Tuchel’s Takeover

Another international tournament; another defeat in the late stages for England’s national team. Their loss in the 2024 EURO final encapsulated Gareth Southgate’s entire tenure as England’s manager—competing at the highest level and reaching the furthest of stages but ultimately falling short at the finish line. Southgate boasts a unique resume: he’s the only manager in the Three Lions’s history to lead the team to multiple international tournament finals, and he’s also the only manager in the history of the EUROS to lose two finals. England’s fans have experienced a rollercoaster ride during Southgate’s time, making his decision to resign after the EUROS tournament a surprise to both fans and players and raising several questions for what the future could hold.

Southgate’s departure from the team was met with mixed reactions. Some welcomed the news, believing that Southgate’s defensive style of play limited the team from reaching their full potential and from winning international honors. On the other hand, some argued that Southgate’s consistency in leading England to the late stages of tournaments showcased his ability and value as a manager along with his irreplaceability. Prior to Southgate’s reign, England had a reputation for underwhelming exits in the early stages of major tournaments, like the round of 16 loss to Iceland in the 2016 EUROS and failing to qualify for the knockout phase of the 2014 World Cup. Southgate instilled a belief into the country that winning these tournaments is possible—supported by multiple runs to the finals. However, with this belief comes the expectation that silverware must be won. Southgate’s successor and former Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain, and Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel could be the one to finally lift England to international glory. 

Initially, Tuchel’s appointment came as a surprise. A German manager managing the English national team was interesting, considering the two nations’ historic rivalry and clashing approaches to soccer—something that will likely be used against Tuchel throughout his time as English manager. Prior to Tuchel, England has had only had two other foreign managers in its history, and many consider both attempts to be relatively lacklustre. 

From 2001 to 2006, Swedish manager Sven-Göran Erikkson managed England, leading the team to three consecutive quarter-finals. Many considered these results underwhelming, given that this period was of the team dubbed “The Golden Generation”—a group of extremely talented players who many England fans believe should have won a trophy. The Golden Generation’s lack of success is often attributed to the team’s lack of chemistry and dressing room clashes between key players. Despite having world class potential, Erikkson was unable to unite the team, which impeded their performance. This led to Erikkson’s eventual sacking shortly after the 2006 World Cup. 

Shortly after, Fabio Capello took over. The Italian coach is known for his solid record at the club level, winning multiple league titles in Spain and Italy. With AC Milan, Capello also won a UEFA Champions League. Because of this, many expected him to bring an international trophy to the national team. In the 2010 World Cup, England was eliminated in the round of 16, losing 4-1 to Germany—an extremely disappointing exit considering the abundance of talent present. Capello kept his job until 2012, eventually being sacked over a disagreement with the English Football Association, who stripped England team captain John Terry of his duties because of off-field controversies. Capello disagreed with Terry’s disposal and ended up resigning from the job as a result.

Despite the relatively underwhelming track record of foreign managers with England, Tuchel’s major successes at the club level have earned him England fans’ respect and trust. Tuchel is most well-known for leading Chelsea to a Champions League victory in 2021—a tournament in which many considered them the underdogs. Coupled with his successes at Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, Tuchel has a strong reputation at the club level.

Tuchel’s appointment as England’s manager is his first major role at the international stage, which might be a difficult transition considering how different this role is. In club football, managers have time throughout the season to work with their players; international managers are often relegated to limited time throughout the year. Players will also likely have varying fitness levels as a result of quick turnarounds between club and international matches during international breaks. Moreover, club football allows managers to recruit certain profiles of players to fit their style of play; however, in international football, managers are forced to utilize the players available to them. This can make it difficult for managers like Tuchel to get their players to perform at the highest level. Since the team is due for a tactical overhaul, Tuchel will be presented with the new challenge of implementing his ideas in a short timeframe.

Tuchel’s start as English manager has been promising, with wins in his first two World Cup qualifying matches. In Tuchel’s debut match, England defeated Albania 2-0 at Wembley Stadium with England’s young left back Myles Lewis-Skelly scoring on his debut. England exhibited a level of control in the match, illustrated by their clean sheet and comprehensive victory. England’s next fixture was against Latvia; England won 3-0, with goals from right back Reece James, striker Harry Kane, and winger Eberechi Eze. Both Eze and Lewis-Skelly are emerging young talents who could benefit from Tuchel, especially considering his strong track record of developing young players’ talent. For example, during his time at Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel helped develop Dortmund wingers Ousmane Dembélé and Christian Pulisic. For a team with a lot of young talent, Tuchel’s leadership and ability to develop players might be invaluable.

Tuchel’s tactical approach is much more adaptable than Southgate’s. While Southgate had a reputation for being cautious in his tactical substitutions and changes, Tuchel is more open to taking risks, and he has a bolder approach. Southgate prioritized defensive stability and was resistant to making bold changes, but Tuchel is known for making reactive decisions, whether it be switching formations or making key substitutions. This flexibility in tactics is a key part of Tuchel’s identity as a manager; he seeks control both on and off the pitch by building a team culture based on toughness and accountability. 

Tuchel’s development of his identity at England is also evident in his desire to change team culture. Tuchel stresses the importance of accountability, demanding that his team “be ruthless with each other.”  Thus, Tuchel has demonstrated his goal to foster an English environment built on high standards. Overall, Tuchel’s leadership is characterized by unity, mental toughness, and commitment to honesty, with the goal of building a team capable of winning it all on the international stage. 

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Tuchel’s managerial prowess will be on display throughout this next year as he prepares his team for the tournament. After 60 years of agony, English fans wait to see how this new team will fare on the biggest stage. With an extremely talented team—capable of winning it all—many wonder if Tuchel will be the one to finally break England’s drought, or if England fans will be subject to even more pain.