It had looked at one point as if Thomas Tuchel would take up the hot seat at Old Trafford. The German boss was on Manchester United’s list of preferred candidates during the summer of 2024, when the Red Devils were contemplating the future of Erik ten Hag.
In the end, Ten Hag – albeit briefly – kept his job at United, with the three-time European champions eventually turning to Ruben Amorim as his replacement instead. Tuchel also landed a job elsewhere, becoming the first non-English coach to manage the Three Lions in well over a decade.
But in the period where United were shopping around for a new gaffer, it is reported that the 20-time English champions held talks with Tuchel about the possibility of taking over. It’s reported by The Sun that conversations between the relevant parties were held, but Tuchel was distinctly unimpressed by United’s approach, forcing the Premier League side to look elsewhere.
As such, it’s reported the ex-PSG boss won’t come into United’s thinking if they decide to sack Amorim mid-season.
It was a different story for the FA, who had no issues convincing the German to take charge for the 2026 World Cup cycle. But, less than a year into the job, there are already claims from some that he might not be enjoying the job as much as first hoped.
Former Chelsea ace Scott Minto told talkSPORT earlier this month that: “From what I’m hearing, Tuchel is not really particularly enjoying the England job. We’ll have to wait and see how the World Cup goes… If he wins it. Of course he sounds excited about it in interviews, he knows how to play the game.
“I’m a fan of Tuchel, I thought what he did at Chelsea was brilliant and I wasn’t unhappy about him being the England manager. I would have preferred Eddie Howe, but I was fine about it. Although, I do think Eddie Howe wouldn’t have come out and criticised the England fans last night.
“I don’t think that’s a play [from Tuchel to angle for an exit] I think it’s just him being him. He is who he is. He’s a very forthright person, he believes in himself, and rightly so because he is one of the top managers in the world.”
Tuchel came under fire after he criticised the atmosphere at Wembley Stadium during England’s 3-0 friendly win over Wales. Despite suggestions, Tuchel will almost certainly take charge of England’s World Cup campaign next summer, with the 1966 world champions on the brink of qualification.