The need to develop English football through an interventionist, long-term strategy will not be a priority for the serial winner.It cannot be denied that Tuchel possesses the record in big games which surely elevates his chances of bringing success to England. It was often felt, despite the commendable achievements of Southgate’s England side, that they came up short in the big moments. The loss of two Euros finals and one World Cup semi-final is testament to this.
Tuchel is widely credited for outsmarting managerial behemoth Pep Guardiola in his most notable managerial achievement, when his unfancied Chelsea side triumphed over Guardiola’s Manchester City 1-0 to become European Champions. Alongside the greatest European prize, the German boasts two Ligue 1 titles, one Bundesliga, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He was also named UEFA men’s coach of the year in 2020-21. As attention shifts away from the validity of his appointment, questions will begin to be asked about how Tuchel’s England will set up. He has deployed a four-at-the-back system for most of his managerial career, but is most known in England for the success his Chelsea side gained with his 3-4-2-1 system, with wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell bombing forward at every opportunity. One of his main attributes is pragmatism, and it is both hoped and expected that he will deliver the tactical approach the situation demands.
Questions will begin to be asked about how Tuchel’s England will set up
The choice to go with three defenders at the back would be a controversial one, given the abundance of attacking talent England possess. However, it could be one that works wonders, especially in the big matches where defensive solidity is prioritised. Lee Carsley’s experiment in the home game against Greece in October, where he tried to cram all of England’s attacking stars in one crowded final third, was thoroughly undermined after they fell to a 2-1 defeat. This could have done Tuchel a service, with the clamour to shoehorn all of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane in one team subsiding somewhat.
Having worked at Bayern Munich, Paris St. Germain, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel’s ability to manage big personalities and talent is evident. Yet, concerns arise over his ability to promote youth. This is something both Southgate and Carsley proved themselves excellent at. In the most recent Ireland triumph, four players scored their first England goals, whilst Curtis Jones and Tino Livramento were impressive. Tuchel is likely to take a more short-term and distant approach. He worked with captain Harry Kane recently at Bayern Munich, and knows some of the players he coached at Chelsea, but otherwise is largely unfamiliar with this squad.
Tuchel is likely to take a more short-term and distant approach
The same can be said on the coaching side. The expensively-constructed St. George’s Park, opened in 2012, was meant to herald an age of both talented English tactical minds as well as footballers. Yet this has failed to bear fruits in terms of English managers represented in the premier league, with only three of twenty premier league clubs currently being managed by English coaches. Whilst this points to a lack of quality alternatives, managers with accomplished CVs such as Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were seemingly overlooked in favour of the German. This is a choice that risks sending the message that the path to the top remains blocked for aspiring domestic talent.
Tuchel has been handed an 18-month contract with instant success a requisite demand. How his legacy is evaluated will centre only around his ability to deliver England their first major trophy in sixty years. Should England go all the way and achieve that elusive success, all concerns about his nationality will be cast aside. Should he fail, the decision may come to look myopic – an attempted shortcut to success that has undermined the long-term development of English football.
Should he fail, the decision may come to look myopic
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