Winners and losers of Thomas Tuchel taking England job

Thomas Tuchel has agreed a deal to become the new England manager starting in January 2025.

The former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain coach will be the third foreign national and first German coach to take charge of the England men's national team.

Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, having lost the European showpiece final the year before as PSG boss. He brings a wealth of experience to what will be a difficult role as England move on from the fruitful and prosperous Gareth Southgate era where they made the final in two European Championships and also reached a World Cup semi-final.

But who are the winners and losers of the move?

Winner: Declan Rice

Thomas Tuchel spent pretty much all of his time as boss of Bayern Munich arguing with the board about the club's need for a proper defensive midfielder.

Tuchel had Joshua Kimmich begging to play there, but was insistent that a bigger, more physical presence was needed. He wanted Joao Palhinha but Fulham's asking price put the German side off (they would eventually get back and sign Palhinha, but only after Tuchel had left as manager).

@97passes #WINNERS and #LOSERS of Thomas Tuchel becoming #England manager! #Thomas #Tuchel #football #soccer #fyp #international #FA #Rice #Saka #Sancho #ThreeLions #foryoupagee #list #97passes ♬ original sound - 97 passes

Even though he had Ryan Gravenberch in the squad, Tuchel simply spent the season whinging he didn't have a defensive midfielder and using Konrad Laimer, originally signed as a back-up.

Given that Arne Slot is having no issues playing Gravenberch as a defensive midfielder at Liverpool, it's clear the Dutch midfielder is capable of playing there, it's just that Tuchel clearly likes and wants a big, strong body to hold midfield. And England have a very big, strong body to hold midfield with Declan Rice.

Any idea that an increasing focus on passing football could lead to Adam Wharton and/or Kobbie Mainoo supplanting Rice at the base of midfield is over now. Rice will be the rock that Tuchel builds his midfield around.

Loser: Jadon Sancho

Jadon Sancho has been slowly rebuilding his career at Chelsea, and has made a bright start slotting into Enzo Maresca's system much better than he did at Manchester United.

Sancho's form has been so bright, and his connection with Cole Palmer so quality, that he may have even expected a recall into the England set-up.

Unfortunately for him, Thomas Tuchel wants workers. Guys who will run and press all day. And Jadon Sancho very much is not a worker. Unfortunate.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Winner: Bukayo Saka

Speaking of workers, Bukayo Saka is very much one of those. Saka's breakthrough into the England side under Southgate was largely underpinned by his defensive output, which has always been tremendous. You'll never find Saka shirking his duties.

The Arsenal man has since blossomed into a fully world-class footballer who contributes heavily on the attacking end. However, it is his brilliant defensive output that will give him the edge over the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in competition for a starting role, because Thomas Tuchel will value it so highly.

Loser: Man Utd

Man Utd have been flirting with the idea of appointing Thomas Tuchel for pretty much the entireity of 2024. For various reasons (mostly Man Utd winning the FA Cup) that never materialised.

However, as we approach 2025, Erik ten Hag has gotten worse and Man Utd look horrendous. A return for Tuchel was surely on the cards, but now he's been snapped up. The Red Devils are heavy losers as their options are now much more limited to the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy or even Gareth Southgate.

READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel rejected Man Utd to take England job

Winner: English fans

Despite a certain section of England fans being apoplectic at the idea of a German being in charge of the national team, and despite another section of England fans being disappointed at another Sufferball enthusiast being in charge of England, this appointment is great for England fans.

Here they've picked up a genuinely brilliant manager who already has a great relationship with the country's star player having coached him for a full season. More, Tuchel is a noted expert at dealing with knockout football and has negotiated some incredibly tricky ties with Chelsea and PSG.

Tuchel with the talent in the England squad, and minus the distraction of the transfer market that has been his undoing in previous roles, could be an incredible combination.

Loser: English managers

Thomas Tuchel is a world-class coach, without a shadow of a doubt. However, the fact that England have turned to him to replace Southgate instead of the plethora of talented young English coaches speaks to the level these coaches are at.

They're good, promising, but none of them were seriously in the running for the top job and that's partly down to their lack of prowess. After all, in the 32 year history of the Premier League no English manager has ever won it. In fact the last Englishman to even finish second was Kevin Keegan with Newcastle back in 1996!

English coaches have a long way to go.

It’s not hiring foreign managers that’s blocking a pathway for English coaches. pic.twitter.com/aNtTihw8Pf

— Dean Mears (@DeanMears) October 16, 2024

In their defence, the amount of money one needs to pay in order to become a qualified coach in the UK is absolutely exorbitant. The cost of the course to obtain the UEFA A license is seven times as expensive in the UK as it is in Germany. The barrier to entry is just far too high.