The former Tottenham manager, Harry Redknappsaid he was disappointed by England’s choice to entrust the role of coach to a foreign coach, rather than an Englishman. In an interview with Sky Sports News, Redknapp expressed his disappointment: “He lost his job quite quickly at a couple of clubs. It’s not that he’s been incredibly successful. He’s come and gone at different clubs.”
Redknapp then underlined his strong sense of patriotism, declaring: “I’m very patriotic, I think we should have got an English manager, but obviously the field to choose from was very narrow.” His words reflect a widespread concern among some fans and professionals, who would have preferred a national guide for the Three Lions team.
The FA press release
“The FA has announced that Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel is the new manager of the England senior team and will be assisted by internationally renowned English manager Anthony Barry. Tuchel returns to English football after a trophy-rich spell with Chelsea, who led him to become European and world champion, having also achieved success at elite level in Germany and France. Furthermore, he was voted UEFA and FIFA Coach of the Year in 2021 in recognition of his work in England.”
During the press release it is then specified that Tuchel, in reality, had already signed last week and that he will take office at the start of the new year: “His arrival at the FA concludes an extensive recruitment drive which began in July, immediately after the defeat of the Three Lions to the Euro 2024 final. The decision to recruit Tuchel and Barry was approved by the FA Council early last week, with Tuchel signing his contract on Tuesday 8 October. The announcement was delayed to minimize distractions during the just concluded international retreat. The pair will begin work on January 1, 2025 ahead of the qualification process for the following year’s FIFA World Cup finals, which will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.”