German Thomas Tuchel Named England's Soccer Boss
The English soccer team has a new manager: German boss Thomas Tuchel.
The 51-year-old has been given an 18-month contract and the goal is simple: win the World Cup in 2026.
It might be a simple goal, but it's not an easy one. The English men's team hasn't won a major trophy since 1966.
Tuchel has been chosen because he's used to winning. He won the Champions League as Chelsea manager in 2021, and he's also won league titles in France — with Paris Saint-German — and Germany with Bayern Munich.
Mark Bullingham from the English Football Association called it "a really exciting day," when Tuchel was announced as manager on October 16.
"We've appointed one of the very best coaches in the world," Bullingham added.
However, Tuchel won't take charge of his first match until January.
He is only the third man from another country to manage the England men's team. He joked: "I'm sorry, I have a German passport."
But Tuchel said he hoped he could show fans how proud he was to be the England boss.
"I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country," he said.
Tuchel is known to be an Anglophile and enjoyed his time in London with Chelsea. He has been without a job since leaving Bayern at the end of last season.
Not everyone was happy to see a foreign manager taking over. On X, right-wing member of parliament Nigel Farage complained: "Why can't we have an English manager?"
Tuchel replaces Englishman Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after leading England to the final of the European Championships last summer.
Lee Carsley, who was born in England, has been in temporary charge since then, and he'll manage the team until the end of 2024.
Tuchel will have an English assistant in Anthony Barry; the two men worked together at Chelsea.
