England candidate Thomas Tuchel is confrontational ex-Chelsea boss who once made player crawl on all fours as punishment

2 months ago 25

THOMAS Tuchel is the combustible figure who has managed to fall out with the hierarchy at EVERY job he has been in.

The German football manager, 51, is now the hot favourite take over the vacant England job.

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Fiery Thomas Tuchel is the favourite to take the reins of the Three Lions[/caption]
 Thomas Tuchel, head coach of FC Bayern München talks with the media during a press conference of FC Bayern Munich ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg match against Real Madrid at Allianz Arena on April 29, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)Tuchel has a reputation for falling out with players and club hierarchy

Talks are ongoing with the ex-Chelsea boss’s representatives over taking the reins of the Three Lions and the FA appear to be hopeful of getting their man.

They add Tuchel could quickly be confirmed in the role if negotiations progress well.

However, exact terms for his contract are yet to be agreed.

But be warned, it could be a bumpy ride with Tuchel in charge who has a habit of epic rows with senior figures, his players, and even rival coaches.

That escalated quickly…

Serial winner, yes. But at what cost?

Tuchel had already made a name for himself at Mainz as being a difficult personality, when he took on the Borussia Dortmund job.

He reportedly demanded more investment in team, and when he didn’t get what he wanted he walked away from his job.

Dortmund hired him in 2015 to replace club favourite, Jurgen Klopp.

Soon, though, players were unhappy with his man-management skills.

And although he won the German Cup, his time there is best-remembered for the bust-ups he had.

There were disagreements with senior players, including Mats Hummels, Neven Subotic, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Roman Weidenfeller.

With Hummels he criticised his performance after a game.

“Mats can do better,” Tuchel explained on why he substituted him in the 78th minute of their DFB Pokal final in May 2016 against Bayern.

But the best was yet to come.

A disagreement with forward Emre Mor resulted in one of the most extraordinary punishments a manager could have dished out.

Miffed that Mor would question his methods, Tuchel employed his fitness coach to make the Turkish forward crawl across the pitch on his hands and knees as a punishment for not working hard enough.

When the youngster complained, Tuchel barked: “Shut your mouth! Shut your mouth! Shut your mouth!”

Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke and sporting director Michael Zorc also had their issues with Tuchel during his two-year tenure.

The coach was unhappy when the club signed Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, claiming in a press conference he knew nothing about the deal.

Then, when a Champions League fixture against Monaco had to be rearranged because of a bombing on the team bus, Watzke rearranged the game 24-hours later, ensuring the players were fine with this arrangement.

Tuchel wasn’t. He moaned publicly and said the decision for the match to be played was made for them, and wasn’t his decision.

Watzke later revealed that Tuchel had an opportunity to say he didn’t want the clash to happen but kept quiet.

epa05855094 Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel gives advise to Dortmund's Gonzalo Castro during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Ingolstadt in Dortmund, Germany, 17 March 2017. EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL EMBARGO CONDITIONS - ATTENTION: Due to the accreditation guidelines, the DFL only permits the publication and utilisation of up to 15 pictures per match on the internet and in online media during the match.At Dortmund Tuchel was seen as a hard taskmaster
 Alexander Isak of Dortmund , Head coach Thomas Tuchel of Dortmund and Emre Mor of Dortmund looks on during a training session at the BVB Training center on March 15, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)Tuchel didn’t want Alexander Isak, left, at the club, and punished Turkish forward Emre Mor, right

Just days after he won the German cup for the club, Tuchel was sacked with Watzke saying he was “worn out” dealing with the manager.

Leaving Germany behind

After leaving his homeland, PSG decided Tuchel was the top man to replace the successful and harmonious Unai Emery.

Largely, there were few disagreements – given he inherited a squad chock-a-block of the game’s biggest superstars.

He got on well with Neymar, and there was just once spat with Kylian Mbappe who he confronted after the France forward showed his dismay at being subbed off.

Tuchel’s problem at PSG was sporting director, Leonardo. In an interview, he compared his job to being a sports politician and not a coach.

The former AC Milan star didn’t like that, and when Leonardo insisted the club signed midfielder Danilo Pereira – Tuchel played the Brazilian in defence in protest because he wanted a centre half instead.

Despite winning the treble, he was dismissed in 2021.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018 file photo, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel, left, congratulates PSG forward Neymar after he scored his side' second goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Red Star and Paris Saint Germain, in Belgrade, Serbia. PSG travels to face Manchester United on Feb. 12, 2019 without the Brazil forward, who faces around 10 weeks out. With Neymar so influential to the way PSG plays, it means coach Thomas Tuchel must have a tactical re-think. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)Surprisingly, Tuchel had a good relationship with maverick Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe (R) speaks with Paris Saint-Germain's German coach Thomas Tuchel as he leaves the pitch after his substitution during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Montpellier Herault SC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on February 1, 2020. - Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel admitted Neymar's latest lavish birthday celebrations were a "distraction" at a key time in the season after the Brazilian helped the Ligue 1 leaders to a 5-0 win over nine-man Montpellier, Neymar, with his hair dyed pink, shook off an injury scare and raged with the match officials while Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and Layvin Kurzawa all scored along with a Daniel Congre own goal as PSG went 13 points clear of Marseille at the top of the table. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Tuchel had a brief fallout when the France star was subbed
 Photo by J E E/SIPA/REX (10519413j) PSG's Sport Director Leonardo Linas-Montlhery ESA v Paris Saint-Germain, Coupe de France, Round of 64, Football, Stade Robert Bobin, Bondoufle, France - 05 Jan 2020PSG’s sport director Leonardo did not see eye-to-eye with Tuchel

London calling

In 2021, Tuchel was hired by Chelsea to replace Frank Lampard.

He inherited a team that had a healthy mix of experienced players, leaders and young fledgling talents.

The team got to the FA Cup final, losing to Leicester City 1-0.

However, they would land a bigger trophy – winning the Champions League a month later beating Man City thanks to a Kai Havertz goal.

Trouble began to brew when Chelsea were taken over by Todd Boehly.

He was already reportedly tetchy during their preseason tour of the US – blasting his players for their performances in Chelsea’s friendlies.

According to the Telegraph, Tuchel was unhappy with being given extra responsibilities in terms of buying, selling and negotiating for players.

Then, on another occasion when Boehly was insistent Chelsea should move for Cristiano Ronaldo, the tactician was said to be exasperated having to explain his decisions why they shouldn’t buy him.

Tuchel was reportedly dismayed that former technical and performance advisor Petr Cech left the club after the takeover.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matt Impey/REX (11905506ah) Thomas Tuchel the Chelsea Manager celebrates before the Ben Chilwell goal is disallowed by VAR Chelsea v Leicester City, Football, The Emirates FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London, UK - 15/05/2021Tuchel’s role at Chelsea lasted just 20 months
 Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea kisses the Champions League Trophy following their team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)In his first season Tuchel delivered the Champions League trophy for the Blues
Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Antonio Conte (R) and Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel (L) shake hands then clash after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge in London on August 14, 2022. - The game finished 2-2. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)However, he soon began to get tetchy in his role at Stamford Bridge – famously arguing with Antonio Conte
a woman in a black lace dress stands next to a little girl in a black dressRex
Tuchel’s romance with Brazilian beauty Natalie Max reportedly became dressing room gossip among Chelsea’s stars[/caption]

The German also publicly revealed he had no involvement in the appointment of a new Sporting Director at the club, which revealed a distance between him and the new ownership.

A separate report in The Independent claimed Tuchel’s romance with Brazilian girlfriend Natalie Max, 13-years his junior, was a hot topic in the dressing room.

It was claimed some players changed their perception of Tuchel around the time he split with Sissi after 13 years of marriage.

If it wasn’t his players, or bosses, Tuchel was also having fallouts with rival managers – infamously squaring off with Antonio Conte after refusing to let go his hand following a handshake.

It happened again…

He lasted just 20 months in his role at Chelsea, but beat that by six months at Bayern Munich.

Again, his man-management style seemed to irk the superstars at the club dubbed ‘Hollywood FC’.

BILD were the first to report of a division between the manager and his playing staff.

Bayern stalwarts Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich were the loudest to voice their discontent.

Forward Muller was believed to be frustrated by his lack of playing behind-the-scenes under Tuchel – who didn’t feel the Germany legend could fit into his tactical plans.

a soccer player wearing a vest that says ' champions league ' on itReuters
Tuchel’s Bayern Munich experience ended in unrest amongst the senior players[/caption]
a man in a t-mobile jacket talks to a soccer playerGetty
Joshua Kimmich had an epic fallout with Tuchel over his position[/caption]

With Kimmich, it was a little different – and, perhaps, more personal.

The relationship began to unravel when Tuchel wanted to bring in a midfielder to play in Kimmich’s role.

The 29-year-old was fuming, and told to play in the right-back position.

Then, in a match against Bochum last season, he unravelled. After being subbed off in the 63rd minute, he sat on the bench frothing at the mouth.

Post-match, Kimmich then got into a huge row with Tuchel’s trusted assistant Zsolt Low as they made their way back to the dressing room. The ill-feeling was spreading throughout the club.

Things got worse when Tuchel reportedly told his players: “You’re not as good as I thought, then I just have to adapt to your level,” according to Sky Germany following a defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.

Unimpressed by his negativity, Bayern’s board members decided enough was enough and gave him his marching orders.

Southgate vs Tuchel records compared

THOMAS TUCHEL

Augsburg II 2007-2008

P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%

Mainz 05 2009-2014

P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%

Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017

P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%

Honours: DFB Pokal

Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020

P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%

Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2

Chelsea 2021-2022

P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%

Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup

Bayern Munich 2023-2024

P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%

Honours: Bundesliga

GARETH SOUTHGATE

Middlesbrough 2006-2009

P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%

England U21 2013-2016

P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%

Honours: Toulon tournament

England 2016-Present

P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%

a man wearing a red jacket with the letter t on itGetty
In his last few months as Bayern Munich manager, Tuchel cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines[/caption]
 Thomas Tuchel head coach of FC Bayern Muenchen with Harry Kane of FC Bayern Muenchen during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern München at Wohninvest Weserstadion on August 18, 2023 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Christina Pahnke - sampics/Corbis via Getty Images)Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel could be reunited if England hire the German

With his reputation preceding him, Tuchel might just be the most divisive manager England could get.

Imagine Harry Kane having to crawl on all fours as a punishment?

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