Gary Lineker reveals Thomas Tuchel was NOT his first choice for England manager as fans have their say on German
GARY LINEKER revealed Thomas Tuchel was not his first choice to become the new England manager.
Tuchel, 51, signed an 18-month contract to replace Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss.
He put pen to paper on the £5million-a-year deal on October 8 – before England’s Nations League double-header against Greece and Finland.
Lee Carsley will remain in charge as England face Greece and Ireland next month.
But then Tuchel gets underway in his new role from January.
However, ex-England captain Lineker is not overly thrilled with the appointment – and said who he wanted to get the gig.
Lineker, 63, told the Rest Is Football podcast: “I’d have given the job to Lee Carsley.
“I have seen enough to suggest to me the players really trust him.
“And he is imaginative enough to produce something that is a joy to watch, is entertaining and front-footed football.
“I’d have gone for Lee Carsley [but] it is not my job to pick people like that.”
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Carsley has won three of his four games in charge of the senior national team since stepping up to fill in following Southgate’s departure.
However, he admitted he was keen to get back to working with the Under-21s team.
Lineker, though, thought he could have been a suitable pick, especially after seeing the success Spain enjoyed with a similar method.
Luis de la Fuente was the Spanish U21s boss but then got the promotion to the senior side when Luis Enrique left in December 2022.
And De La Fuente justified the Spanish FA’s decision by leading his country to Euro 2024 glory – beating England in the final in what proved to be Southgate’s last game in charge.
Lineker added: “I really liked Carsley but I could tell that he knew he wasn’t getting the job.
“I suspect between his first camp and sometime before the Greece game.
“I would have done it [appointed him] because I would have looked at the recent history of international football, the two winners of the last two international tournaments [Spain’s Luis de la Fuente and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni] had no real experience of coaching outside the national set-up.”
Inside FA's thrilling chase for Tuchel
THE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel's signature was not a straightforward one.
They tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.
They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.
The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.
But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.
Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.
Read the full story on England’s thrilling pursuit of Thomas Tuchel.
Some have expressed concern about the new England manager not being English.
And while Lineker would prefer an English gaffer, he would not be complaining if a foreign boss ended the men’s trophy drought – just like Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman did with the Lionesses.
Lineker continued: “I respect Thomas Tuchel as coach. I think he’s really clever. I spoke to [German journalist] Raphael Honigstein and he said to me, ’60 per cent genius, 40 per cent lunatic,’ or words to that effect.
“I don’t think it is imperative [to have an English manager]. I’m not going to lose sleep over it. But my personal preference would be that England has an English coach.
“For some reason English football hasn’t produced a plethora of brilliant coaches. Why that is, I don’t know. I think that will happen.
“No one will care one iota [about his nationality] if England somehow manage to win the World Cup.
“He’s taken another team’s national squad and he will have done this because he would have looked at this squad and gone, ‘My goodness there’s so much talent in there.’
“This is an unbelievable opportunity of winning the greatest trophy of all and boy would I love him to do it.”
ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life
By Andy Dillon
THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.
Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.
English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.
Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.
Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.
Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.
Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.
An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.
Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job
Lineker’s podcast co-host Alan Shearer praised the FA for acting swiftly to appoint former Champions League winner Tuchel – after reportedly approaching Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.
Shearer said: “If they sounded out Pep, fine, he’s the best manager in the world.
“You then have to look at what’s available to you. They’ve looked at Thomas Tuchel and have thought there is a chance he could get the Manchester United job pretty soon.
“So opportunity lies now. If they didn’t act quick now they weren’t going to get one of the outstanding candidates for the job.
“There’s no doubt he’s got an incredible CV, what he’s won and managing at the highest level, working with superstars.
“But this is going to be a very, very different test for him. It’s a bold move from the FA, there’s no doubt about it.
“We need a trophy, it’s as simple as that. And we need a manager that can deliver that.”
And fans were largely supportive of the new appointment.
One said: “The World Cup 2026 is ours.”
Another wrote: “Welcome Tommy T! Really excited to have you as coach.”
Who has Thomas Tuchel coached?
Here is a list of the England stars that have already worked with Thomas Tuchel…
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
- Eric Dier – Bayern Munich
- Mason Mount – Chelsea
- Reece James – Chelsea
- Ben Chilwell – Chelsea
- Callum Hudson-Odoi – Chelsea
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek – Chelsea
- Raheem Sterling – Chelsea
- Ross Barkley – Chelsea
- Tammy Abraham – Chelsea
- Conor Gallagher – Chelsea
A third added: “Good appointment!! Those saying an English manager deserved it. There isn’t any ready to step up or available at the moment. Eddie Howe/Graham Potter will get their chances, both still young in their managerial careers.”
And a final user replied: “It’s coming home.”
As well as the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea, Tuchel won the Super Cup and Club World Cup – before being harshly axed by the new owners.
His trophy cabinet also includes the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund, two Ligue 1 crowns with Paris Saint-Germain and the Bundesliga.
Tuchel said: “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.
“I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already.
“To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.
“Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud.”
Forgotten England stars could benefit from Tuchel appointment
WITH Thomas Tuchel in the frame to be the next England manager, a few forgotten stars might be hopeful of a return to the international set up.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager usually uses a 3-4-3 formation.
That could provide an opening for Mason Mount, who’s not been involved in the England set-up since the World Cup in 2022.
The now Manchester United star enjoyed his most successful spell under Tuchel while the pair were at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel could also offer lifelines to other previously capped players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eric Dier.
RLC has excelled since his move to AC Milan and with England struggling to find a partner for Rice, he could be the surprise answer.
Meanwhile, Dier played for Tuchel at Bayern Munich as part of a back-three last season.
The defender did enough to convince the club to make his loan move permanent after he had fallen out of favour at Tottenham.
Click here to see the full England XI who could play under Tuchel.