Thomas Tuchel was supposed to be here for a good time, not a long time. It was win or bust when he signed up to become England’s head coach in October 2024. The target was clear – lead the side to glory at the 2026 World Cup – and it came with an acceptance that the German was nothing more than a very expensive gun for hire.
An 18-month deal, which began on 1 January 2025, saw to that. Tuchel talked about it giving him focus. He said it streamlined the role. “It’s a little bit of a step into the unknown for me,” he said. Tuchel would have to adapt. He loves being out on the training pitch, working with his players, honing their understanding of his tactics. Wouldn’t he get bored during the long months without a game? Wouldn’t he get itchy feet as soon as he saw a job open up at a big club?
This week we saw the clearest evidence yet of Tuchel’s transformation into staunch international football enthusiast, as the 52-year-old beamed for the cameras and spoke excitedly about extending his contract until Euro 2028. What changed? Was it just how bonds were tightened as England sealed World Cup qualification with a series of strong, unified performances between September and November? Perhaps, but it is also worth considering what else is out there. Tuchel is not English. Unlike Gareth Southgate he is not on some deep, emotional quest to heal society. He is doing a job and, taking a pragmatic view, has realised that another two years with England is a better career choice than returning to the volatility of club management.
It is mid-February and already there have been bitter separations at Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Tottenham since the turn of the year. Nottingham Forest, admittedly not the calmest club, are appointing their fourth manager of a tumultuous season. Tuchel, meanwhile, can go serenely about his business. Yes, managing England at a tournament is stressful and demanding, particularly if performances dip for a second or two. Even so, it happens only once every two years. Club managers are on the hamster wheel constantly. There is no rest any more. The Champions League is bigger. The Club World Cup is a thing. Owners are more involved. Media duties are relentless. Sporting directors are more influential than ever but are rarely the first to carry the can for a poor run of form or a bad transfer window.
It says a lot that a mid-career Tuchel is not in a rush to go to Manchester United. There may be vacancies at Barcelona, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Spurs this summer. Antonio Conte has had a tough season at Napoli. Big jobs will be going around. But Tuchel is happier where he is now.
He will have seen Enzo Maresca’s implosion at Chelsea and Ruben Amorim’s run-in with the United politburo. Thomas Frank looked haunted roughly two seconds after joining Spurs. Eddie Howe led Newcastle to a trophy last year but is under pressure. Xabi Alonso, the brightest young manager around, was torn to shreds and lasted less than a year at Real. Arne Slot is one of two managers to have won the Premier League at Liverpool, yet it would not be a major shock if he left before the year is out.
Stability is in short supply. It is not obvious which job would appeal to Tuchel. Working at United and Chelsea requires a lot of managing upwards. Spurs are a mess and Newcastle have spending restrictions. The Premier League is the place to be but few clubs seem happy. A lot of fans have grown weary. The club game feels increasingly hard and cynical. Managers are chewed up and spat out. The problem with looking away from English football is the financial inequality choking much of Europe. Many of Italy’s big clubs do not have the resources to compete in the Champions League. The idea of joining Juventus or Milan should be more attractive to a manager of Tuchel’s calibre. The reality is more sober. In Spain, there is not much beyond the two giants. Valencia, who reached Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, have fallen. Atlético remain awkward but are not as strong as they were a decade ago.
It is not just La Liga. Where in France, apart from a reunion with Paris Saint-Germain? As for Germany, there is not much beyond Bayern Munich, who are unlikely to want a reunion with Tuchel after their bitter split in 2024.
There is a shift. Maresca and Amorim appeared happy to leave big jobs. Alonso needs to choose his next job carefully. Tuchel is not alone in not hankering for a club job. Other Germans have walked away. Jürgen Klopp needed a break after leaving Liverpool and is still happy on the padel court. International management was supposed to be for older coaches but Julian Nagelsmann, 38, is about to take Germany into a second tournament.
It is not so hard to understand. The Football Association is only too delighted to have Tuchel. He does not have to deal with meddling owners or egotistical sporting directors. He does not have to worry about transfer budgets. Away from tournaments he does not hold press conferences every three days. Tuchel gets to breathe. Maybe he gets to read a book or watch a film. True, the vibe will change if England falter this summer. It does not change the central point. It does not alter that sense of international football feeling purer than the club game in its current state.
Part of its beauty is that it is, to a much greater extent, just about the football. Tuchel has his pick of some of the best players in the world. He coaches as he sees fit. The World Cup will be tough and intense but a home Euros is something to savour. Tuchel’s shift is not that big a surprise.
