Wayne Rooney, the former England captain, has expressed his surprise at the Football Association’s (FA) decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as the head coach of the England men’s national team. Tuchel is set to take charge in January, succeeding Gareth Southgate, becoming the first non-British manager to lead the team since Fabio Capello in 2012.
‘I think Tuchel a very good coach, but I’m surprised the FA have gone this route’ – Wayne Rooney
Tuchel, 51, brings a wealth of experience, having managed top clubs like Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Borussia Dortmund. Despite acknowledging Tuchel’s coaching abilities, Rooney admitted he was taken aback by the FA’s decision to look beyond homegrown talent for the role.
“I think he’s [Tuchel] a very good coach, but I’m surprised the FA have gone this route. Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible development of young English coaches through the FA’s initiatives, so it’s surprising they didn’t choose one of their own,” said Rooney.
Rooney’s comments underline the focus on nurturing English coaching talent, a priority since the opening of the FA’s national football center at St. George’s Park in 2012. England’s youth teams have achieved notable success, including winning the Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups in 2017 and the European Under-21 Championship last year under interim boss Lee Carsley.
Carsley will continue to lead the team in the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland before Tuchel officially steps in as head coach in January.
Rooney also raised concerns about having a foreign coach in charge during major tournaments. “It’s different when you’re at a World Cup or European Championship and your [foreign] coach has ties to another nation. I’ve been in that situation, and it’s not ideal. But I believe Thomas is a professional and will give his all to help England succeed,” he added.
Tuchel’s appointment marks a strategic shift for the FA, moving away from its traditional preference for English managers in favor of proven international expertise.
