England have finally ended the hunt for Gareth Southgate’s successor, unveiling Thomas Tuchel as the next Three Lions manager.
Tuchel, formerly of Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will begin work in January 2025, giving him plenty of time to familiarise himself with the vast number of players vying for spots in his squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Here are five winners and five losers from England’s decision to hire Tuchel.
Harry Kane
Tuchel developed a love for Harry Kane during his time in the Premier League. He quickly realised England’s captain is among the best players on the planet when used in the right system.
Bayern’s deal for Kane, worth up to £100m, was driven by Tuchel, whose determination to get a deal over the line helped convince the German side to break their transfer policy and splash a huge fee on a player whose age brings about very little resale value.t
The pair are believed to have retained a strong relationship in Munich, so expect Tuchel to design his system around the 31-year-old.
Raheem Sterling
During Todd Boehly’s first summer at Chelsea, he gave Tuchel plenty of sway in the transfer market. The German responded to the opportunity by making it clear he wanted to work with Raheem Sterling.
Boehly obliged, before cutting ties with Tuchel just seven games later, meaning the boss’ itch to watch Sterling in action remains unscratched.
Sterling has fallen out of the England fold but is now on loan with Arsenal as he looks to restore his reputation, and you can guarantee Tuchel will be watching as close as anyone else.
Mason Mount
Similarly, Mason Mount’s England career is in need of reviving, and Tuchel might just be the perfect man for the job.
During their mutual time at Chelsea, Tuchel made no secret of his admiration for Mount, insisting the midfielder’s energy, mentality and technical quality made him a perfect fit for his system.
A lot has happened since then. Mount is on the books at Manchester United, where he has spent most of his time battling fitness injuries. If he can win the fight against his own body, Mount may have a clear path back to the England squad under Tuchel.
Eric Dier
England’s depth at centre-back has kept Eric Dier out of the fold since the 2022 World Cup, but he could be set for a reunion with his former Bayern boss.
Tuchel lured Dier over to Bayern on an initial loan last season and wasted little time giving him some serious minutes at the heart of defence. He quickly learned to appreciate Dier and may jump at the chance to bring a familiar face with him to St George’s Park.
Dier sits on 49 England caps as it stands, but that 50th suddenly no longer seems so far out of reach.
Reece James
England have long been blessed with an embarrassment of riches at right-back, with Chelsea‘s Reece James right at the heart of things.
James was one of the world’s best wing-backs during his time under Tuchel, tormenting teams across Europe with his eye for goal and penchant for an assist. His partnership with Ben Chilwell was the stuff of dreams when both players were fit which, admittedly, wasn’t as often as it should have been.
Tuchel is no stranger to James’ unique attributes, admitting he wanted two of the Blues academy graduate to play as both a right-back and a right-sided centre-back. Regardless of the formation Tuchel opts for with England, James appears set to play a crucial role.
Phil Foden
England have a whole lot of options in attack, and Phil Foden faces a serious battle to retain the role he held under Southgate.
Three Lions fans are yet to see the same side of Foden shown under Pep Guardiola, and with the narritive surrounding the 24-year-old souring, Tuchel may see this as the opportunity to take the team in a different direction.
Foden will undoubtedly retain a spot in the squad under Tuchel but, with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka fighting for minutes, he needs to step things up if he wants more of a role for England.
Jack Grealish
Like Foden, Jack Grealish’s stay in the England side appears under real threat.
Tuchel demands his wingers give maximum effort on both sides of the ball, or at least contribute plenty of goals and assists. We all know Grealish’s qualities, but since his move to Manchester City, he hasn’t really shown a whole lot of either.
The former Chelsea boss did speak publicly about his admiration of Grealish during his Aston Villa days, but a whole lot has changed since then.
Kobbie Mainoo
Tuchel has made it clear over the years that he prefers physically dominant, indefatigable midfielders to flex their athleticism over opponents. Declan Rice was his dream target at both Chelsea and Bayern, while it was Tuchel who handed Conor Gallagher his Blues debut after being won over by the young midfielder.
Mainoo’s quality is not up for debate, but the United youngster does not appear to be the perfect fit for a Tuchel side. His best work comes on the ball, and while that is important to Tuchel, the new England boss is likely to value the ugly side of things slightly more in his engine room.
Similarly, Angel Gomes’ stint with England appears under serious threat, with the 5’6 midfielder hardly fitting Tuchel’s dream mould.
Anthony Gordon
Anthony Gordon may find himself needing to win Tuchel over already if reports from the transfer saga surrounding him in 2022 are to be believed.
Gordon, then at Everton, was surprisingly linked to Chelsea and pushed for by Boehly and his analysts but, according to The Guardian, Tuchel was firmly against the move, which ultimately fell through.
Now, despite what social media may tell you, it is actually possible to change an opinion you held years ago. Gordon has blossomed into a truly impactful player at Newcastle United, but if Tuchel hasn’t been watching, he may need reminding before handing Gordon a role in his squad.
Kyle Walker
Regardless of what formation Tuchel plays with England, Kyle Walker may no longer be a regular feature.
The new boss will favour James and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold as his natural right-backs, but if he opts for a three-back formation, James is likely to be his go-to after excelling in the role at Stamford Bridge.
It would be a shock to see Walker dropped altogether, with the Manchester City man still of real value behind the scenes, but it may be time to start thinking of a future without the 34-year-old.
