Thomas Tuchel on why he picked England over Manchester United

Thomas Tuchel has finally spilled the beans on why he decided to manage England instead of waiting for the Manchester United gig.

October 16, 2024
4:13 pm

With United struggling at the start of the Premier League season, Erik ten Hag’s future was looking shaky, and Tuchel was seen as a potential saviour. He even had chats with United’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, about taking the reins.

But now, Tuchel is the new boss of the England national team, becoming just the third non-Englishman to lead the Three Lions. When asked why he chose England over United, Tuchel was straightforward. “The idea and the way John [McDermott] and Mark [Bullingham] presented it was very fast and confidential. It was a decision for this job, not against anything else,” he said, hinting that the FA’s vision was too tempting to resist.

Tuchel, who’s had a stellar run in club football, acknowledged that managing an international team comes with its own challenges, especially with the different pace and schedule. “I wasn’t sure this was the job for me because the schedule is very different,” he admitted. “But they made it clear it’s about football and that got me excited.”

Having previously enjoyed success at Chelsea, where he clinched the Champions League, Tuchel always wanted to return to England. “I always wanted to come back to England, that was my big goal. The offer came at the right time and we found a vision to share. Now I have to live up to it,” he said, brimming with optimism.

His contract with the FA runs until the 2026 World Cup, giving him 18 months to make his mark. “It’s 18 months and then we agreed to sit together and we’ll see. I have good experience with 18-months, unfortunately sometimes. I’m working on my long-term game!” he explained.

While Tuchel is used to the daily grind of club management, he believes his experience will be a huge asset for the national team. “We have players who compete in the strongest leagues in the world day in, day out. We will need luck, momentum, and a bit more luck to avoid injuries. We feel confident to add something from our club football experience that can maybe help,” he added, highlighting the need to adapt his strategies for the international stage.

Tuchel is clearly buzzing about the challenge ahead, but as he said, “We have to prove ourselves all the time. We have to live up to these standards, but I’m confident everyone is used to that.” Whether he can turn his club success into international glory is yet to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Tuchel’s England journey will be closely watched by fans.