Football

THOMAS TUCHEL has been told he can work remotely for part of the week when he starts as England manager in January.The German committed to living in England “most of the time” when he was appointed last month, but will not be pressured by the FA to attend daily meetings at the Three Lions’ training base at St George’s Park.Thomas Tuchel will divide his time between London and Munich as England bossThe FA have allowed Tuchel to work from his base in MunichTuchel’s England regime is likely to be different from that of his predecessor Gareth Southgate, who was based at the National Football Centre in Burton for three days a week during his eight years in charge.He demanded similar attendance levels from the rest of the FA’s back-room team and held regular meetings with age-group coaches, analysts, coach educators, security and team operation staff.And Southgate, 54, and his assistant Steve Holland attended an average of five Prem matches between them each week.Tuchel will go to some meetings with junior coaches and other departments, but has been told he can work remotely.Read more football newsThe German, 51, lived in London for 18 months when he was in charge at Chelsea, and plans to split his time between the capital and his current base in Munich, near where his two daughters live.England women’s coach Sarina Wiegman splits her living arrangements between the UK and her home in Holland.Tuchel said last month: “I love to live in England and I’m looking forward to living again in England.“I want to be close to the Premier League, I want to be close to the majority of the players.Most read in Football“But of course, the schedule will allow me to be close to my family and my children in Germany.Thomas Tuchel ‘was NOT England’s first choice and Pep Guardiola could still get the job’“I will be in England most of the time.”Tuchel has signed an 18-month contract with the sole target of winning the 2026 World Cup.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSouthgate 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, 2024In another surprise Tuchel will NOT attend England’s crucial Nations League games against Republic of Ireland and Greece this month.It is not yet known if he will go to the 2026 World Cup qualifying draw in Switzerland in December.Inside FA’s thrilling chase for TuchelTHE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel’s signature was not a straightforward one.They 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.The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.Read the full story on England’s thrilling pursuit of Thomas Tuchel. More

WHEN legend Sir Alex Ferguson won the Treble at Manchester United they called it ‘The Impossible Dream’.But now, 25 years on, Ruben Amorim will walk into Old Trafford with plenty saying it’s become the Impossible Job.Ruben Amorim should be a success at Old Trafford, says Harry RedknappHarry Maguire should be someone Ruben Amorim turns to, Redknapp addedWell I’ve got news for all of them — Sir Alex had the last laugh in 1999 and I’m convinced United’s new manager will do the same.Not by winning everything in sight, before you think I’ve lost the plot. I am not suggesting three trophies and an open-top bus parade around Manchester in May.But I do see this as the perfect chance for Amorim to make himself a hero.It is actually the dream job and the perfect time to take on one of the biggest four or five clubs in the world.Read more football newsYou see, if you’re at an all-time low, like United are now, there’s only one way to go. It was the same for me when I went to Spurs in 2008.I took over a side that was rock bottom, without a win after eight games, and where chins were on the floor. But I looked around on that first day and knew we wouldn’t be there for long.Not with the likes of Luka Modric, a young Gareth Bale, Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon. Top talent all over the place.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAmorim’s got his fair share at United, too.Most read in FootballAlejandro Garnacho — a player I love — Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford would walk into most sides in the Prem.Ruben Amorim showed flashes of a young Jose Mourinho is his latest press conference – and teased a big announcementObviously results must improve and the manager will want to bring in one or two new faces and make the odd tweak.But we’re not talking a complete overhaul.This isn’t the United David Moyes inherited when he replaced Sir Alex in 2013.One that may have been champions but — with all due respect — certainly wasn’t anywhere near their finest.Fergie got them over the line but so many players were nearing the end and a total rebuild was on the cards.Harry didn’t always have the easiest of rides under Erik ten Hag — and that’s putting it mildly — and a lot of money was spent on new central defenders.Harry RedknappIt was nothing like the current squad, one which just needs a bit of fine-tuning. So ignore rubbish about how this season is already a write-off.With so many games left, if United go on a run — and there is no reason why not — they could get fourth spot.Chelsea are probably favourites but no one’s grabbing it by the horns.Tottenham are in and out and Aston Villa have the Champions League to deal with as well.The immediate job for Amorim is to bring back the confidence, to make them feel good again, like I had to at Spurs.Amorim’s first job will be to install confidence in his squadMaguire had a difficult time under sacked boss Erik ten Hag at Man UtdI remember looking at Jonathan Woodgate, Ledley King, Vedran Corluka and the rest and thinking, ‘If I can’t get this lot playing better, something really is wrong’.They didn’t need me to tell them it hadn’t been good enough — even though I did!I also told everyone it was a level playing field as they were all starting from the same point.Whoever was out of favour before, it didn’t bother me. This was a fresh start and I’d pick a side based on who impressed me in training.That was the challenge, and they all took it on.It’s a tough job, for sure, as tough as it comes. But an impossible one? Not a chance.Harry RedknappI wanted to find the players I could rely on, just as Amorim has to at United. And I’d be amazed if Harry Maguire isn’t top of that list.Harry didn’t always have the easiest of rides under Erik ten Hag — and that’s putting it mildly — and a lot of money was spent on new central defenders.But Maguire kept his head down throughout it all, didn’t cause a fuss, waited for his chance and always gave 100 per cent when it arrived.There might be more glamorous names at United, but no one gives more, wants to win more, or cares quite as much.Maguire has had his ups and downs at Old Trafford during his careerRuben Amorim leaves Sporting on a highBy Charlie WyettRUBEN AMORIM would have preferred to leave Lisbon in a blaze of glory after winning a third Primeira Liga title.Yet football does not work like that. And in what was surely his final game before taking charge of Manchester United, Amorim prepared to say his goodbyes at a half-empty Estadio Jose Alvalade in a League Cup quarter-final against Nacional.Sporting won 3-1 thanks to  second-half goals by captain  Morten Hjulmand and Viktor Gyokeres, who scored two.Luis Esteves pulled back for Madeira-based Nacional.The stadium  will be a good deal more lively on Tuesday when Manchester City are here for  a Champions League match — although Amorim should by then have his feet firmly under his desk at Old Trafford.Liverpool and Aston Villa were both interested in Europe’s most sought-after coach. Even City could have been a possible destination post-Pep Guardiola.Yet the United job is one Amorim, 39,  could not turn  down — even if not everyone saw it that way at Sporting last night.There is clearly a huge split in the Portuguese club’s fan base over their coach leaving at this stage of the season with many believing he should have seen the job through.Yet Amorim, along with the three-man coaching team who are expected to follow him, leaves a club in a much better state than when he arrived here in 2020.Inside the stadium, there was applause — albeit muted — when his name was read out before the game along with the line-ups.And there did not appear to be any jeers when Amorim shuffled out from the tunnel awkwardly towards the dugout.So, while his departure is hard to take for some, none of the fans will forget his legacy.This is a club which is back as the dominant force in Portugal. Even this term, Sporting have won their first nine league games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just two.They are also eighth in the Champions League table, which is one hell of an effort.In contrast, Lisbon was not exactly hit by League Cup fever last night.Amorim made lots of changes, which saw Sporting’s star man Gyokeres, the former Coventry striker, start on the bench.There was, however, a first appearance in six weeks for former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards. He is certainly one player who has been transformed by Amorim since arriving at the club from Vitoria in 2022 and will be sorry to see the coach leave.While he changed his team, Amorim stuck with his tried and trusted formation of a back three.It will certainly be something Manchester United’s fans will have to get used to over the  coming months.But looking at the Premier League table, none of them will be complaining about the change.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMaguire’s the sort of player every new manager needs and I’m sure it won’t take Amorim long to realise that.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe’ll soon discover the Premier League is a world away from the one he leaves behind in Portugal and there’s a lot of hard work ahead.It’s a tough job, for sure, as tough as it comes. But an impossible one? Not a chance. More

RYAN GIGGS is putting his boots back on to help struggling Salford City.The Welsh legend, 50, was spotted back on the pitch for the warm-up in their League Two game against Fleetwood on Tuesday and then went into the dugout.Ryan Giggs was on the touchline for Salford City on SaturdayCredit: GettyThe former Man Utd star joined boss Karl Robinson in the dugout again on SaturdayCredit: GettyGiggs is a part-owner of the club and there have been suggestions he could get more involved in the playing side.Whether he is going to make the move more permanent and significant remains to be seen.He was in the set-up for the 2-2 draw at Fleetwood, where Francis Okoronkwo netted a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser for City. And Giggs was snapped in the dugout again alongside boss Karl Robinson during Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Shrewsbury. READ MORE ON MAN UTDMatthew Lund scored twice for the hosts as Salford extended their unbeaten run to five games across all competitions. The club had made a slow start to the new League Two season.But after a mini-revival, they now sit just two points off the playoff spots in 12th place.Giggs has not held a regular managerial position since leaving the Welsh national team in 2022.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe former Man Utd star became manager of his country in 2018, before being arrested on assault charges two years later.Giggs, who has always denied any wrongdoing, stepped down from the role in June 2022 ahead of his trial, where a jury failed to reach a verdict.Giggs has been taking training session with Salford tooCredit: Salford City YouTubeRoy Keane opens up on Ryan Giggs feud which saw Man Utd legend stop speaking to team-mate for six monthsHe has since been trying to rebuild his life out of the spotlight after the prospect of a second trial collapsed in 2023.It emerged earlier this year he was working again as Salford’s director of football.And now he appears to be getting more hands-on in the coaching side of the job. Giggs is co-owner of the League Two club along with his ex-United team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.He joined the Red Devils as a 14-year-old and went on to win 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions Leagues.Over the course of almost 1000 games for Man Utd, he scored 168 goals. More