Thomas Tuchel, the new manager of the England men’s national football team, has a big task ahead of him, according to former England captain Alan Shearer. Shearer believes that Tuchel must win the 2026 World Cup to justify his appointment as the head coach of the Three Lions.
Tuchel, who is 51 years old and has managed top clubs like Chelsea and Bayern Munich, is set to become the third non-British permanent manager for England, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Shearer emphasized that the primary goal for Tuchel is to secure a major trophy, something England has not achieved in 60 years.
The Football Association (FA) made the decision to appoint Tuchel quickly, partly because of the fear that he might become the manager of Manchester United soon. Shearer suggested that the FA acted swiftly to secure Tuchel’s services, given his impressive CV and the risk of losing him to another top club.
Other former England players, like Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, have also shared their thoughts on Tuchel’s appointment. Lineker noted that while he would have preferred an English manager, Tuchel’s credentials are undeniable. He also praised Tuchel’s ability to recognize and utilize the immense talent in the current England squad.
Micah Richards agreed that the lack of strong English candidates made Tuchel a viable choice, emphasizing that the focus should be on getting the best manager for the job, regardless of nationality.
Tuchel is expected to start his role on January 1, 2025, and will face a press conference at Wembley. His experience in English football, having managed Chelsea from 2021 to 2022, is seen as a positive factor in his new role).