Thomas Tuchel set to make his first official appearance as England manager next week – ahead of official start on January 1
Thomas Tuchel will make his first appearance since his unveiling as England head coach at next week’s World Cup qualifying draw.
Tuchel has kept a low profile since being confirmed as the England team’s new boss in October given the fact he does not officially start until January 1, 2025.
However, the German will attend next Friday’s qualifying draw in Zurich when his new team will discover who they will face to make it through to World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico – just over two weeks before he is contracted to start with the Football Association.
Tuchel is also due to speak to the media during the event in Switzerland on December 13, where he will provide a further insight towards his plans for the national team.
The former Chelsea manager signed an 18-month contract in October and will earn around £6million per year in the role.
In taking the job he becomes England’s third foreign manager after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Thomas Tuchel will make his first appearance as England manager next week at the World Cup qualifying draw
He will speak to the media at the event, which is being held in Switzerland next Friday
He will succeed Gareth Southgate, who spent eight years in the role and led the Three Lions to the European Championship finals as well as the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Lee Carsley took charge of the team on an interim basis after Southgate left and was at one point thought to be in the running for the full-time role.
If Tuchel does lead his team to World Cup glory as is his stated aim, he will be unique in the pantheon of managers fo far for doing it in a 48-team format.
The 2026 edition will see 16 groups of three teams, rather than eight groups of four, before getting into the knockout rounds.
Tuchel has a glittering CV at club level, but has never managed an international side.
The 51-year-old has managed five teams, including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Bayern.
The England job will be his first since he left Bayern at the end of last season.
Tuchel famously led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, just four months after replacing Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
He also won the Club World Cup with the Blues, and has claimed league titles at PSG and Bayern, though he moved on from German giants after they finished third in the Bundesliga last term.
