‘Try to Put a Second Star on the Shirt’: New England Boss Thomas Tuchel Sets Sight on FIFA World Cup 2026 – News18

The FA announced Thomas Tuchel as the man to take over the job as the English national football team’s head coach beginning in January of 2025 in an 18-month contract that is set to witness the German leading the Three Lions into the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Tuchel expressed his delight with the role and vowed to strike to add another star in the Three Lions jersey.

“I’m of course obviously very excited and honoured to be here today as a new head coach of England,” Tuchel began.

“I just had the chance to read a quote from Pele in the building who said that Wembley is the heart, the capital and the cathedral of football and I think he was absolutely right,” he added.

Tuchel, who was reportedly given the go-ahead for the hot seat after a thorough examination by The FA of around 10 candidates, acknowledged the magnitude of the task but pointed out the side’s strong showings at recent international events despite not having a trophy to show for it.

“I understood very quickly that it’s a big job,” Tuchel continued.

“Once I made a time frame up in my mind from January to the World Cup, I felt already excited that it suited my passion, to strive to push this group of players.

“To be part of this federation with such a strong record in the last tournaments to push it over the line and to try to put a second star on the shirt,”

Former English manager Gareth Southgate masterminded the team to the Final of the European Championships twice, and enjoyed deep runs at the previous FIFA World Cup.

Tuchel, only the third foreigner to hold the coveted job after Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson, opined that fans of the game have seen his passion and his admiration of the country and resolved to strike for the national side’s success at the upcoming quadrennial spectacle.

“I’m sorry, I just have a German passport but the supporters felt my passion for the English Premier League, my passion for the country, how I love to live here,” Tuchel said.

“Hopefully, I can convince them and show them and prove them that I’m proud to be the English manager, I will do everything to show respect to this role and to this country and the target for the next 18 months is nothing else,” he added.

“Everyone can be assured that we will do it with passion and with emotions and we will try to install values and principles and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream come true.”

Tuchel, who helped English side Chelsea clinch the UEFA Champions League title in 2021 joked about his tenure at Stamford Bridge, which was also nearly as long as his contract with England.

“It’s 18 months and then we agreed to sit together and then we see. I have good experience with 18 months personally,” Tuchel, jested.

“I think it’s a good time frame because it will help us to focus. We are here to work on the best possible outcome for the World Cup and then let’s see whatever comes,” the gaffer concluded.