Thomas Tuchel will be England’s next manager – and the German media are pouncing on the opportunity to have a dig.
The German ex-Chelsea boss was confirmed as the Three Lions’ next permanent manager on Wednesday, and he’s set to take the reins in January 2025.
Tuchel is the new England manager – and journalists from his home country are loving itGetty
Tuchel will be in charge of guiding England through the 2025 World Cup qualifiers and beyond – and he’s already made a promise to supporters.
His appointment has seen a mixed reception from England fans, with a section of them taking issue with the decision not to hire a homegrown manager.
But while the English public debate whether the Champions League winner will guide them to their second ever international honour, over in Germany, the decision to hire him is being branded as ‘desperate’.
Well, that’s the view of one BILD journalist, anyway.
We don’t need to explain why there’s a rivalry between Germany and England when it comes to football.
And BILD’s Matthias Brugelmann is loving the idea of the Three Lions having to turn to a man from their foes’ country.
“But let’s talk about Thomas Tuchel and the English. The motherland of football is getting a German dad. Crazy!” he writes.
“Since 1966 – since 1966!!!! – the proud football nation has been waiting for a title (and sorry, even the World Cup victory was only possible because the referee made a mistake on the Wembley goal).
“So it will soon be 60 years without a title. In that time we have become world champions three times and European champions three times. Oops.
“The desperation on the island must be enormous if they admit that only a German can help now. What a tribute to Tuchel and German football that the English are overcoming their fears despite the huge rivalry.”
One German journalist is cracking up at England turning to their country for a manager
Brugelmann does compliment the Football Association’s decision for recognising Tuchel had a great reputation in England, though.
He points to the Champions League win with Chelsea in 2021 and “preferring to leave when [Todd Boehly and co] went crazy and wanted to buy the already washed-up [Cristiano] Ronaldo”.
However, he does think Tuchel may need to adapt to be a success.
Referring to Tuchel leaving Bayern Munich in the summer, he continued: “But Tuchel has to change! He should quickly shed the thin-skinnedness with which he reacted to criticism at Bayern, for example.
“Compared to the tough, brutal British TV pundit hell surrounding Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Gary Lineker, Dietmar Hamann and Lothat Matthaus were kindergarten.
“The quality of the team around Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham is great. Alongside Spain, Germany, Argentina and France, England is the title candidate for 2026.
“But while [his Bayern predecessor] Julian] Nagelsmann was celebrated for reaching the quarter-finals of the European Championship, after decades of frustration and tears, the only thing that counts is the title. Nothing else.
“Tuchel can become immortal. It is understandable that the job appeals to him.”
The Germans can see why England have hired TuchelGetty
Well, at least he thinks Tuchel is making the right choice, anyway!
The 51-year-old has signed an initial 18-month deal with England, earning a salary between £6million and £7million.
Tuchel is the third foreign manager to take charge of the senior England team, after the late Swede, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.
He starts his new job in January and his contract will take him until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
English coach Anthony Barry will join him as his assistant. He followed him from Chelsea to Bayern Munich.