Thomas Tuchel 'told he was Man Utd's top target' WEEKS before taking England job
Manchester United have weighed up a managerial change and told Thomas Tuchel that he was their top choice to succeed Erik ten Hag before England came knocking to appoint the German
by Samuel Meade · The MirrorThomas Tuchel was told by Manchester United that he was their top candidate to take over from Erik ten Hag - just weeks before England came calling.
The German has been one of the most well-regarded coaches without a job since leaving Bayern Munich in the summer. That has seen him linked with numerous posts and he held talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the summer when the Old Trafford bosses considered a change.
They ultimately stuck by Ten Hag but, just seven games into the season, and results have not improved with pressure ramping up on the Dutchman. The Manchester outfit have been left to draw up plans should they make a change with Tuchel topping their shortlist.
The ex-Chelsea boss was made aware of United's desire to pursue him, reports The Times, but the 51-year-old is no longer on the market after England made their offer. Tuchel will now replace Gareth Southgate at the helm on an 18 month deal.
His contract will take him through to the next World Cup as the Three Lions look to finally end their tournament heartache. Tuchel will begin work on January 1 and it leaves the red half of Manchester having to look elsewhere if they do opt for a change.
Tuchel's previous work in England with the Blues had added to his appeal. Whilst at Stamford Bridge he took the team to the FA Cup final, won the Champions League and ensured Chelsea remained a top tier European outfit with the club declining following his sacking.
Despite a frustrating time at Bayern Munich, where he was unable to continue their Bundesliga dominance, Tuchel remains a man in demand and the patience afforded to Ten Hag has now cost United the German manager, who they were reportedly set to pursue if a change were made.
Tuchel will become just the third non-English manager to lead the Three Lions. Not since Fabio Capello left the role in 2012 has a foreign manager been at the helm but the German will now follow in those footsteps.
He has the unenviable task of trying to follow on from Southgate, who enjoyed a stellar tournament record. The player turned manager took England to a quarter-final, a semi-final and two finals in the four major tournaments he attended, leaving the nation with a stellar group of young players.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky Sports deal
Sky Sports launches 'lowest price' Premier League package
£43 (was £52)
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £216 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
With Ultra HD included at no extra cost, football fans can enjoy the 2024/25 season with crystal clear picture quality.