Former Chelsea coach Tuchel in talks with FA over England manager’s job

Thomas Tuchel is in talks with the Football Association about becoming England’s next manager, according to reports on Tuesday.

It follows reports that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been asked about his interest in the role.

Tuchel, 51, led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 but was sacked the following year.

He has been among the bookmakers’ favourites for the England job since Gareth Southgate stood down after England lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.

Sky Sports said the German, who left Bayern Munich at the end of last season, was in “pole position” to become Southgate’s long-term replacement.

The Football Association declined to comment on the reports.

Lee Carsley was appointed as Southgate’s successor on a temporary basis in August, initially for the Nations League campaign over three international windows.

However, the 50-year-old, who stepped up from his role as under-21s manager, has since given mixed messages about whether he wants the job on a permanent basis.

Carsley, who has overseen three wins and a defeat, believes the job should go to the best candidate, regardless of nationality.

England have twice before been managed by foreign coaches, with Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello taking charge.

Carsley’s own chances of landing the job full time were severely dented by a 2-1 defeat at home to Greece last week after he named an experimental line-up.

“We’ve seen in the past that we’ve had different nationalities coach the team. The best candidate should get the job,” said the interim boss.

“I think we’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t, and we didn’t open our minds a bit.”

Carsley has distanced himself from leading the Three Lions on a permanent basis in recent days after declaring England deserve a “world class coach who has won trophies” he is yet to lift early in his managerial career.

Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and would be a dream appointment for the English Football Association (FA) after winning six Premier League titles in his eight seasons at City.

The Times reported on Monday that the FA made an informal approach to Guardiola at the beginning of the season over his availability to succeed Gareth Southgate.

“I haven’t decided yet. And it is not even true that I will be the next England coach. If I had decided I would say it,” Guardiola told Italian TV show Che Tempo Che Fa on Sunday.

Over the past two decades, Guardiola has cemented his legacy as a ‘serial winner’. The Spanish head coach has conquered club football with highly successful stints at FC Barcelona, FC Bayern Munich and City.

Carsley is still expected to take charge of England’s final Nations League group games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month.

Carsley led England’s under-21 side to victory at the Euros in 2023 and said a rare taste of defeat on the international stage was tough to take.

“The hardest bit would probably have been the last two days because I’m not used to losing with the 21s,” he added.

“I wouldn’t say we’re fortunate, but we win a lot of games, so every time I go on camp I generally win two games and go home.

“To lose a game at Wembley in front of a full house was something I really took personally.”

Agencies