Thomas Tuchel closes in on England manager's job after successful talks with FA
Thomas Tuchel is believed to be keen and talks have now accelerated quickly and, while a deal has not been formalised, firm negotiations are expected to take place
by John Cross · The MirrorThomas Tuchel is in pole position to become the next England manager.
Football Association chiefs have already held talks with the former Chelsea boss and advanced negotiations are expected to take place in London. It means the national team will be managed by a coach from England’s biggest footballing rivals as a German takes charge for the first time.
Tuchel, 51, has been on the FA’s radar ever since Gareth Southgate’s departure in July after the Euros. But the FA’s search has intensified in the past few weeks as they have sounded out leading candidates and have made it clear they do not believe the England manager has to be English.
They made contact with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in the summer but the Catalan has not given them an answer and there is a strong belief he will stay at the Etihad for another year. There was a strong feeling that the FA had got their man - and it was not Guardiola - after talks and those have accelerated in the past few days with Tuchel and his advisers.
FA top brass have also considered Eddie Howe but Tuchel boasts an impressive CV and is also hugely popular and highly-respected in England from his time at Chelsea.
Tuchel led Chelsea to the Champions League trophy in 2021 and that fits the FA’s desire to have an experienced, successful manager from the highest level.
Tuchel has also managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint Germain and also took over at Bayern Munich last season when he worked with Harry Kane. That has underlined his credentials to work with top players and the hope is that his arrival will help England go from being beaten finalists in the last two Euros to winners in major tournaments.
Lee Carsley has been in interim charge and has been given the six Nations League games with the remaining two against Greece and Republic of Ireland next month. It is believed he has been a candidate but a defeat to Greece last week and then mixed messages in press conferences has only served to show that the FA need a top quality proven manager.
Carsley is likely to go back to being in charge of the under-21s and the FA wanted to move for Tuchel who has also been on Manchester United’s list of candidates should they sack Erik ten Hag after the club’s poor start to the season.
Tuchel has effectively been on gardening leave since leaving Bayern at the end of last season and it remains to be seen when he could take up the position.
The World Cup draw takes place in Geneva on Friday, December 13, with the new manager then expected to oversee the qualifying campaign.
The FA have refused to comment on the latest development with Tuchel but they will be keen to make an appointment as soon as possible.
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