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Former England captain Alan Shearer believes that Thomas Tuchel must secure victory at the 2026 World Cup to validate his appointment as the national team’s new head coach.
England has not lifted a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, though they came close under former manager Gareth Southgate. Southgate, who stepped down after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain, also guided England to the Euro 2020 final, the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Tuchel, named England’s third foreign manager on Wednesday, is set to take over in January 2025. He will inherit a talented squad that includes Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. With an impressive résumé from his time at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, Tuchel brings a wealth of experience, having won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 and domestic league titles with Bayern and PSG.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer emphasized the importance of Tuchel delivering a major trophy: “We need a trophy — it’s as simple as that. Tuchel has an incredible CV, but this is a very different challenge for him. The FA has made a bold move, and he’s been hired to win a tournament. England’s current squad is the best we’ve had in a long time.”
Tuchel’s appointment has faced some criticism due to the decision not to hire an English manager. Lee Carsley, who has been serving as interim coach after Southgate’s departure, will continue to lead the team for their upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland in November, before Tuchel takes charge.
Gary Lineker, another former England striker, voiced support for Carsley, stating, “I would have given the job to Carsley. He has earned the players’ trust, and his style of play is entertaining and forward-thinking.” However, there was a limited pool of standout English candidates, with the last English manager to win the top flight being Howard Wilkinson in 1992, before the Premier League was formed.
Names like Graham Potter and Newcastle’s Eddie Howe were linked to the job, and reports indicated that Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola had also been approached. Yet, according to former England defender Micah Richards, “The point is we don’t have an English candidate strong enough for the role. Tuchel is an outstanding manager and a proven winner.”
