Oct 17,2024
Thomas Tuchel says he is "honoured and excited" after being unveiled as new England head coach, admitting it's a "big job".
The German, who formerly managed Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, becomes the third non-Englishman to hold the post permanently after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
At a Wembley press conference, Tuchel said: "I'm obviously very excited and honoured to be here today as the new head coach of England.
"I want to take the opportunity to thank the FA for their trust and I am very excited to start this journey in January with a very special and exciting group of players to make our dream come true in America.
"I understood very quickly that it is a big job, I think always the job you are in is the biggest job and it makes no sense to compare but it feels big and feels like a privilege."
Tuchel addressed the critics who believe an Englishman should lead the national team and offered words of reassurance.
"I'm sorry, I have a German passport," he added.
"All of those supporters maybe felt my passion for the English Premier League and the country and how I love to live and work here.
"Hopefully I can convince them and show them and prove to them I am proud to be an English manager and do everything to show respect to this role and this country and the target for the next 18 months."
Tuchel admits the prospect of moving from club football to the international game is something he is relishing.
"It is very new because I come from club football but the new role is also very exciting," he said.
"Once I made a timeframe up in my mind from January to the World Cup I felt already excited and it suited my passion to push this group of players and to be part of this federation with such a strong record in the last tournaments to push it over the line and to try to put a second star on the shirt."
The 51-year-old, who will be assisted by coach Anthony Barry, will take up the role on 1 January ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Barry served as an assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland during former Boys in Green senior manager Stephen Kenny's tenure from February 2021 to 2022.
The former midfielder, who spent his playing career in the English lower leagues, has previously worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern Munich and is currently assistant to Portugal boss Roberto Martinez.
A Football Association statement revealed Tuchel signed a contract on 8 October before the latest round of international fixtures but the announcement was delayed to "minimise distraction around the international camp".
Prior to Thursday's home defeat by Greece, interim head coach and former Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley had widely been considered the favourite to land the job on a permanent basis.
The recruitment process began following Gareth Southgate’s resignation in July, with several candidates interviewed, leading to Tuchel being identified as the preferred appointment.
Carsley will remain in charge for the final round of Nations League matches next month when Ireland visit Wembley and the English make the away trip to Greece, before returning to his role as Under-21 boss.
