Thomas Tuchel 'open to taking England job'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 13 October 2022

Former Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel can reportedly see himself managing England if Gareth Southgate leaves the Three Lions in the near future.

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is supposedly open to replacing Gareth Southgate in the England hotseat.

The 49-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea last month, with a 1-0 Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb proving to be the final nail in the coffin.

Tuchel left Chelsea with three trophies under his belt in the forms of the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, as well as being named the world's best club coach in 2021.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain head coach's future has been shrouded in uncertainty since his exit, and a return to the Bundesliga has been mooted.

Tuchel was supposedly considered for the Bayer Leverkusen job, but he is understood to have turned down the role before Xabi Alonso took control of the reins.

England manager Gareth Southgate on September 23, 2022 © Reuters

With current Three Lions head coach Southgate coming under mounting pressure, Bild reporter Christian Falk claims that Tuchel can picture himself in charge of England.

The German coach oversaw the development of the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James while at Chelsea, and both players are now mainstays in Southgate's senior setup.

Southgate has taken England to the semi-finals of the World Cup and final of Euro 2020 since his appointment in 2016, but the 52-year-old witnessed a dreadful Nations League campaign.

England suffered relegation to League B after failing to win any of their six games in the 2021-22 edition, posting three draws and three defeats against Hungary, Germany and Italy in League A Group 3.

The Three Lions also went five games without a non-penalty goal before their 3-3 draw with Germany on matchday six, leading to swathes of criticism over Southgate's tactics and squad selection.

England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on June 14, 2022 © Reuters

The former Middlesbrough boss is under contract with England until December 2024, and he will remain in control of the reins for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, Southgate has accepted that his job could be in jeopardy if England flatter to deceive at the World Cup, telling reporters: "I am not foolish, I know ultimately I will be judged on what happens at that World Cup.

"Contracts are irrelevant in football because managers can have three, four, five-year contracts and if results aren't good enough then you accept that's time to part ways.

"Why would I be any different? I'm not arrogant enough to think that having a contract should protect me in any way from results."

England begin their World Cup campaign in Group B against Iran on November 21 before taking on the United States and Wales on November 25 and November 29 respectively.

Southgate has now taken charge of 76 matches for the world's fifth-ranked nation, posting 48 wins, 14 draws and 14 defeats over the past six years.