Thomas Tuchel and his English assistant Anthony Barry will take over as manager starting in January, according to confirmation from the Football Association. On Wednesday, German Thomas Tuchel became the third non-Englishman to be appointed as manager of the England national team, one of the most prominent and challenging positions in sports.
The first foreign head coach to manage England was Sven-Goran Eriksson of Sweden, who served from 2001 to 2006, and Fabio Capello of Italy, who served from 2008 to 2012. The next two Nations League matches will be played under England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley, who has been placed in interim command since Gareth Southgate resigned following England's loss to Spain during the Euro 2024 final in July.
Is Thomas Tuchel a fan of the Kerela Blasters?
When Thomas Tuchel landed at Cochin International Airport in 2022, there was conjecture as to whether the Kerala Blasters had signed him. The devoted supporters of Chelsea Club, the well-known English football team that he led for a year and contributed to winning the UEFA Champions League before being fired, met the 51-year-old former German footballer and current coach at the airport.
Notable Kerala Blasters fan appointed as Gareth Southgate’s successor pic.twitter.com/RXOvTYdDV1
— Ben Griffis (@BeGriffis) October 16, 2024
Following the announcement that Tuchel had visited and that fans had taken pictures with him around the airport, everyone began to speculate as to why he had come. Some speculated that he had arrived to assist the Kerala Blasters, while others suggested he might have visited the renowned ayurvedic hospital in the Malappuram district seeking a rest.
Later on, the former Bayern Munich manager revealed that, "I was curious. One of my assistant coaches was here six years ago. He told me good things about this place. I have always been aware of the principles of Ayurveda. After a long period of coaching, there was a possibility of taking a break for me, so I came here. The experience has been fantastic. I feel energised and calm. I would recommend this to everybody who wants to discipline the body and the mind."