Alan Shearer, the former captain of the Three Lions, believes that Thomas Tuchel must secure the 2026 World Cup title to validate his appointment as England’s new manager.
England has not triumphed in a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup, though they have come close under Tuchel’s predecessor, Gareth Southgate, who recently resigned after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain. Southgate previously guided the team to the Euro 2020 final, the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Tuchel, announced as the third foreign manager of the English men’s team, will take over a squad rich in talent, featuring players like Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
The German manager boasts an impressive resume, having won major trophies during his tenures at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich. Notably, he led Chelsea to a Champions League victory in 2021 and secured league titles with both Bayern and PSG.
Shearer expressed on *The Rest Is Football* podcast, “We need a trophy — it’s as simple as that. We need a manager who can deliver that. There’s no doubt Tuchel has an incredible CV, but this will be a very different challenge for him. It’s a bold move from the FA.”
He added, “Winning the tournament is what he has been brought in to do. The FA believes this group of players is the best England has had in a long time.”
Tuchel’s hiring has faced some criticism for overlooking an English manager. Lee Carsley, who recently took over as interim coach after leading the under-21 team, will manage England in their upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month. Tuchel’s contract officially begins on January 1, 2025.
Former England striker Gary Lineker remarked, “Tuchel will see the immense talent in this squad and recognize it as an incredible opportunity to win the greatest trophy of all. Personally, I would have chosen Carsley. He has earned the players’ trust and has the creativity to implement exciting, front-foot football.”
Nevertheless, there were few standout English candidates for the position. The last homegrown manager to win the English top division was Howard Wilkinson with Leeds in 1992, before the Premier League was established. While Graham Potter, recently dismissed by Chelsea, and Newcastle’s Eddie Howe were mentioned as potential candidates, reports surfaced earlier this week that the FA had also approached Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola regarding the role.
Former England defender Micah Richards stated, “The reality is we don’t have a strong English candidate for this job. I’ve always believed we shouldn’t limit ourselves to just English managers; we should find the best person for the role. Tuchel is an exceptional manager and a proven winner.”
That’s too much for a start