Sport Features

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

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

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.
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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

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

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.

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