England's newly appointed manager, Thomas Tuchel, is set to begin his tenure on January 1, taking over from Gareth Southgate after the Euro 2024 tournament. Southgate ended his eight-year spell as England manager following a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro final. During the interim period, Lee Carsley stepped in and successfully led the team to promotion in the Nations League, while the Football Association searched for a permanent replacement. Tuchel, who previously managed Chelsea and Bayern Munich, signed an 18-month contract and now aims to lead England to success in the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
In the World Cup draw, England was placed in Group K alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. Tuchel, who is expected to challenge for England's first major title since the 1966 World Cup, plans to consult with Southgate about the squad he will inherit. Tuchel spoke fondly of his interactions with Southgate, describing him as a "gentleman" and expressing his intention to meet with him again to discuss the team.
Tuchel also plans to hold discussions with Lee Carsley, who will return to his role as England Under-21 coach. Carsley’s insights into the squad, as well as his experiences working with the players, will be valuable to Tuchel as he begins his work with the senior team. Tuchel emphasized the importance of maintaining regular communication with Carsley, as the Under-21 coach will be closely involved with the senior team.
In addition to his conversations with Southgate and Carsley, Tuchel intends to reach out to Arsenal defender Ben White about a potential return to the national team. White, who has not played for England since leaving the 2022 World Cup squad, is currently recovering from knee surgery. Tuchel expressed his desire to start fresh with White and ensure a positive, clear narrative moving forward, while also making his presence known at stadiums from January.
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