The FA interviewed 10 candidates to take the England job, it has been revealed.
Thomas Tuchel was announced as the new Three Lions boss on Wednesday morning and was part of a press conference in the afternoon to formally confirm his arrival.
The German, who is the third foreign boss to take charge of the men’s team in its history – after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello – will earn £6million a year and officially begin his role in January.
He sat alongside FA chief Mark Bullingham at Wembley to face the media, with Bullingham explaining the hiring process, which was kept entirely confidential throughout.
Tuchel’s new boss kept his cards close to his chest as he discussed the process, but did outline the number of candidates who were spoken to.
England interviewed 10 managers before settling on Thomas Tuchel, it has been revealed
Tuchel’s appointment was formally announced at Wembley on Wednesday by FA chief Mark Bullingham
Bullingham explained that the recruiters spoke to ‘around 10’ candidates to take up the role
‘The whole process was confidential,’ he began. ‘I understand that at times that might have been frustrating for people.
‘But we will maintain that confidentiality for us, but more importantly for the candidates. I can say a few things, but I will hold it at that.
‘We interviewed approximately 10 people and we did interview some English candidates among that. As for anything further, you wouldn’t expect me to divulge any details.’
The likes of Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were among the English coaches linked with the job, though Howe, according to Alan Shearer, was not approached about the role.
‘I really hope they have spoken to English managers, I am told that they didn’t speak to Eddie Howe or sound him out at all,’ Shearer said on the latest episode of The Rest is Football. ‘I am reliably told.
‘That is a big surprise for me considering he would be the outstanding English candidate.’
Elsewhere, it is likely that interim boss Lee Carsley – who will oversee the final two matches of the year in November before Tuchel takes over – was spoken to.
Pep Guardiola was also linked, though it remains unclear if he was approached.
Tuchel addressed the fact that he does not have an English passport in his first press conference since being appointed.
The 51-year-old said: ‘I’m sorry, I just have a German passport. I love to live here. Hopefully I can convince them, and give everything to this role.’
Tuchel joked that he is ‘sorry’ that he has only a German passport as he becomes the third foreign boss to manage the England men’s team
Concerns have been raised over the fact Tuchel is not English, but Bullingham said ‘some’ of the interviewees were English
The likes of Eddie Howe were linked with the role, but England instead went down foreign route
Concerns have been raised over the fact Tuchel is not English, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville saying: ‘I’m not sure it fits the criteria of St. George’s Park and the belief in English coaches and the growth in the English teams’ performance in the last seven or eight years. No just the first [men’s] team, but the women’s team and youth teams.
‘St. George’s Park was going to be a hotbed of proving that English coaches could get back to the top in Europe. It is proving to be very difficult, it is difficult for English coaches to get top jobs in the Premier League, that’s a given because we’ve got some of the best clubs in the world, but it’s now gone to an international manager.
‘It’s not really about Thomas Tuchel, but there is an element of disappointment in my head thinking about the fact that the FA have gone to an international coach.’
