Stuart Pearce blasts ‘almost laughable’ Thomas Tuchel criticism but reveals major concern about new England manager

STUART PEARCE is an English football icon.

A passionate patriot who wore his heart on his sleeve.

First as a player and then as a coach who served at Under-21 and senior level, including one game in caretaker charge of the Three Lions.

Someone who tasted semi-final defeat on penalties by German teams at two major tournaments — and what could be more English than that?

But anyone expecting Pearce to be up in arms at the appointment of Thomas Tuchel will be disappointed.

Pearce told SunSport: “I’ve never been anti-foreign managers.

“I would prefer an English manager, make no mistake. But I’m very supportive of whoever is in that hotseat. I wish Thomas well.

“When I hear people say they’re OK with a foreign manager, just not a German one, it’s almost laughable. Come on, now.”

Pearce’s main worry is that a coach of any nationality, German or otherwise, could undermine what Gareth Southgate built during his eight years in charge.

Pearce, who won 78 caps, said: “Some might say Tuchel has been employed solely to win something at senior level. The job is bigger than that.

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“Gareth and the FA did so much good work. Relationships with the fans and press are better, the players have a better buy-in. Gareth was interested in the whole pyramid system of English football, supporting teams and coaches at younger levels. I hope all that work isn’t eroded.

“There’s no reason why a foreign manager can’t take an interest in that.

“Thomas has a brilliant track record. But there is a bigger project here than just managing England to try to win something.”

Unlike England’s previous foreign bosses, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, Tuchel has a feel for his adopted nation’s football culture from his time in charge of Chelsea — and speaks much better English than Capello.

Crucially, Tuchel was also available without the need to buy out a club contract, and arguably a stronger candidate than Englishmen Lee Carsley and Graham Potter.

Pearce said: “He has the most success to his name. In those terms, you might say he is the best qualified of those available.

“But international football is not as clear-cut as club football.

“Look at the Spanish — they won the Euros with Luis de la Fuente, after his success at youth level, and also got gold at the Olympics. So there is another way of doing it.”

Pearce was speaking at Cheshunt FC in Hertfordshire in his role as ambassador for Pitching In.

He was there to celebrate Cheshunt’s Howard Bailey being one of three winners of the 2023-24 Volunteer of the Season award.

And Tuchel’s appointment is seen by some as a kick in the teeth for English coaches at all levels, from grassroots to elite.

Pearce said: “The next generation of young managers and coaches start in places like Cheshunt. We need more English coaches with the CV that Tuchel has got.

“I’m not going to bemoan the lack of opportunity for English coaches, that’s the nature of football now.

“Helping and developing English coaches should be part of the England manager’s job as well.

“Thomas has his hands full. The next World Cup is a tough one to win. If he’s getting judged solely on going one step better than Gareth, that means picking the trophy up.

“But I want a manager who cares about the whole situation.”

 Ladbrokes, with the support of its owner Entain, has launched a multi-million-pound investment programme, Pitching In, designed to support and promote grassroots sports. For more info go to pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk