Thomas Tuchel | Why the new England boss's skills trump his background

The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England’s football manager has stirred up some unsurprising debates.

Tuchel, a German national, brings an exceptional track record from his previous managerial roles, and has already demanded an ambitious target of his team - win the 2026 World Cup.

But his appointment has triggered a predictable debate among pundits and fans: should England’s national team be led - potentially to World Cup success - by a coach without a British passport? Should the FA have gone for an English coach, despite no English candidates having a track record that comes anywhere close to what Thomas Tuchel has achieved?

Others, though fewer in their numbers, have been concerned about his leadership style. Famously, the Three Lions' last full-time manager, Gareth Southgate, came in in 2016 and united what was a fractured dressing room, full of cliques that players brought from their clubs. He was an 'arm around the shoulder' kind of boss, whilst many reports paint Tuchel as someone more abrasive. What's the issue there? Well, some fear that emotion, good morale and momentum play a more crucial role in international football and that, therefore, Tuchel's eligibility for the role may be outweighed by a detrimental impact on team harmony.