Soccer

LEE CARSLEY appeared to let slip Thomas Tuchel was to be appointed England boss before the official announcement.Former Chelsea boss Tuchel, 51, is was confirmed as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor on Wednesday morning.Lee Carsley spoke about returning to England’s U21s before the Greece clashCredit: GettyHe later appeared to rule himself out of the job by urging the FA to appoint a ‘world class coach who has won trophies’Credit: GettyGary Lineker believes Carsley made the comments because he knew he was not getting the jobCredit: GettyCarsley, 50, took interim charge of the national team for their four Nations League games in September and October.However, his comments confused England fans following a 2-1 defeat to Greece last week as he appeared to state he will return to his job as U21 coach.Following Sunday’s 3-1 win over Finland, he then appeared to rule himself out of managing the senior side by insisting the FA appoint a “world class coach who has won trophies”.The comments also pointed towards a manager of the calibre of Tuchel being named.READ MORE ON ENGLANDIt has since been confirmed the German signed for the job before the Greece game.And England striker Gary Lineker has given his take on how the managerial hunt has unfolded.He insisted Carsley was aware he was not getting the job full-time prior to this month’s two Nations League games – which led to him fielding an experimental team without a striker against Greece.Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said: “I think he knew even before the Greece game.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Maybe that was one of the reasons why he thought ‘F*** it, I’m gonna play them all. I’m gonna play all the superstars in different positions, not going to bother with a No9 because Harry Kane’s not fit just to try something’.”Lineker then went on to add: “In the other match [Finland], [after] his quotes after the game I just thought ‘He knows something’.”Lee Carsley all but rules himself out of England job as interim boss tells FA to hire ‘world class manager’After the Greece defeat, Carsley, who won the U21 Euros last year, said: “I was surprised after the last camp [to hear], ‘The job’s mine, it’s mine to lose.'”My remit is I am doing three camps and then hopefully going back to the Under-21s.”Following the Finland win, he then added: “My bosses have made it clear what they need from me.”This job deserves a world-class coach who has won trophies and I am still on the path to that.” More

THE FA’s hunt for a new England boss saw them miss out on Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti before Manchester United pushed them into a stunning deal for Thomas Tuchel.The former Chelsea icon is returning to these shores as the new Three Lions manager after agreeing terms on an 18-month contract worth £7.5million.Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as England boss has been a rollercoaster ride for the FACredit: APMan City boss Pep Guardiola was initially sounded out over the summerCredit: GettyThe FA also made contact with Carlo AncelottiCredit: GettyTuchel, who was being targeted by United and AC Milan, is set to be announced in a major press conference at Wembley later today.And the German will be tasked with ending England’s trophy drought after Gareth Southgate led the nation to two consecutive Euros finals.Interim boss Lee Carsley will see out the remaining Nations League games in November before Tuchel takes charge from January.But the FA’s path to securing his signature was not a straightforward one.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFA CEO Mark Bullingham has confirmed they interviewed 10 candidates – including English managers – for the position.Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker revealed that Wembley beaks initially tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.He said: “It’s confirmed apparently that they did reach out in the summer to Pep Guardiola.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“And also I understand that they spoke to Carlo Ancelotti.”The FA’s determination to go international was also summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.Five things you may not know about Thomas Tuchel from younger Brazilian girlfriend to former modelling careerNewcastle gaffer Eddie Howe was not contacted by Wembley chiefsCredit: PAQuestions over Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd future spurred the FA into getting TuchelCredit: GettyLee Carsley’s defeat to Greece also saw Tuchel land the roleCredit: GettyChiefs explored a deal for the Toon gaffer earlier in the year, but were put off by the amount of compensation it would take to prise him away from St James’ Park.Alan Shearer explained: “I’m told they didn’t speak to Eddie Howe, or they didn’t sound him out at all, I’m reliably told.“Which is a big surprise for me considering he would be the outstanding English candidate.”Around this point, Tuchel was also contacted following his Bayern Munich exit.The German expressed a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate after the Euros final defeat to Spain.But Tuchel was instead waiting to see what happened at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with the Dutchman.ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love lifeBy Andy DillonTHOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England jobYet United links with Tuchel re-emerged this month after Ratcliffe and other United big-wigs held a fresh meeting over Ten Hag’s role.Shearer and Lineker believe this spurred the FA into stepping up talks with Tuchel for fears they would miss out on another top candidate.Shearer said: “They sounded out Pep, fine, he’s the best in the world, you then have to look at what’s available to you.“They’ve looked at whoever, they’ve come up with Tuchel and thought there’s a real chance he could get the United job pretty soon.“So their opportunity lies now. If they didn’t act quick now, they weren’t going to get one of the outstanding candidates for the England job because there’s every chance that vacancy could become available soon.”Forgotten England stars could benefit from Tuchel appointmentWITH Thomas Tuchel announced as the next England manager, a few forgotten stars might be hopeful of a return to the international set up.The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager usually uses a 3-4-3 formation.That could provide an opening for Mason Mount, who’s not been involved in the England set-up since the World Cup in 2022.The now Manchester United star enjoyed his most successful spell under Tuchel while the pair were at Stamford Bridge.Tuchel could also offer lifelines to other previously capped players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eric Dier.RLC has excelled since his move to AC Milan and with England struggling to find a partner for Rice, he could be the surprise answer.Meanwhile, Dier played for Tuchel at Bayern Munich as part of a back-three last season.The defender did enough to convince the club to make his loan move permanent after he had fallen out of favour at Tottenham.Click here to see the full England XI who could play under Tuchel.Lineker continued: “I wonder whether that had any influence on it. There was a big meeting at United in London, there were a lot of rumours that maybe they were going to fire Ten Hag.“I have no inside info on that but we know they went for Tuchel in the summer and it didn’t happen, so maybe they were thinking again.“Maybe the FA have gone ‘crikey, we don’t want to miss out to United’, and it maybe pushed them because it does seem slightly odd with the timing.”Meanwhile, SunSport understands that England’s shock defeat to Greece pushed the FA into wrapping up a deal for Tuchel.Lee Carsley’s tactical disaster resulted in a 2-1 defeat at Wembley as he shunted all of England’s playmakers into an unbalanced XI.Southgate vs Tuchel records comparedTHOMAS TUCHELAugsburg II 2007-2008P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%Mainz 05 2009-2014P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%Honours: DFB Pokal Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2Chelsea 2021-2022P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World CupBayern Munich 2023-2024P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%Honours: BundesligaGARETH SOUTHGATEMiddlesbrough 2006-2009P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%England U21 2013-2016P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%Honours: Toulon tournamentEngland 2016-2024P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%Honours: Euros runners up, 2020, 2024And Three Lions supremos moved quickly to sign up Tuchel, with Carsley also giving mixed messages over his future in press conferences.But Lineker suspects Carsley already knew he wasn’t getting the job on a permanent basis, leading to his bizarre team selection against Greece.Lineker added: “I think he knew even before the Greece game, which maybe was one of the reasons he thought ‘f**k it, I’m going to play them all’.“‘I’m going to play all the superstars in all different positions, not going to bother with a number nine because Harry Kane’s not fit, and just to try something’.“Now we know they’ve gone for Tuchel and it’s pretty much a done deal, I suspect that was the case. And in the other match, his quotes after the game, I just thought he knows something.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I think it’s happened so quickly that the FA thought ‘we have to act here or there’s a chance we’re going to lose one of our outstanding candidates in Tuchel to a club management job’.“That could have happened really soon and I think that fits in with everything. Why would he start in January and not immediately? The thought, well, ‘let’s get this deal done now’.” More

THOMAS TUCHEL has agreed to take over as England manager.The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss is expected to be announced as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor this week.Thomas Tuchel has agreed to take over as England managerCredit: GettyTuchel has a track record of winning trophiesCredit: GettyTuchel, 51, has been in talks with the FA over the role after Lee Carsley failed to impress as interim manager over the last two international breaks.The German has been without a job since he was sacked as Bayern boss last summer, but will now land one of the biggest roles in international football.Tuchel has a track record in tournament football, leading Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and winning the German Cup during a spell with Borussia Dortmund.Everyone knows his tactical pedigree on the sidelines, but here’s five things you may not know about the new man in the Wembley hot-seat…READ MORE ON ENGLANDFASHION-FORWARDTuchel doesn’t just get his teams playing attractive football, but also looks good while he’s doing it.In fact the 6ft 2in gaffer even earned himself a fleeting side-hustle as a model during his time as manager of Borussia Dortmund in 2017.Coming towards the end of a successful spell with the Black and Yellow, Tuchel starred in a trendy campaign for German magazine ZEITmagazin MANN.Perhaps it was his stylish clobber in the photoshoot that caught the eyes of Paris Saint-Germain – with Paris being the home of fashion.Most read in FootballTuchel landed the PSG job the following year in 2018, where he went on to win two league titles with the Parisians.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSTuchel always looks smart on the sidelines and even had a brief spell as a modelCredit: RexInside Thomas Tuchel’s crazy lifeEARLY RETIREMENTNot every manager has a glittering playing career before making their mark as a coach like Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola.Tuchel is the perfect example of that, having been forced to retire at just 24 YEARS OLD.The former defender rose through the ranks at Augsburg as a kid but was released at the age of 19.He soon moved to second division Stuttgarter Kickers, playing eight times for the club.Then, with his career in football stalling, he joined third tier SSV Ulm – where he was forced to hang up his boots aged 24, after suffering a serious knee injury.Maybe the likes of Ryan Mason and Jack Wilshere will soon be following in Tuchel’s footsteps.Tuchel was forced to retire from playing at 24 after a career-ending injuryCredit: PAANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love lifeBy Andy DillonTHOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England jobRAISING THE BARTuchel wasn’t immediately gifted a role at one of his former clubs after his injury and instead had to fight his way back into the world of football.The injury-riddled youngster decided he would enrol himself onto a Business Administration course.While taking the course Tuchel supplemented his income WORKING IN A BAR, where he learned how to work on his self confidence and how to make a martini.”I don’t want to have drunk the cocktails that I mixed at the beginning,” he laughed in his chat with ZEITmagazin MANN.”I slowly developed a new self-confidence in the bar, shift by shift, evening after evening.”I had overcome the inhibition threshold of asking strangers if they needed me. “And suddenly I made the experience: ‘Your colleagues just like you for who you are, they have no idea that you were once a professional footballer’.”Tuchel spent time working as a bartender before becoming a coachCredit: GettyNINE-YEAR TURNAROUNDIt took Tuchel just nine years to go from serving cocktails in a bar to managing a Bundesliga side.After earning his business degree and learning how to make a cocktail or two, Tuchel still had the itch to return to football.He tried to get back into the game as a player but his chronic cartilage damage did him no favours when attempting to impress at a trial with Stuttgart’s reserves.Then-Stuttgart boss Ralf Rangnick new that Tuchel’s football brain was moving much faster than his knackered knees and pushed him to try out coaching with the club’s youth setup.Tuchel shadowed coaches at the German club’s academy and eventually took over as U14 head coach in 2000.After five years of youth coaching at Stuttgart, Tuchel returned to former club Augsburg where he earned his badges and became reserve team manager.With his ambition knowing no bounds, Tuchel moved onto Mainz in 2008 where he led their U19s to the Bundesliga U19 title.The German national side were knocking on Tuchel’s door to give him the job as their U21 coach, but he turned to club management instead – securing the role as Mainz first team head coach just nine years after leaving his job as a barman.Tuchel became manager of Bundesliga side Mainz just nine years after being a bartenderCredit: GettyNEW GIRLFRIENDTuchel’s life away from the technical area became big news during his time at Chelsea after reports that players in the Stamford Bridge dressing room were discussing his divorce from wife Sissi.The pair brought an end to their 13-year marriage back in 2022 with Tuchel quick to move on.Just days after his divorce from Sissi was granted, the then-Blues boss whisked away new girlfriend Natalie Max on a holiday to Sardinia.READ MORE SUN STORIESTuchel is still dating Natalie who is just over 13 years his junior.The pair met while Tuchel was managing in London with Max, 37, a Brazilian businesswoman living in the English capital.Tuchel divorced from wife Sissi after 13 years of marriage in 2022Credit: GettyThe soon-to-be England manager is now dating Brazilian Natalie MaxCredit: Rex More