The 51-year-old German is perhaps best known in the UK for his stint in the top job at Chelsea. But that was just one chapter in the life of a former aspiring helicopter pilot, ex-bar worker and Simply Red fan. Thomas Tuchel has a signed a deal to become the next manager of the England men’s football team. The German is expected to be officially unveiled on Wednesday after Gareth Southgate’s resignation after Euro 2024, with Lee Carsley having taken temporary charge since then. (Photo: Tuchel at Chelsea).

Growing up in Germany – The 51-year-old is only the third foreign manager in the history of England men’s football team – and the first German to take charge. He follows in the footsteps of the late Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Swede who managed England from 2001 to 2006, and Italy’s Fabio Capello who led the Three Lions from 2007 to 2012. Tuchel grew up in the small town of Krumbach, Bavaria, in the 1970s West Germany and showed a talent for football from a young age. Despite originally wanting to be a helicopter pilot, the young defender’s skill marked him out as the best player in his school–which he helped to win the German Schools Championship in Berlin in 1987.

Injury ends playing career in his 20s – Within a year, the teenager was snapped up by FC Augsburg at the Bundesliga side’s youth academy. However, despite his promising start, he was released from the club aged 19 without ever making a first-team appearance. Tuchel was then signed by Stuttgarter Kickers, then in the Bundesliga 2. He managed only eight appearances before moving down to SSV Ulm in Germany’s third-tier. His career there was given a boost when a young man called Ralf Rangnick–who would later go on to temporarily manage Manchester United – was appointed the club’s manager. Tuchel made a total of 68 appearances for the side, based in southwest Germany, and contributed to their promotion to Bundesliga 2. However, his dreams were dealt another blow when a chronic knee injury forced him into an early retirement from playing in his mid-20s in 1998.

University studies – After leaving the field of play, Tuchel did not jump straight into management. Instead, he decided to go to university, where he studied business administration, while also working as a waiter in a bar to help pay the bills. But his love of football never left him – and his friendship with Rangnick, which continued after he left SSV Ulm, helped pull him back. By this point, Rangnick was the manager of Stuttgart, and Tuchel seemed to have recovered from his injury. He managed to persuade his former boss to give him a trial for the team’s reserves. But, frustratingly, his hopes were dashed again, as his old injury came back to haunt him and it became apparent that his chronic cartilage damage could not be overcome.

Early coaching career – Rangnick took pity on his friend and talked him into trying out coaching instead. Before long, Tuchel was working in the club’s academy and eventually took over Stuttgart’s under-14s team in 2000. His aptitude for the role quickly became clear, and he was promoted to head the under-19s team, which he led to win the league’s youth league in 2005. Following a rapid rise at the helm of several youth teams, and less than a decade since he was working in a bar, Tuchel was appointed first team coach of Bundesliga side of Mainz in August 2009.

Replacing Klopp – After taking over from future Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at Mainz, he helped the newly promoted side finish an impressive ninth in Germany’s top tier. He then steered the side to a fifth-place finish–and a Europa League spot–in the 2011/12 season. From then on, the only way was up. In 2015, he was appointed in the top job at Borussia Dortmund, again taking over from Klopp. Tuchel led the side to a second-place Bundesliga finish, just behind Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich. In 2018, he left to join top French side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), helping them win the Ligue 1 title in his first season. The following year, he won the domestic treble with PSG and took the club to its first Champions League final in 2020, where the team narrowly lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. (Photo: Ralf).

Champions League success – Tuchel’s success attracted plenty of suitors and he eventually left PSG on Christmas Eve 2020–before it was announced he would be replacing Frank Lampard in the top job at Chelsea in January 2021. Within months, he took the team to the Champions League final against Manchester City, which Chelsea won 1-0. But just six months into the following season, fans were shocked when the west London side’s owners sacked Tuchel. It came following behind-the-scenes disagreements and a disappointing defeat in Chelsea’s opening Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb. Tuchel soon returned to his native Germany, taking the helm at Bayern Munich in March 2023. During his time with the club, he managed Harry Kane following the England striker’s move from Spurs. Tuchel left Bayern in June this year as part of “a sporting realignment” at the club, and had been without a job since.

Personal life – Tuchel has two children from his marriage to his ex-wife, Sisi. The couple divorced in 2022 after 13 years together. He told Sky Sports in 2021 his favourite music includes Simply Red, Jay-Z and Abba. He also speaks several languages, including English, French, German and “some” Italian. Tuchel has said his favourite ever footballer is former Borussia Monchengladbach sweeper Hans-Gunter Bruns, an “idol” from his childhood.

Courtesy: By Daniel Binns, news reporter