Gary Neville has expressed his concerns regarding the FA’s decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as England’s new head coach. Tuchel, a highly successful German coach who has won major titles with Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern Munich, was selected to replace Gareth Southgate after his resignation following England’s Euro 2024 exit. While Neville acknowledges Tuchel’s expertise and ability to lead top teams, he is critical of the FA’s choice to bypass English candidates like Eddie Howe and Graham Potter. Neville questions whether this decision is in line with the FA’s stated objective of developing homegrown coaching talent through the St George’s Park program, which was established to cultivate top-level English coaches.
In Neville’s view, opting for a foreign manager not only undermines the progress made by English coaches but also sends a message that the FA lacks confidence in domestic talent. He believes this could hinder the growth and respect of English coaching on the international stage, especially as other major footballing nations like Spain, Italy, and Germany have built distinctive coaching philosophies that are internationally recognized.
Despite these reservations, Neville does not doubt Tuchel’s ability to potentially lead England to success. However, he believes this decision by the FA raises “serious questions” about its commitment to English coaches and the long-term vision for developing a coaching identity unique to England. Alan Shearer, in contrast, supports the decision, emphasizing that the focus should be on winning a major trophy, which Tuchel’s proven track record might help achieve.
