Thomas Tuchel is bidding to become the first foreign manager to win the World Cup with England. The 52-year-old German, known for his meticulous analysis and tactical obsessions, took over in early 2025 after Gareth Southgate's departure. But his journey to the top of English football began far from the pitch — working the bar at wild hip-hop parties in Stuttgart in the late 1990s.
Tuchel's playing career was cut short by a knee injury at age 23. The cartilage damage was so severe he could barely walk up stairs. An operation wasn't covered by insurance, leaving him strapped for cash and disillusioned with football. He was working at a bar in Stuttgart when Ralf Rangnick, his former manager at SSV Ulm, called him. Rangnick, who had introduced zonal marking to Germany and revolutionised Tuchel's understanding of the game, offered him a youth-team coaching job at Stuttgart. That call launched Tuchel's coaching career.
“The story of Thomas Tuchel's journey from bartender to England manager, and what to expect from his World Cup squad.”
Rangnick later told the BBC that even as a young defender, Tuchel was always interested in why they played the way they did — a quality that marked him out as a future coach. Tuchel went on to manage Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea (winning the Champions League in 2021), and Bayern Munich before being appointed England manager.
For UK readers, the most immediate impact is the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. England have been drawn in a tricky group, though full fixture details are yet to be confirmed. Tuchel has already made controversial squad decisions, most notably omitting Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall, whom Gary Lineker described as "the best left-back" not going to the tournament. Hall, capped twice by Tuchel in March friendlies, was left out in favour of Djed Spence, Tino Livramento and Nico O'Reilly. Luke Shaw was also ignored.
Lineker, a former England striker, said Hall had been "really unlucky" and pointed to a performance where Hall gave Lamine Yamal "not a kick". He acknowledged that every fan would pick a different squad, but insisted Tuchel's choice was a personal opinion that would be judged by results. This echoes Lineker's previous criticism of Southgate, whom he called "tactically inept" after a 1-1 draw with Denmark at Euro 2024 — a tournament England eventually lost in the final to Spain.
Q: Why did Thomas Tuchel become England manager? He was appointed after Gareth Southgate stepped down following Euro 2024. Tuchel had a strong CV, including winning the Champions League with Chelsea, and was seen as a tactician who could finally win the World Cup for England. He is the first foreign manager to hold the role.
Q: Why did Tuchel leave Lewis Hall out of the World Cup squad? Tuchel selected Djed Spence, Tino Livramento and Nico O'Reilly as left-back options instead. The official reasoning has not been detailed, but Gary Lineker speculated that Tuchel valued Spence's pace and ability to chase back. Hall's omission surprised many because of his strong season at Newcastle.
Q: When does England's World Cup campaign start? The 2026 World Cup opens on Thursday, with England's group stage matches taking place across June and July. Full kick-off times and venues are still being finalised, but the tournament is held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. England face a tricky group, though opponents have not been confirmed in available sources.
What happens next is uncertain. Tuchel will be judged on England's World Cup performance. If he wins, he'll be the first foreign manager to do so. If not, the squad controversies — like the Hall snub — will be revisited. For now, the focus is on the tournament itself, with England aiming to end 60 years of hurt.