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      Man Utd star Axel Tuanzebe’s amazing journey, from arriving from Congo aged 4 to captaining Red Devils at every level

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      THE story of how Manchester United star Axel Tuanzebe achieved his dream to play for the Premier League giants is truly inspiring.
      When he was just four, his parents left Congo for the UK in search of a better life for their family.

      Axel Tuanzebe’s remarkable rise is a story of courage and determinationCredit: Rex Features

      They settled in Rochdale, where a young Axel was unable to speak a word of English.
      However, the ambitious youngster was determined to make something of his life and support his family.
      He pushed himself through school, but his dream was to become a professional footballer – ever since he joined United’s Academy at the tender age of eight.
      Last October against PSG in the Champions League, Tuanzebe, now 23, produced a coming-of-age performance and kept Kylian Mbappe at bay.

      He is a man on a mission to succeed at Old Trafford.
      EARLY LIFE
      Tuanzebe was born in Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but moved to England when his parents emigrated to the north.
      Football became his passion. Soon he was scouted by Manchester United and joined their youth set-up – just four years after arriving on our shores.
      Despite rising through the ranks at youth level, education was still very important to Tuanzebe, who understood he couldn’t just rely on his football.

      He attended St Cuthbert’s RC High School, where he captained the Year 7 football team to the final of the English National Schools Cup at Stamford Bridge in 2009

      Tuanzebe joined the Manchester United academy aged 8 after arriving from Congo four years earlierCredit: Instagram
      .

      That achievement earned the boy acknowledgement from the Mayor of Rochdale, who honoured him with a Sports Boy of the Year award.
      Tuanzebe was reportedly a model student and when it came to his exams, he passed his GCSE’s with flying colours with A grades.
      But his academic pursuits would take a back seat as his football took centre stage.
      A REAL LEADER
      In 2019, Tuanzebe achieved a remarkable feat.
      When he stepped out for United against Rochdale in a League Cup victory over Rochdale, he was wearing the captain’s armband – ahead of more experienced stars including Paul Pogba, Sergio Romero, Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard.
      Not only did he become the youngest player to captain the side since Norman Whiteside in 1985, aged 21.
      He also capped off a wonderful run of captaining Manchester United at EVERY single age level he’s played at.

      In 2019 Tuanzebe led his Manchester United team mates out as captain in a League Cup tie against RochdaleCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Incredibly, Tuanzebe has captained Man Utd at every level he has played atCredit: AFP or licensors
      “Axel is a captain in the making, he’s a leader – why not give to young kids,” boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer later revealed to TalkSport after the game.
      “We know we can give it to Sergio and we can give it to Paul, that’s no problem and they’ve been captains before.
      “But it was Axel today and how does he handle it? He was absolutely fine, he enjoyed it.
      “It’s just a way of telling him that we trust him.”
      COMING OF AGE
      After breaking into the United first team, making his debut against Wigan in a 4-0 FA Cup victory in 2017, he started his first senior match in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal four months later.
      But with chances limited, Tuanzebe was sent on loan to Aston Villa, where he became a promotion hero in 2019.
      He returned to Old Trafford – expected to push for a first team spot. A series of niggling injuries put pay to a limited run in the team, and he played just ten times in all competitions in 2019-20.

      Tuanzebe was a promotion hero for Dean Smiths Aston VillaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Tuanzebe enjoyed a coming of age performance against PSG and didn’t give Kylian Mbappe an inchCredit: AFP or licensors
      However, it was on the biggest stage where he proved his undeniable quality.
      Faced with superstars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Tuanzebe put on his best display in a Manchester United shirt – as the Red Devils shocked PSG to win 2-1 in a Champions League game.
      After the match, Solskjaer said: “We know that when you go away against a team like this, against players like Neymar and Mbappe, top, top players in the world, we know we have to defend well.
      “We know David De Gea will have to make a few saves. Sometimes you’ll get in a foot race with Mbappe and you’ll have to run with him and we know Axel’s qualities – he’s a top defender.
      “First game in, I don’t know, 10 months or something, which is just testament to the quality he has.”
      HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS
      Being a gifted footballer isn’t Tuanzebe’s only claim to fame. After all, he features in the Guinness Book of World Records.
      In 2018 he joined his Manchester United team-mates on a pre-season tour in Los Angeles.
      There he was asked to take part in a game of Hungry Hippos for fun.

      Tuanzebe is not just a upcoming footballing star, but also holds a Guinness World Record in Hungry Hippos gameCredit: Instagram @roshaunwilliams

      The Hungry Hippos game is a favourite pastime for many young children, where players have to swallow as many marbles as possible using their hippoCredit: Amazon
      He finished it in just 17.37 seconds – managing to record a world record at the same time.
      For those who missed out on the famous game as a child, it features four hippos in a circle with a handful of balls in the middle.
      Players each choose a hippo and need to use it to collect as many marbles as possible before they are all taken.
      ENGLAND STAR IN THE MAKING
      Although Tuanzebe is still eligible to play for Congo, it appears likely that he will choose to represent England.
      He began his international career in 2017, starring for the Three Lions U17 side against Mexico.
      That same year, Tuanzebe was a part of the U20 side that won all three matches at the Four Nations tournament.

      Tuanzebe is an England youth international, but could still turn out for the country of his birth, DR CongoCredit: Rex Features

      Now 23, Tuanzebe is ready to push for a place in United’s first teamCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      In 2017, his rapid ascension at international level continued when he was capped by the U21 side against Ukraine.
      Gareth Southgate has been monitoring Tuanzebe closely, and should he get a sustained run in the United side he might just partner his United team mate Harry Maguire at the heart of England’s defence.
      That would be the icing on the cake for his astonishing rise.

      Cavani is deep in conversation with Tuanzebe before Man Utd’s win over PSG as fans joke he leaked inside information More

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      Footballers’ heart-breaking tattoos, from Sergio Ramos paying tribute to a dead friend to Marcos Rojo’s Maradona homage

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      FOOTBALLERS love their tattoos – and some have more meaning than others.
      Some of the body art inked on to the biggest names in the sport have some very moving stories behind them.

      Footballers love their tattoos, and many of them have an emotional meaning behind themCredit: Getty – Contributor

      We highlight 10 of the most emotional tattoo tributes.
      SERGIO RAMOS
      The Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is covered with tattoos, including some amazing numbers on his fingers. The most moving tattoos have ‘The spirit of those dead lies in the memory of those alive’ inked in two parts on his right and left biceps. It is a mark of respect for the victims of the terror attacks on New York on 9/11 2001 and Madrid on 3/11 in 2004. Ramos, 31, also has a large Star of David on his left arm in memory of his close friend and former team-mate Antonio Puerta, who died aged just 22. Puerta, a Spanish international, collapsed and later died while playing for Sevilla against Getafe in August 2007.

      Sergio Ramos displays his tattoos including the Star of David on his left arm dedicated to a dead friendCredit: Instagram @sergioramos

      Sergio Ramos has a tribute to terror victims across both his armsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      MARCOS ROJO
      Every Argentinian footballer grows up worshipping their greatest ever player – Diego Armando Maradona. And Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo is no different. In tribute to the late football legend who passed away last November, the centre half got a unique design of the Napoli icon on his leg. Rojo’s tat is unique and features an image of Maradona in a cigar-chomping Fidel Castro pose, complete with a communist cap emblazoned with a star.

      Rojo, 30, chose an image of the late great in a cigar-chomping Fidel Castro pose, complete with a communist cap emblazoned with a star.

      Marcos Rojo now has a tattoo of Diego Maradona posing as Fidel Castro on his legCredit: Instagram

      The Man Utd defender had the ink done in tribute to the late great MaradonaCredit: Instagram
      ANTHONY KNOCKAERT
      The Fulham striker Anthony Knockaert, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, has a tattoo of his late father Patrick. His dad – who worked as a truck driver but made the time to drive him to youth football games – died in 2017, aged 63, and the French star wanted to honour his memory in ink on his chest. Local tattooist Daniel Gulliver, who has worked on several Premier League players, created the image of his dad smiling and smoking a cigar.

      Anthony Knockaert with the tattoo to his late father PatrickCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

      Knockaert celebrates promotion to the Premier League with Brighton and shows off his tatCredit: Rex Features

      Knockaert’s tattoo of Patrick shows him smoking a cigarCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times
      Knockaert said: “It’s all credit to my dad because he did everything for me and I’m here today because of him. “He always believed in me and he was sure I would be playing in the Premier League.”
      ARTURO VIDAL
      Bayern star Vidal has plenty of tattoos on his torso – including one of his skin tearing away to reveal a Spiderman outfit – but the most bizarre is that of an insulin pump. He had the work done in 2016 on the right side of his six-pack after his son Alonso was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

      Arturo Vidal has several tattoos but one on his stomach stands outCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Vidal shows off the insulin pump etched on his stomachCredit: Twitter @ kingarturo23
      https://twitter.com/kingarturo23/status/885940413168832512 Vidal also posted a photo of the needlework along with a message for Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, calling for children to have better accessibility to diabetes-related healthcare.
      MAURO ICARDI
      The Argentine striker showed off a striking new tattoo of a lion’s head, incorporating his daughter’s names Francesca and Isabella. However a tattoo he had done in 2014 is even more moving, as it incorporates the three children his wife Mauro has with her ex-hubby Maxi Lopez. The tattoo names the three children Valentino, Constantino and Benedicto, and reads: ‘I love these three little angels’. Icardi and Lopez were team-mates at Sampdoria when they fell out over the stunning Wanda.

      Mauro Icardi with Wanda and the tattoo of her kids’ namesCredit: Instagram @mauroicardi

      Maruo Icardi, wife Wanda and their childrenCredit: Instagram @mauroicardi

      Mauro Icardi has a massive lion tattoo on his chest with the names of his childrenCredit: Instagram @mauroicardi
      HARRY ARTER
      Nottingham Forest star Harry Arter and his partner Rachel Irwin suffered a heartbreaking stillbirth in December 2015. Their daughter Renee was stillborn and Arter, 27, has a tribute tattoo dedicated to her on the inside of his right forearm. It contains the inspirational words ‘Setbacks pave the way for comebacks’. In 2017 the couple welcomed the arrival of a baby girl named Raine.

      Harry Arter has a tattoo to his still born daughter on his right forearmCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The tattoo Harry Arter had created for his stillborn daughter ReneeCredit: Getty Images
      ROBERTO FIRMINO
      The tattoos on Firmino’s body are all about love. He has pictures of both his mother and father on his right arm, and a message in German on his back that translates as ‘Unremitting love for the family’. Also on his right arm he has a red rose for love, a four-leaf clover as a sign of luck, a peace symbol on his forearm and the year 1991 on his knuckles – representing the year he was born. The word love is tattooed on the knuckles of his left hand and the name of his daughter Valentina on his chest beside the words ‘God is faithful’ in Greek.

      Roberto Firmino with his wife Larissa during a break in Brazil

      Liverpool star Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring against Stoke and shows off his inkCredit: Reuters
      GABRIEL JESUS
      Man City’s Brazilian striker has a startling tattoo that documents his rise from the favelas of Sao Paulo. But the most heart-warming one is of his beloved mum Vera on his arm. Strict Vera, who raised her four children alone in a poor district of Sao Paulo, controls almost every aspect of her famous son’s life, from the food he eats to where he goes out, and even the girls he meets. And he celebrates every goal with his trademark phone celebration in honour of Vera.

      Gabriel Jesus shows off his tattoo of his mum Vera and the photo that inspired it

      Gabriel Jesus with his trademark phone celebration in honour of his mumCredit: Getty – Contributor
      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
      The Swedish superstar is covered in inkings but in 2015 he went one stage further and had 50 names of starving people added as temporary tattoos to highlight world hunger.   He whipped off his shirt after scoring for PSG against Caen to reveal names like Carmen, Mariko, Antoine, Lida and Rahma to show his support for the United Nations World Food Programme. He said afterwards: “There are names no one cares to remember.” The referee didn’t appreciate the gesture however and booked him.

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic took off his shirt after scoring against Caen to reveal 50 namesCredit: AFP – Getty

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic later revealed that the names were temporary tattoosCredit: AFP – Getty
      MAURICIO PINILLA
      Chilean striker Mauricio Pinilla so nearly became a national hero at the 2014 World Cup. Chile were drawing 1-1 with hosts Brazil in the final minute of extra time when substitute Pinilla blasted a powerful shot against the home team’s crossbar.
      The goal would have put Chile through, but minutes later they went out in the penalty shoot-out. Former Hearts star Pinilla however decided to commemorate the near-miss by having a tat of a ball smashing through the crossbar with the worlds ‘One centimetre from glory’ inked on to his back. Tattooist Marlon Parra said: “What he wanted to do was leave a record of the suffering he’s going through.”

      Mauricio Pinilla’s tattoo of his shot shattering the Brazilian bar

      Agonising moment Pinilla hit the bar at the 2014 World CupCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Pinilla reacts after missing against BrazilCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes his huge lion tattoo on his back ROAR in amazing party trick as he tenses muscles More

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      Sacked Chelsea bosses and what they did next, from Jose Mourinho managing rivals Spurs to Gus Hiddink in Curacao

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      FRANK LAMPARD is the 12th boss Roman Abramovich has disposed of when results haven’t gone the way the Chelsea owner has wanted.
      But the former Blues legend will take heart in seeing how some of his predecessors in the Stamford Bridge hot seat have fared after the Russian owner gave them their marching orders.

      Frank Lampard is the most recent management casualty at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA:Press Association

      Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has sacked 12 bosses since buying the club in 2003Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Some went on to manage fierce rivals, while others have disappeared into obscurity.
      And one lucky boss is lapping up life in the Caribbean paradise of Curacao.
      Claudio Ranieri, 2000-04
      The Italian boss was already in charge when Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
      Ranieri survived just one season, helping the club secure their highest ever Premier League finish at that time as runners-up.

      Famously, he would go on to miraculously lead Leicester City to the title in 2016.
      In recent seasons Ranieri’s returned to Italy, where he’s managed Roma and is currently head coach at Sampdoria.

      Claudio Ranieri was fired one season after Abramovich’s arrivalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Ranieri led Leicester City to an unimaginable title in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jose Mourinho, 2004-07 and 2013-15
      The Special One is one of two managers who have been invited back to Stamford Bridge.
      In his first stint, he won consecutive league titles (the double in his second season) before things turned sour in his third and he walked away from his contract after falling out with Abramovich.

      Jose won La Liga with Real Madrid, Serie A and the Champions League with Inter, before returning to West London and winning the Premier League in his second season.
      Again, it all went wrong in his third season and he was sacked after the club lost nine of their opening 16 games.
      After that, Mourinho went to fierce rivals Man Utd – winning the Carabao Cup and Europa League.
      Now at Spurs, the Portuguese coach is trying to work his magic to bring silverware to Tottenham.

      Jose Mourinho won consecutive titles with ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Mourinho now manages fierce rivals Tottenham after two stints with the BluesCredit: Rex Features
      Avram Grant, 2007-08
      The Israeli football manager – a close friend of Abramovich – was brought in to replace Mourinho to reportedly get the best out of Andriy Shevchenko, who Jose dropped.
      However, Grant struggled to win over the fans, despite leading the club to a Champions League final in 2008 – eventually losing to Manchester United on penalties.
      A good spell at Portsmouth was followed by an ill-fated one at West Ham.
      Grant’s last job in football was in 2018, managing NorthEast United of the Indian Super League.

      Avram Grant was brought in to replace Mourinho in 2007Credit: EPA

      Avram Grant’s last job in football was in 2018 managing in IndiaCredit: Rex Features
      Luis Felipe Scolari, 2008-09
      ‘Big Phil’ came to England with a glowing reputation as one of the game’s grandmasters of football management.
      But he was fired by Chelsea after just seven months – with the club failing to sustain a title challenge and trailing Manchester United.
      Scolari seemed to lose his mojo, failing at Uzbekistani champions FC Bunyodkor – with the language barrier being his biggest obstacle.
      However, he led Palmeiras to the Copa do Brazil in 2012, but poor form in the Brazilian championship saw him sacked there.
      Most notably, as boss of Brazil at the 2014 World Cup Scolari oversaw their embarrassing 7-1 defeat to Germany.
      Scolari has also managed in China, and is now back in Brazil as boss of Cruzeiro after a second spell at Palmeiras.

      A language barrier meant Luis Felipe Scolari failed at ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association

      ‘Big Phil’ Scolari is back in Brazil after losing his mojo at ChelseaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Guus Hiddink, 2009 and 2015-16
      The second man to enjoy two spells at the Bridge, the Dutchman was brought in in 2009 as interim boss to restore some pride for the remainder of the season.
      He led the club to a Champions League semi-final, where they were unfortunate to lose to Barcelona. In his last game in charge in 2009, he won the FA Cup.
      Hiddink returned to the rescue in 2015 after Mourinho’s second spell left the club in tatters – guiding Chelsea to a mid-table finish after an unbeaten first 12 games before departing once the season was over.
      As of August 2020, he is now boss of Caribbean minnows Curacao.

      Guus Hiddink has had two spells at Chelsea as interim bossCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

      Hiddink was named as Curacao boss in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Carlo Ancelotti, 2009-11
      After earning a glowing reputation at AC Milan, Ancelotti was hired by Abramovich to bring the title back to Stamford Bridge.
      And the Italian succeeded in his first season, adding the FA Cup in a remarkable first year.
      But a trophyless second season saw ruthless Roman wield the axe and Ancelotti was reportedly told he was getting sacked in the corridor at Goodison Park after a defeat to Everton.
      Ancelotti then scored glam jobs at PSG, where he won the title, Real Madrid, who he won the Champions League with, and Bayern Munich – who were German champions during his tenure.
      He is, of course, current boss at Everton – who sit just three points below a Champions League place.

      Carlo Ancelotti has some unfinished business in the Premier League and now manages EvertonCredit: Reuters
      Andres Villas-Boas, 2011-12
      AVB was touted as the ‘next Mourinho’ after earning his stripes at Porto, like his predecessor.
      But nine months into the job, the young boss was handed his P45 following a disappointing defeat to Watford and the belief that he struggled to assert control over his squad.
      Villas-Boas took over the reigns at Spurs briefly, before he was fired there.
      He regained credibility on the management stage with Zenit Saint-Petersburg – winning the Russian Premier League and the Russian Cup in consecutive seasons.
      In 2016, AVB took over Shanghai SIPG for a season and turned them into title contenders.
      Today, he is boss of Marseille – who flopped in this season’s Champions League, but sit in the top sixth of the French league.

      Andre Villas-Boas struggled to assert control of the Chelsea squad Credit: EPA

      Andre Villas-Boas is enjoying a successful stint at MarseilleCredit: Reuters
      Roberto Di Matteo, 2012
      When Villas-Boas was fired, his assistant Di Matteo stepped up for the top job.
      And he had a remarkable first few months as interim boss, inexplicably winning the FA Cup and Champions League.
      He was handed a two-year deal, but let go the following season after a string of poor results.
      Aside from finishing runners-up with West Brom in 2010, and earning the club promotion, his career as manager hasn’t hit the heights it did with the Blues.
      Di Matteo’s last manager role came in 2016 at Aston Villa, and lasted just four months after he was sacked for a string of poor results.

      Months after he was appointed boss, Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to an unlikely Champions League winCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Rafa Benitez, 2012-13
      Another year, another interim boss – this time it was former Liverpool man Rafa Benitez handed the reigns.
      His task for the remainder of the season was to steady the ship that was wavering in choppy waters under Di Matteo.
      And he won the Europa League, as well as helped the club to a top four finish before waving goodbye.
      Last week, Benitez walked away from his job at Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional.
      He has since been linked with a move back to the Premier League with Newcastle United.

      Rafa Benitez was an unpopular figure with Chelsea fans but they won the Europa League under him in 2013Credit: Corbis – Getty
      Antonio Conte, 2016-18
      Like Ancelotti, Conte started off life in West London in blistering fashion – landing the Premier League title in his first season.
      In his second, Chelsea won the FA Cup, but it all began to fall apart when Chelsea missed out on Champions League qualification.
      He was fired, and would later reportedly cost the club £30million in legal fees and compensation.
      Since 2019, Conte has been trying to unseat Juventus with Inter Milan by bringing the Serie A trophy back to the club.
      They are currently just two points off their fierce rivals AC Milan, who lead the league.

      Antonio Conte is building an Inter Milan team now to win Serie ACredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Maurizio Sarri, 2018-19
      Chelsea fans certainly weren’t Sarri to see the chain-smoking Italian lose his job in 2019.
      Despite winning the Europa League and finishing third in his first season in charge, he struggled to win over the fans – with his brand of ‘Sarriball’ failing to entertain the Stamford Bridge faithful.

      He left the club after 337 days, and landed the Juventus job in 2019.
      Sarri won his first major trophy in Italian football by leading the Old Lady to the Italian championship.
      But the day after they were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Lyon in 2020, he was sacked… again.

      Maurizio Sarri is looking for work after he was sacked by Juventus last yearCredit: PA:Press Association

      Frank Lampard told to ‘get used to it’ by Everton boss Ancelotti More

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      Chelsea’s next boss Thomas Tuchel’s many rows, like making a player crawl across a pitch on all fours as a punishment

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      AS his past has proven, Thomas Tuchel isn’t the easiest person to get along with.
      The intense and highly-demanding football manager, who will now look to impress Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, has fallen out with board members at ALL clubs he’s managed, which has led to some acrimonious splits.

      Thomas Tuchel has earned a reputation as an intense and highly-demanding managerCredit: Alamy Live News

      He resigned at Mainz following a dispute with hierarchy over transfer funds, was sacked by Borussia Dortmund after testing the patience of bosses at the Westfalenstadion.
      At PSG he clashed with sporting director Leonardo – with the Brazilian claiming the German tactician disrespected the club.
      And Tuchel’s arguments aren’t just reserved for senior figures, with some players falling foul of the strict disciplinarian’s ways.
      After one of his stars dared upset him, Tuchel, 47, made him crawl on his hands and knees across a football pitch as a punishment.

      ‘BETRAYED’
      Although Tuchel is the most successful manager Mainz have ever had, earning the club european qualification for the first time in history, his name isn’t as revered as it should be.
      When he left the club, a bitter taste was left in the mouth of the supporters, but more importantly his president Harald Strutz said he felt “betrayed”.
      After five seasons at the club, Tuchel reportedly wanted financial backing by the board to take the team further.
      When he didn’t get what he demanded, he decided to walk away from his contract in 2014.

      “I couldn’t see how we could reinvent ourselves once more the coming summer,” he said as he departed.

      Tuchel was Mainz most successful manager ever and enjoyed five seasons with the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      However, a fallout with club president Harald Strutz over transfer funds saw Tuchel walk out of the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Strutz later accused Tuchel of talking to other clubs behind his backCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tuchel was suspended for the remaining year of his deal – and was forced to take a Pep Guardiola-like sabbatical to assess his options.
      Later, club president Strutz would accuse Tuchel of talking to other teams behind his back – with the ambitious coach desperate to prove himself at a big club.
      PLAYER FALLOUT
      In 2015, Tuchel – who had earned his stripes from rookie coach to master tactician – got his dream job. He was hired by Borussia Dortmund to dethrone Bayern Munich from the top of the Bundesliga.
      And although he won the German Cup, his time there is best-remembered for the bust-ups he had.
      There were disagreements with senior players, including Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Roman Weidenfeller.
      With Hummels he criticised his performance after a game. “Mats can do better,” Tuchel explained on why he substituted him in the 78th minute of their DFB Pokal final in May 2016 against Bayern.
      Another astonishing player row happened with forward, Emre Mor.

      Player fallouts at Borussia Dortmund included Tuchel clashing with German legend Mats HummelsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Turkish forward Emre Mor was made to crawl on his hands and knees as a punishment in trainingCredit: AP:Associated Press
      As a punishment, Tuchel instructed his fitness coach to make the Turkish forward crawl across the pitch on his hands and knees as a punishment for not working hard enough.
      When the youngster complained, Tuchel barked: “Shut your mouth! Shut your mouth! Shut your mouth!”
      New signings were also ordered to do an ‘initiation dance’ after joining the club in front of their team mates.
      This was stopped after some complained how uncomfortable this made them feel.
      THE BEGINNING OF THE END
      Picking a fight with your bosses and staff in the pressure cooker world of football never works.
      The first sign Tuchel was entering choppy waters came when he clashed with former chief scout Sven Mislantat, who would later work for Arsenal.
      According to German magazine Spiegel, the disagreement began after Mislantat negotiated a deal for Spanish starlet Oliver Torres, but Tuchel opposed the move and the player stayed at Atletico Madrid.

      Tuchel disagreed with player acquisitions at Borussia DortmundCredit: EPA

      Former chief scout Sven Mislantat clashed with Tuchel over the signing of Oliver TorresCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke publicly disagreed about the rescheduling of Dortmund’s Champions League game against MonacoCredit: EPA
      Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke and sporting director Michael Zorc reportedly sided with Mislantat.
      The signing of Swedish talent Alexander Isak was also a mystery to Tuchel, as he revealed in an awkward press conference after a deal was done – saying he knew nothing about it.
      However, a decisive moment in the breakdown between Tuchel and Watzke came over the rescheduling of the Champions League clash with Monaco following a bombing of the team bus.
      The Champions League tie was played just 24-hours after the incident – with Watzke consulting the players, who had agreed they wanted the game to go ahead.
      But Tuchel moaned publicly and said the decision for the match to be played was made for them, and wasn’t his decision. Watzke later revealed that Tuchel had an opportunity to say he didn’t want the clash to happen but kept quiet.
      Just days after he won the German cup for the club, Tuchel was sacked with Watzke saying he was “worn out” dealing with the manager.
      DISRESPECTUL
      Undeterred by his now spiky reputation, PSG hired Tuchel to replace Unai Emery at the Parc des Princes.

      Despite his spiky demeanour, Tuchel was hired by PSG in 2018 Credit: AP:Associated Press

      Tuchel had a good relationship with superstar NeymarCredit: AFP or licensors

      The French club run with Qatari money and featuring superstars like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe demanded a boss who respected the club’s values.
      And although he got on well with his star players, aside from one moment when he confronted a disgruntled Mbappe after subbing him off, it was sporting director Leonardo he didn’t agree with.
      Cracks showed after Tuchel gave an interview to German broadcaster Sport1, which he reportedly said he felt like “a sports politician or sports minister than a coach” at PSG.
      “I didn’t like Tuchel’s statements. Neither did the club,” Leonardo retorted.
      “You have to respect the club and the sports management. Whoever is not happy, we have to deal with it internally.”
      The pair also fell out over the signing of defensive midfielder Danilo Pereira, which was sanctioned by the former AC Milan star against the wishes of Tuchel who wanted the club to invest in a central defender.
      Tuchel proceeded to play Pereira in defence – perhaps as a protest.

      PSG sporting director Leonardo accused Tuchel of disrespecting the clubCredit: AFP or licensors

      Tuchel is taking over the Chelsea hot seat after Frank Lampard was sacked by Roman AbramovichCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tuchel was also critical of the club’s owners saying PSG let players such as Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva leave too easily.
      Despite winning the domestic treble, and leading the French giants to their first ever Champions League final, he was dismissed from his post.
      Chelsea and Roman Abramovich will know what they are getting with Tuchel, but if it brings success in the short term the odd spat here or there won’t matter… for now.

      Simon Jordan says that Thomas Tuchel has been lined up by Chelsea for some time More

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      Next Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s inner circle, from wife Sissi to assistant Arno Michels and agent Olaf Meinking

      by

      INCOMING Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has an inner circle of those he trusts featuring these eight people.
      The German boss, who has enjoyed success at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and most recently PSG, is set to take over from Frank Lampard at Chelsea, who has been sacked by Roman Abramovich.

      Thomas Tuchel’s backroom staff feature as part of his inner circleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      It is likely that he consulted wife Sissi, who is a huge influence on his career choices before deciding to move to the Premier League.
      And he will bring with him a backroom staff likely to consist of these key members – from a trusted assistant to a video analyst and strict fitness coach.
      Here’s who helps Tuchel, 47, build winning football teams.
      SISSI TUCHEL, WIFE
      Although she’s not involved in footballing decisions, Sissi Tuchel is said to be a huge support to her husband of 11 years.

      It is believed she has a big say on his career choices, where he chooses to manage and acts as a sounding board for him, when the chips are down.
      When it came to his dismissal at Dortmund in 2017, Sissi reportedly visited Paris the summer before to seek a home for them to live in with their two daughters ahead of his appointment at PSG.
      Tuchel and Sissi are rarely seen in public together, preferring to shun the limelight.
      No doubt she has already looked into a life in London for the family.

      Tuchel has been married to wife Sissi for 11 yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Sissi Tuchel is said to have a big say on Tuchel’s career choicesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The pair are rarely seen in public togetherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ARNO MICHELS, ASSISTANT
      Since their days at Mainz, Tuchel has worked exclusively with Michels as his assistant manager.
      “He is a diligent, hardworking and loyal trainer whose character traits suit me perfectly,” the gaffer has said of his trusted coach.
      They met when they were learning their coaching badges and Tuchel was adamant Michels would be his assistant, wherever he went, including at Borussia Dortmund and PSG.
      Tuchel and Michels share the same football philosophy – incisive, quick attacking play – and implement their style onto their players.

      Arno Michels is Tuchel’s trusted assistant managerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Michels shares the same footballing philosophy as Tuchel for attacking playCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      OLAF MEINKING, AGENT
      There’s no business like show business for Meinking, Tuchel’s agent.
      For Meinking’s talents are more served in representing a stable of German actors and singers.
      His roster of clients isn’t filled with names from the footballing world.
      And that’s because Tuchel prefers it that way.
      “Football agents always have other interests. I wanted to avoid it from the start, ”he once said.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Olaf Meinking is Tuchel’s agent and is more of a showbiz man than football fanCredit: Twitter

      Abramovich has spent over £110m on sacking managers since his 2003 arrival
      BENJAMIN WEBER, VIDEO ANALYST
      Video analysts are crucial to Tuchel’s preparations.
      And like Michels, Benjamin Weber has been with Tuchel since his days at Mainz.
      Weber was quick to implement changes at PSG, the moment he arrived.
      On his advice, cameras were installed at the Camp des Loges to record training sessions.
      Expect Big Brother to be watching in Cobham too.

      Benjamin Weber has worked as a video analyst for Tuchel since his Mainz daysCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ZSOST LOW, COACH
      Low was a recent addition to Tuchel’s coaching team.
      The Hungarian came to PSG after impressing as assistant coach at RB Leipzig.
      Tuchel had already known Low, though.
      He coached him as a player at Mainz and was well aware of his potential to become a trainer.

      Hungarian coach Zsost Low was a former player for Tuchel at MainzCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ZOUMANA CAMARA, SET-PIECE SPECIALIST
      As is in the modern game, set-piece specialists have become key additions to any forward thinking coaching set-up.
      Chelsea already have Anthony Barry in that role, who was credited with tightening their defence and making the team a bigger threat from corners and free-kicks.
      But should Tuchel want to bring in his own man – Zoumana Camara could be set for the role.
      Camara was assistant to both Laurent Blanc and Unai Emery, but Tuchel put his expertise to use to prepare for set pieces – offensively and defensively.

      Zoumana Camara worked as a set-piece specialist at PSG under TuchelCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      PHILIPP SCHELB, SPECIAL ADVISER
      Mr Discreet, as he has been christened, Schelb is always by Tuchel’s side.
      Munich-born, he deals with the logistical side of a footballing operation.
      From transport to hospitality, he works carefully to ensure the team are looked after.
      Interestingly, Schelb attends ALL post-match press conferences.

      Philipp Schelb is Tuchel’s shadow and works as his personal adviserCredit: Alamy
      RAINER SCHREY, FITNESS COACH
      Described as a mastermind of physical preparation, Schrey has worked with Tuchel since 2011.

      An author of health and fitness books, Schrey is said to be a disciplinarian when it comes to his training methods.
      He doesn’t suffer fools, and also preaches that nutrition is key when it comes to high-performance in athletes.
      Before games, Schrey will put his team through their paces with stretches and drills in the warm-up.

      Strict fitness coach Rainer Schrey puts PSG’s players through their pacesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Next Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is fashion model, former barman, has business degree and refused Bayern Munich More

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      Next Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is fashion model, former barman, has business degree and refused Bayern Munich

      by

      THOMAS TUCHEL is a man of many monikers, but you would never have imagined the incoming Chelsea boss would fancy himself as Germany’s next top model.
      The ex-PSG manager, who is expected to take over the Stamford Bridge hot seat to replace Frank Lampard who has been sacked, once posed for a fashion shoot in New York for Die Zeit’s men’s magazine.

      Thomas Tuchel is a football manager and a fashionistaCredit: Markus Jans

      In 2017, Tuchel appeared in ZEITmagazin MANN in a trendy fashion shootCredit: Markus Jans

      Tuchel, 47, had a stint as a barman, when he was forced to retire from the game aged just 24 – that he admits helped him become a more confident person.
      The German tactician is also one of a rare breed of football managers who hold a degree – he juggled his job at Radio Bar in Stuttgart alongside studying Business Administration at university.
      The differing facades of Tuchel paint not just an interesting personality, but one that’s bound to light up the Premier League.
      HE’S IN FASHION
      In 2017, few could believe what they were seeing – certainly not German football fans anyway.

      Skinny Tuchel, who stands at 6ft 2in, was seen in trendy snaps for ZEITmagazin MANN pulling off his best David Gandy impression.
      And in fairness to Tuchel, he looked the part wearing stylish clobber while gazing into the distance – and still managing to look his usual pensive self.
      At the time, he was in between jobs after he was fired by Borussia Dortmund – just days after they won the German cup.
      However, the stylish shoot was clearly the perfect audition for the PSG job he got in 2018, with Paris being the home of fashion.

      Tuchel had come a long way from his beginnings as a football manager wannabe.

      In each stylish photo Tuchel looks like he could be Germnay’s next top modelCredit: Markus Jans

      Standing at 6ft 2in, Tuchel pulls off a range of catwalk looksCredit: Markus Jans
      EARLY RETIREMENT
      In his early years, Tuchel rose through the ranks at Augsburg as a defender.
      But at 19 he was released, and he 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.
      Instead of dwelling on his failed ambitions, Tuchel enrolled himself onto a Business Administration course.
      He supplemented his income working at a trendy bar in the city called Radio Bar. There, he learned life skills – even if his cocktails weren’t up to scratch.
      “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 began his football career at Augsburg, but was released at 19Credit: PA:Press Association

      A defender by trade, Tuchel moved to Stuttgarter KickersCredit: PA:Press Association

      However, at the age of 24 he was forced to retire while playing for SSV UlmCredit: PA:Press Association
      BACK TO THE DREAM
      Despite Tuchel’s best efforts of launching himself into academia and being a customer-pleaser in a bar, he still felt he had unfinished business with football.
      He contacted then-Stuttgart boss Ralf Rangnick, who was most recently head of sport and development at Red Bull GmbH, for a trial with the club’s reserves – believing he was fit to play after nine months without kicking a ball.
      However, chronic cartilage damage saw Tuchel unable to show his true potential.
      Seeing a man with a football brain, Rangnick pushed Tuchel towards coaching – he shadowed coaches in the club academy until he took over the U14 team in 2000.
      Tuchel now felt he had found his calling.

      Tuchel isn’t your average manager and boasts a business degreeCredit: PA:Press Association

      As a youth team coach Tuchel enjoyed much success, including winning the U19 Bundesliga title with Mainz in 2009Credit: PA:Press Association
      FROM BARMAN TO MAINZ HEAD COACH IN NINE YEARS
      The steep trajectory that took Tuchel from barman to a Bundesliga head coach in just nine years is testament to his drive to succeed.
      At Stuttgart, under mentor Hermann Badstuber, he eventually became assistant coach for the U19s – helping the side win the U19 Bundesliga title in 2005.
      In 2006, he returned to Augsburg as head coach, where he completed his coaching badges and became reserve team manager.
      Ambitious Tuchel was on the move again – this time to Mainz in 2008, who he led to the U19 Bundesliga title the following year with a team that included World Cup winner Andre Schurrle.
      The German national team were desperate to appoint Tuchel as their U21 boss, but a better offer came along.
      When Mainz boss Jorn Andersen was fired, Tuchel grabbed his first job as a Bundesliga head coach.

      When the opportunity came, Tuchel became head coach of Mainz in 2009Credit: Rex Features

      Tuchel rose from barman to a Bundesliga head coach in just nine yearsCredit: PA:Press Association
      SUCCESS STORY
      With Mainz playing in their first season in the Bundesliga after promotion the previous year, Tuchel guided the club to a ninth-placed finish.
      The following season, after an incredible seven-game winning run, that included a 2-1 away victory at Bayern Munich, they finished fifth to qualify for the Europa League for the first time in their history.
      Tuchel was being talked about as a master tactician by the German press, with his attacking style lauded by football experts.
      “There’s definitely a style that’s been attributed to me, that we brought to the table at Mainz: pace going forward and attack-minded football,” he told German newspaper die Zeit.
      “I prefer certain qualities, an active playing style, bold defending and pacy play in attack.”
      While Tuchel was also willing to think outside the box when it came to rallying his players and preparing them for games.
      Once, instead of making his players watch video analysis after a crushing defeat, he motivated them with a powerful speech borrowed from Michael Jordan.

      Tuchel’s brand of football at Mainz was lauded by the pressCredit: PA:Press Association

      Inspiring team talks, including using quotes from Michael Jordan, were all part of his successCredit: AFP – DDP
      “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed,” he echoed to his team.
      Tuchel also hired Rene Maric, a young football fan who posted his musings on games on a blog, to scout opposition teams and players.
      WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUE
      After a 12-month sabbatical, Tuchel was named Borussia Dortmund coach – following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.
      Young stars like Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele were nurtured, thriving under the new boss as the club finished runners-up in the Bundesliga in 2016 in his second season.
      However, winning his first trophy as a manager in 2017 was soured just thre days later when he was sacked. A strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy, notably CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, was deemed to be the reason.
      That didn’t deter PSG from making a move for Tuchel, who reportedly turned down Bayern Munich’s advances beforehand, in the summer of 2018 and he won Ligue 1 in his first season.
      But again, tensions arose when he clashed with senior figures, including sporting director Leonardo.

      Days after winning the German Cup, Tuchel was fired by Borussia DortmundCredit: Reuters

      As boss of PSG between 2018-20, Tuchel managed superstars like NeymarCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Could Tuchel’s next destination be Stamford Bridge?Credit: Alamy

      Tuchel didn’t help his cause when he said he felt “[more like] a politician in sport” than a coach. Leonardo bit back that Tuchel “[must] respect the people above [him]” and said the comments were damaging for the club.
      Despite recording a domestic treble in his final season in Paris, as well as being a Champions League runner-up, he was fired again.
      One to speak his mind, it begs the question if Stamford Bridge is the right setting for Thomas Tuchel. Time will tell if Abramovich has made the right decision.

      Frank Lampard reacts to questions about his future after Chelsea lose 2-0 at Leicester More

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      Tottenham wonderkids who failed to live up to the hype, include Ceballos, Bostock, Lancaster and more

      by

      TOTTENHAM youngster Ryan Sessegnon had been tipped to be the ‘next Gareth Bale’ last season after he scored on his first start for the club.
      But he quickly failed to live up to the hype in England following his move from Fulham and is now trying to kickstart his career.

      Credit: Getty – Contributor

      Tottenham have invested in young players like Ryan Sessegnon. It just proves for every successful ‘wonderkid’, there’s a flop in the making…
      Here’s six Spurs youngsters who failed to set North London alight.
      JOHN BOSTOCK
      Bostock was tipped for greatness after becoming Crystal Palace’s youngest ever player when he made his debut aged 15 in 2007.
      A year later, Spurs fended off interest from Barcelona and Arsenal to sign the box-to-box midfielder, who seemingly had the world at his feet for £700,000.

      The move infuriated then-Palace chairman Simon Jordan, who revoked Bostock and his step-father’s season tickets.
      But, as fate would have it, Jordan need not have worried. Bostock’s development stunted after unsuccessful loans at Brentford, Hull, Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon, and then Toronto FC.
      A move to second division side Royal Antwerp reignited his passion for the game in 2013, and he then bounced to OH Leuven, Lens, Bursaspor and Toulouse.
      Last season Bostock has returned to our shores, still only 28, on loan at Nottingham Forest – but it failed to work out and he’s now a free agent.

      John Bostock infuriated Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan when he moved to Spurs in a £700k dealCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Now 28, Bostock is a free agent after a spell at ToulouseCredit: Getty – Contributor
      CAMERON LANCASTER
      In 2012 Lancaster was reckoned to be Spurs’ best youth player in a team that also had Harry Kane in.
      The centre-forward even got a debut before the England hotshot against Wigan that same year.
      However, it all turned sour for Lancaster after a series of injuries hampered his progress, including snapping his groin to the bone and tearing his ACL.
      In 2014, he was released by Spurs and signed by Stevenage. Then a move to St Albans City followed, where he continued to struggle.
      A year later, he was enjoying his football in America playing for Louisville City in the USL Championship.
      After rediscovering his scoring boots, finding the net 36 times in 79 games for them, he was signed by Nashville Soccer Club in 2019, who make their MLS debut in 2020.
      After a loan spell at Louisville City, Lancaster joined the club permanently at the end of last season, ready for the 2021 campaign.

      Cameron Lancaster was rated as a better prospect than Harry KaneCredit: Corbis – Getty

      Lancaster now plays his football in America after two serious injuriesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      CHRISTIAN CEBALLOS
      Arsenal aren’t the first club in North London to have a Ceballos on their books, you know.
      Back in 2011 Tottenham took a punt on a Christian Ceballos, also an attacking midfielder, who was formerly at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
      By the age of 15, Ceballos had become a YouTube sensation after a video of him ball-juggling with Ronaldinho went viral.
      But he was released by Barcelona, and after an unsuccessful trial with Chelsea was snapped up by Spurs.
      Ceballos failed to make a first-team appearance for the Premier League giants and was sold to Charlton where he flopped.
      After a three-year spell at Belgium team Sint-Truidense V.V., Ceballos, now 28, moved to Qatari side Al-Wakrah in 2019.

      Spanish midfield maestro Christian Ceballos came from BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Ceballos flopped at Spurs and now plays in Qatar for Al WakrahCredit: Getty – Contributor

      DORIAN DERVITE
      In 2006, when Martin Jol was Tottenham boss, he added Dervite to his squad.
      Signed from Lille, the 6ft 4in defender was a France under-18 international and tipped to become one of the leading centre-halves of his generation.
      Sadly for Dervite, he only made one appearance – in a League Cup tie against Port Vale alongside Michael Dawson in the heart of Tottenham’s defence – before injury curtailed his career.
      Surgery on his knee kept him out of the game for several months, but a loan spell at Southend United gave him renewed hope when he was voted second in a player of the season poll by their fans.
      But top-level football alluded him, and spells at Villarreal B, Charlton, Bolton and Charleroi followed.
      He’s was plying his trade for NAC Breda, now in the Dutch second division before moving to Cypriot minnows Doxa Katokopias and then to Belgian side Renaissance Mons 44, who were reformed this summer after  being declared bankrupt in 2015.

      Dorian Dervite was rated as one of the best young defenders of his generationCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Dervite played for NAC Breda in the Dutch second division before spells in Cyprus and BelgiumCredit: Getty – Contributor
      TERRY DIXON
      Between 2004-08, Tottenham had high hopes for Republic of Ireland forward Dixon.
      That’s why they stood by the youngster after he suffered three crippling knee injuries before the age of 18.
      But it wasn’t to be, and he was picked up by West Ham after Spurs released him.
      A year later his contract was terminated by the Hammers when he failed to break into their first team.
      Since 2011 Dixon has stopped at Stevenage, Ware, Tooting and Mitcham United, Bradford City, Halifax Town, Dover Athletic, Dunstable Town, and Berkhamsted without leaving his mark.
      He’s been at Aylesbury United since 2014, and is still only 30.

      Three serious knee injuries before the age of 18 saw Terry Dixon fail to live up to his hypeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      JONATHAN BLONDEL
      In 2002, Belgium midfield schemer rejected Man Utd’s advances after Sir Alex Ferguson earmarked him as one for the future.
      A few months later, in came Spurs who swooped for the-then Belgium under-19 star who was one of the most coveted young footballers on the planet.
      A good passer of the ball with excellent vision, Blondel suffered with the physical rigours of the British football.
      At only 5ft 8in and of slight build, he was often bullied out of reserve games and was deemed surplus to requirements within two years, playing just twice.
      However, Blondel did kickstart his career back in Belgium with Club Brugge, and ended up making 266 games for the club. He retired at 31 in 2015, but didn’t quite achieve what was expected of him in the game.

      Jonathan Blondel snubbed Man Utd to go to Spurs insteadCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Blondel ended up playing 266 times for Club Brugge before retiring at the age of 31Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tim Sherwood left embarrassed live on TV by saying ‘I’m not worried about this corner’ before Roberto Firmino’s winner More

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      Chelsea manager candidate Thomas Tuchel is fashion model, former barman, has business degree and refused Bayern Munich

      by

      THOMAS TUCHEL is a man of many monikers, but you would never have imagined the former PSG boss would fancy himself as Germany’s next top model.
      The Chelsea target, who is waiting in the wings for the Blues job should Roman Abramovich relieve Frank Lampard of his duties, once posed for a fashion shoot in New York for Die Zeit’s men’s magazine.

      Thomas Tuchel is a football manager and a fashionistaCredit: Markus Jans

      In 2017, Tuchel appeared in ZEITmagazin MANN in a trendy fashion shootCredit: Markus Jans

      Tuchel, 47, had a stint as a barman, when he was forced to retire from the game aged just 24 – that he admits helped him become a more confident person.
      The German tactician is also one of a rare breed of football managers who hold a degree – he juggled his job at Radio Bar in Stuttgart alongside studying Business Administration at university.
      The differing facades of Tuchel paint not just an interesting personality, but one that’s bound to light up the Premier League if he comes to our shores.
      HE’S IN FASHION
      In 2017, few could believe what they were seeing – certainly not German football fans anyway.

      Skinny Tuchel, who stands at 6ft 2in, was seen in trendy snaps for ZEITmagazin MANN pulling off his best David Gandy impression.
      And in fairness to Tuchel, he looked the part wearing stylish clobber while gazing into the distance – and still managing to look his usual pensive self.
      At the time, he was in between jobs after he was fired by Borussia Dortmund – just days after they won the German cup.
      However, the stylish shoot was clearly the perfect audition for the PSG job he got in 2018, with Paris being the home of fashion.

      Tuchel had come a long way from his beginnings as a football manager wannabe.

      In each stylish photo Tuchel looks like he could be Germnay’s next top modelCredit: Markus Jans

      Standing at 6ft 2in, Tuchel pulls off a range of catwalk looksCredit: Markus Jans
      EARLY RETIREMENT
      In his early years, Tuchel rose through the ranks at Augsburg as a defender.
      But at 19 he was released, and he 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.
      Instead of dwelling on his failed ambitions, Tuchel enrolled himself onto a Business Administration course.
      He supplemented his income working at a trendy bar in the city called Radio Bar. There, he learned life skills – even if his cocktails weren’t up to scratch.
      “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 began his football career at Augsburg, but was released at 19Credit: PA:Press Association

      A defender by trade, Tuchel moved to Stuttgarter KickersCredit: PA:Press Association

      However, at the age of 24 he was forced to retire while playing for SSV UlmCredit: PA:Press Association
      BACK TO THE DREAM
      Despite Tuchel’s best efforts of launching himself into academia and being a customer-pleaser in a bar, he still felt he had unfinished business with football.
      He contacted then-Stuttgart boss Ralf Rangnick, who was most recently head of sport and development at Red Bull GmbH, for a trial with the club’s reserves – believing he was fit to play after nine months without kicking a ball.
      However, chronic cartilage damage saw Tuchel unable to show his true potential.
      Seeing a man with a football brain, Rangnick pushed Tuchel towards coaching – he shadowed coaches in the club academy until he took over the U14 team in 2000.
      Tuchel now felt he had found his calling.

      Tuchel isn’t your average manager and boasts a business degreeCredit: PA:Press Association

      As a youth team coach Tuchel enjoyed much success, including winning the U19 Bundesliga title with Mainz in 2009Credit: PA:Press Association
      FROM BARMAN TO MAINZ HEAD COACH IN NINE YEARS
      The steep trajectory that took Tuchel from barman to a Bundesliga head coach in just nine years is testament to his drive to succeed.
      At Stuttgart, under mentor Hermann Badstuber, he eventually became assistant coach for the U19s – helping the side win the U19 Bundesliga title in 2005.
      In 2006, he returned to Augsburg as head coach, where he completed his coaching badges and became reserve team manager.
      Ambitious Tuchel was on the move again – this time to Mainz in 2008, who he led to the U19 Bundesliga title the following year with a team that included World Cup winner Andre Schurrle.
      The German national team were desperate to appoint Tuchel as their U21 boss, but a better offer came along.
      When Mainz boss Jorn Andersen was fired, Tuchel grabbed his first job as a Bundesliga head coach.

      When the opportunity came, Tuchel became head coach of Mainz in 2009Credit: Rex Features

      Tuchel rose from barman to a Bundesliga head coach in just nine yearsCredit: PA:Press Association
      SUCCESS STORY
      With Mainz playing in their first season in the Bundesliga after promotion the previous year, Tuchel guided the club to a ninth-placed finish.
      The following season, after an incredible seven-game winning run, that included a 2-1 away victory at Bayern Munich, they finished fifth to qualify for the Europa League for the first time in their history.
      Tuchel was being talked about as a master tactician by the German press, with his attacking style lauded by football experts.
      “There’s definitely a style that’s been attributed to me, that we brought to the table at Mainz: pace going forward and attack-minded football,” he told German newspaper die Zeit.
      “I prefer certain qualities, an active playing style, bold defending and pacy play in attack.”
      While Tuchel was also willing to think outside the box when it came to rallying his players and preparing them for games.
      Once, instead of making his players watch video analysis after a crushing defeat, he motivated them with a powerful speech borrowed from Michael Jordan.

      Tuchel’s brand of football at Mainz was lauded by the pressCredit: PA:Press Association

      Inspiring team talks, including using quotes from Michael Jordan, were all part of his successCredit: AFP – DDP
      “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed,” he echoed to his team.
      Tuchel also hired Rene Maric, a young football fan who posted his musings on games on a blog, to scout opposition teams and players.
      WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUE
      After a 12-month sabbatical, Tuchel was named Borussia Dortmund coach – following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp.
      Young stars like Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele were nurtured, thriving under the new boss as the club finished runners-up in the Bundesliga in 2016 in his second season.
      However, winning his first trophy as a manager in 2017 was soured just thre days later when he was sacked. A strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy, notably CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, was deemed to be the reason.
      That didn’t deter PSG from making a move for Tuchel, who reportedly turned down Bayern Munich’s advances beforehand, in the summer of 2018 and he won Ligue 1 in his first season.
      But again, tensions arose when he clashed with senior figures, including sporting director Leonardo.

      Days after winning the German Cup, Tuchel was fired by Borussia DortmundCredit: Reuters

      As boss of PSG between 2018-20, Tuchel managed superstars like NeymarCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Could Tuchel’s next destination be Stamford Bridge?Credit: Alamy

      Tuchel didn’t help his cause when he said he felt “[more like] a politician in sport” than a coach. Leonardo bit back that Tuchel “[must] respect the people above [him]” and said the comments were damaging for the club.
      Despite recording a domestic treble in his final season in Paris, as well as being a Champions League runner-up, he was fired again.
      One to speak his mind, it begs the question if Stamford Bridge is the right setting for Thomas Tuchel under the watchful gaze of Chelsea owner Abramovich.

      Frank Lampard reacts to questions about his future after Chelsea lose 2-0 at Leicester More