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- The German coach has an 18-month contract through to the 2026 World Cup
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Thomas Tuchel has officially begun work as England’s new head coach, three months after his appointment was confirmed.
Tuchel was appointed by the Football Association back in October, with the German coach signing an 18-month contract to take England through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 51-year-old’s deal did not officially start until the New Year, with January 1 marking his official first day in the post.
The Football Association marked the milestone on social media, writing: ‘Work begins now. Thomas Tuchel’s role as Three Lions head coach has officially begun.’
Tuchel succeeds the newly knighted Gareth Southgate, who spent eight years in the role.
Southgate led the Three Lions to two European Championship finals, as well as the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel has officially begun work as England’s new head coach on an 18-month deal
Tuchel was appointed as England boss in October, but officially started work on January 1
His first official engagement came last month at the qualifying draw for the FIFA World Cup
Tuchel’s first official engagement in the role came last month when the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss attended the World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich.
England were drawn in a five team group alongside Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra, with their campaign to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico beginning in March.
Tuchel’s first game as England boss will be at home to Albania on March 21, with that game to be followed by a fixture against Latvia three days later.
‘I feel full of energy and I can’t wait to be back on the pitch and be close to players and feel them and feel the dressing room,’ Tuchel said last month.
‘It’s the best place you can be.’
Tuchel has vowed to prove himself in the role after a mixed reaction to his appointment, with the German becoming the third foreign boss of the England men’s team after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
He is expected to meet Lee Carlsey this month, with talks planned following the Under-21 head coach’s interim spell in charge of the national team.
Tuchel did not attend the final matches of Carsley’s interim spell despite his appointment being confirmed.
Tuchel will begin preparations for his first match against Albania at Wembley in March
He is expected to sit down with Lee Carsley this month to discuss his interim spell in charge
England’s new head coach revealed last month that players will have a clean slate under this management, potentially opening the door for Arsenal’s Ben White to return to the fold.
Tuchel also confirmed he will start attending matches from January as he prepares to name his first England squad.
Tuchel has a glittering CV at club level, but has never managed an international side.
The 51-year-old has managed five teams, including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Bayern.
The England job will be his first since he left Bayern at the end of last season.
Tuchel famously led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, just four months after replacing Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
Tuchel has never managed at international level but coached captain Harry Kane at Bayern Munich in Germany
He also won the Club World Cup with the Blues, and has claimed league titles at PSG and Bayern, though he moved on from German giants after they finished third in the Bundesliga last term.
At his unveiling in October, Tuchel had spoken of wanting to added a ‘second star’ to England’s shirt by leading the nation to glory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tuchel will be assisted in the job by Anthony Barry, the Englishman who worked with him at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
