Inside England manager Thomas Tuchel’s amazing rise, from clothes model and barman to Three Lions’ first German boss

2 months ago 16

MOVE over Jack Grealish because Thomas Tuchel ALSO boasts model looks, as this incredible photoshoot shows.

The German coach, 51, has been confirmed as the new manager of England – signing an 18-month contract worth £5million-per-year.

a black and white photo of a man in a trench coatBefore Thomas Tuchel was England manager, he starred in this fashion photoshootMarkus Jans
 Thomas Tuchel, Manager of England, speaks to the media during a press conference as he is announced as the new England manager at Wembley Stadium on October 16, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Tuchel appeared in his first press conference as England manager on Wednesday

He said in a statement: “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team.

“I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already.

“To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.

“Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud.

“I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark and John, for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together.”

Tuchel has enjoyed an incredible rise in the game as a tactician, after his professional football career came to a premature end at 24 through injury.

Instead, he worked in a bar in Stuttgart, initially collecting glasses and wiping tables, before graduating to making Mojitos.

He juggled his job as a barman while returning to education to do Business Studies.

Tuchel, desperate to return to football, contacted ex-Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick who guided him towards a coaching career.

No sooner had he established his name in Germany, he starred in a glossy photoshoot for a fashion magazine.

Fashionista

In 2017, Tuchel shocked German football by appearing in a ZEITmagazin MANN as a model.

His 6ft4in beanpole figure adorned the stylish clothes he wore.

One image showed a pensive Tuchel looking into the distance, Zoolander ‘Blue Steel’ style, in a black and white pinstripe whistle.

Another picture saw the unlikely mannequin dressed in a long black coat with a white shirt underneath and short cropped black trousers.

Studious, moody, and a purveyor of the beautiful game – Tuchel looked the part.

In his interview with ZEITmagazin MANN, he spoke about his job at the hipster Radio Bar in Stuttgart.

“I don’t want to have drunk the cocktails that I mixed at the beginning,” he laughed.

“I slowly developed a new self-confidence in the bar, shift by shift, evening after evening.

a man in a suit sits in front of a sign that says foot rubThe shoot shocked German football and showed a different side to TuchelMarkus Jans
Tuchel Thomas, SSV Ulm 3/96.Tuchel in action for SSV Ulm in 1996, where he would have to retire as a player

“I had overcome the inhibition threshold of asking strangers if they needed me. And suddenly I made the experience: ‘Your colleagues just like you for who you are, they have no idea that you were once a professional footballer.'”

Unfinished business

Despite Tuchel’s best efforts of launching himself into academia and being a customer-pleaser in a trendy dive bar, he felt he had unfinished business with football.

His retirement in 1998 didn’t diminish the flame burning inside him to succeed in the game in some way.

He contacted then-Stuttgart boss Ralf Rangnick, who at the time was head of sport and development at Red Bull GmbH, for a trial with the club’s reserves – believing he was fit to play after nine months without kicking a ball.

However, chronic cartilage damage saw Tuchel unable to show his true potential.

But Rangnick was impressed with Tuchel’s tactical knowledge. He invited him to shadow coaches in the club academy, until the young student took over the U14 team in 2000.

Tuchel now had his foot in the door.

a disco ball hangs from the ceiling in a dark roomTuchel worked as a barman in Radio Bar as he contemplated what to do next
 Herbert RudelA career at Stuttgarter Kickers was cut short by a knee injury

From Barman to Bundesliga coach in nine years

Astonishingly, the ambitious coach went from that Radio Bar job to coaching a Bundesliga side in just nine years.

At Stuttgart, under mentor Hermann Badstuber, father of ex-Bayern Munich star Holger, he eventually became assistant coach for the U19s, where he helped the side win the U19 Bundesliga title in 2005.

In 2006, he joined FC Augsburg, a team he spent his youth career with as a player.

It was a setting that allowed Tuchel to complete his coaching badges and become reserve team manager.

Not content there, he moved to Mainz in 2008 to coach their U19 side.

He was a resounding success, winning the youth title and nurturing talent that would serve the German national team well in the future, including World Cup winner Andre Schurrle.

His work didn’t go unnoticed by the German FA, who offered him the opportunity to coach their U21 side.

However, when Mainz boss Jorn Andersen was fired the club turned to Tuchel to take over the reins. He had secured his dream job as a Bundesliga manager.

Trainer THOMAS TUCHEL - Podiumsdiskussion des FSV Mainz 05 an der Johannes Gutenberg Universit¿t Mainz.Tuchel became a student of the game at Mainz where he coached the academy stars
 Thomas Tuchel, head coach of Mainz celebrates after winning the A Juniors final between FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund at the Bruchweg stadium on June 28, 2009 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Thorsten Wagner/Bongarts/Getty Images)Tuchel’s journey began as a youth coach where he scored success before coaching the first team
Trainer Thomas Tuchel Mainz U19 - deutscher A Junioren Meister 2009 - mit der Troph¿e.Mainz won the U19 Bundesliga title under Tuchel

Success story

Those early years of disappointment and hard graft moulded Tuchel into the man he is today.

Forever ambitious, his successes were the reason England hired him. Simply, they wanted a coach who has won things.

In his first role, he took lowly Mainz to fifth spot and Europa League qualification. The first time the club ever qualified in Europe.

At Borussia Dortmund he was handed the tough task of following in Jurgen Klopp’s shoes

Young stars like Christian Pulisic and Ousmane Dembele were nurtured under his watch, which could bode well for lion cubs Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, and Rico Lewis.

Despite winning the German cup, Tuchel was fired after disagreements with the hierarchy three days later in 2017.

After his fashion turn in ZEITmagazin MANN, he took on the role of PSG boss – showing he can manage superstars like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe without any major fallouts with players.

In his final season with the French club he won the treble. But, after several disagreements with sporting director Leonardo, he was fired again.

Chelsea came calling, which ignited Tuchel’s love for the English game.

ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life

By Andy Dillon

THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.

Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.

English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.

Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.

Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.

Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.

Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.

An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.

Read more on why Tuchel REALLY IS the best man for the England job

epa05999317 Dortmund's head coach Thomas Tuchel holds the trophy after the German DFB Cup final soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany, 27 May 2017. According to reports, German Bundesliga soccer club Borussia Dortmund and head coach Thomas Tuchel parted ways on 30 May 2017. EPA/FRIEDEMANN VOGELSerial winner celebrates winning the German cup with Borussia Dortmund
 Coach of PSG Thomas Tuchel, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar Jr (left) celebrate the title of French Champion 2019 (Champion de France) following the French Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco (ASM) at Parc des Princes stadium on April 21, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)During his time at PSG, Tuchel was able to handle superstars like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar
FILE - Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match against Manchester City at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Susana Vera/Pool via AP, File)As Chelsea boss, Tuchel helped the West London side lift the Champions League
File photo dated 27/08/23 of Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (left) shaking hands with manager Thomas Tuchel, who is set to become the new England manager, the PA news agency understands. Issue date: Tuesday October 15, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER England. Photo credit should read: Tom Weller/PA WireTuchel will be reunited with Harry Kane with England after they worked together at Bayern Munich

He brought the West Londoners European glory in his 20-month spell – winning the Champions League.

Tuchel also delivered the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich in his first season, however he couldn’t repeat the trick in his second campaign.

England now have a man who has won things at the highest level at the helm. No excuses now.

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