England’s new ‘golden generation’ have the world-class coach they deserve – but Man Utd will be kicking themselves: Winners and losers of Thomas Tuchel’s controversial England appointment

The FA have appointed Thomas Tuchel as England’s new head coach, a call which is already proving markedly divisive. The 51-year-old German, though a proven winner that many have craved, is under scrutiny largely for his nationality.

Those at the top of English football appear to have prioritised winning over all else, perhaps going slightly against their ethos of the Gareth Southgate era that has been and gone. ‘Club England’ may be in danger, but if it leads to glory, then no one will care – that’s the gamble of the international game.

Foundations have been laid for Tuchel to succeed in the Wembley hot-seat, though not everyone in the saga has benefitted from the final outcome.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Tuchel’s controversial appointment.

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  LOSER: English coaches

  Southgate’s seven-year tenure as England boss was the most successful period in the history of the men’s team post-1966, and though this seemed to squeeze open the door for homegrown coaches to succeed him, it has been slammed shut again.

  Harry Redknapp, one of the best English coaches in recent history, was particularly unhappy about this revelation when news of Tuchel’s appointment first broke. “[Tuchel] has lost his job quite quickly at a couple of clubs,” he said. “It’s not like he’s been a massive success. He’s come and gone at a couple of clubs. I’m very patriotic, I think we should have an English manager but obviously the field was very small to choose from.”

  All throughout Southgate’s reign, particularly so at the back-end, we heard about the FA’s hope of establishing a pathway for English coaches to the country’s top job, which culminated in Lee Carsley’s push for the gig during his up-and-down stint as interim boss. Perhaps those upstairs feel he and the other homegrown candidates – Eddie Howe, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard – are not yet ready for full-time responsibilities, but it’s still a bitter pill to swallow nonetheless.

  The saving grace and silver lining for Carsley and co is that international teams tend to quickly move back-and-forth between philosophies, which is ironically best demonstrated by bringing in Tuchel to replace Southgate. When the time comes to appointing the next manager, however many years from now that may be, the English talent pool may be better positioned to come on in.

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    WINNER: The new ‘golden generation’

    This ludicrously talented crop of England players are in need of a world-class head coach, irrespective of what their nationality is. That’s inarguable. Southgate had hit the ceiling with his tactical acumen, and Tuchel’s wide range of dynamics is exciting.

    Wherever the German has gone, he has suitably mixed up his ideals. High-pressing was the cornerstone of his Mainz and Borussia Dortmund teams, while he was able to juggle superstar personalities without upsetting the balance at Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea were horribly in need of some defensive steel when he rocked up at Stamford Bridge, and it culminated in Champions League success. Bayern Munich’s blip is a strange black hole on his CV, but Tuchel cannot be solely to blame for their decline or the surprise emergence of Bundesliga title rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

    Tuchel has adapted to the needs of the team in every job he’s taken on, which has gone under the radar but should serve as hope for England as a team and as a nation. If there’s a man to figure out how to get all of the star-studded attackers into a lineup seamlessly, it’s him.

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    LOSER: Pep Guardiola

    But the other manager who may have found those solutions was Pep Guardiola, who should be up in arms that the FA decided to turn their attentions to a different foreign gaffer.

    The Catalan’s contract at Manchester City is up at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and the club could yet face severe punishments for alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations. With director of football Txiki Begiristain leaving, the time feels right for Guardiola to move onto a new challenge as well.

    Guardiola spoke earlier this year about the desire to enter the international game, and suggested the main factor behind not already doing so was a lack of offers. He is in love with the English game, and ending over half a century of Three Lions hurt would have cemented his status as the greatest manager of all time. Alas, that dream is now heading back to the top shelf of his mind for a few more years.

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    LOSER: Manchester United

    At this point, it’s almost certain that there was something so off-putting about Tuchel that INEOS and the Manchester United top brass didn’t want to bring him in unless they really had to. The opportunity was there in the summer when they spoke directly to him, and the October international break was their last chance to oust Erik ten Hag and bring in the German.

    Regardless of what Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his band of Old Trafford decision-makers may think of Tuchel, he was the best free agent coach available to them in the event they moved Ten Hag on, and now there isn’t a suitable, cheap alternative anywhere near that level.

    United are in free-fall under the Dutchman and their top alternative is off the table. They may have to weather the storm a little while longer and wait for another candidate to emerge into the sunlight.

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    WINNER: Harry Kane & Raheem Sterling

    The young guns of England’s future aren’t the only members of the squad who are going to be buzzing with the news of Tuchel’s arrival. Captain Harry Kane and cast-aside Raheem Sterling will be among the senior players who stand to benefit, the chance to recreate some of their heroics of yesteryear renewed.

    Tuchel moved heaven and Earth to pry Kane away from boyhood club Tottenham Hotspur and over to Bayern last summer, eventually succeeding after months of courtship. The striker is aiming to extend his career at the top level well into his thirties, and a trusted figure at the helm will ease any concerns about a succession plan taking shape.

    Meanwhile, Sterling may be afforded the opportunity to reignite a dormant England career having not represented his country in nearly two years. Now at Arsenal on loan and currently viewed as an impact player off the bench, there’s no reason why he can’t take on such a role back in the Three Lions fold.

    When Sterling joined Chelsea in 2022, Tuchel was the driving force behind the deal. “[Sterling] was the absolute number one for that position. I gave his name to Todd [Boehly] straight away,” he said at the time.

    “Every time we played against him, he’s horrible to play against, horrible! The main point is his intensity and the amount of repetition of intensity that he delivers. This is simply outstanding over the last years.”

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    WINNER: Thomas Tuchel

    But the big winner in all of this is the main man himself, who has emerged from the dark pits of his Bayern exit, avoided a similar unhappiness at United and landed a job that could conceivably make him immortal.

    Tuchel has constantly expressed his love for English football and the contrasting lack of appreciation in Germany. The connection he has with this country’s football is stronger than back home. He is an honorary Brit and should be treated as such during his tenure and maybe even beyond.

    England have a genuinely world-class manager at the wheel again, and Tuchel could hardly be happier with how this has shaken out for himself.

    “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team,” he said in the FA’s announcement. “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.”