Thomas Tuchel will not be the next Manchester United manager, but he will have the chance to manage some Manchester United players.
Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed as England manager, stepping up to replace interim boss Lee Carsley from 2025.
The decision ends speculation Thomas Tuchel could be the next Manchester United manager and replace Erik ten Hag.
While Ten Hag’s job is not safe amid woeful results, the former Chelsea, PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich boss will not be replacing him.
Thomas Tuchel and Manchester United links
Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed as England manager by the FA, removing the possibility he could manage Manchester United in the immediate future.
Tuchel spoke to Manchester United in the summer as part of the club’s end of season review.
No agreement was reached with the club. Different accounts were released to the media in terms of who rejected who, with it clear both parties were not on the same page.
Tuchel remained linked amid the latest round of managerial speculation linking him to Manchester United amid Erik ten Hag’s struggles in 2024/25 so far.
Now he has been removed from the running, taking on the ambitious task of managing the Three Lions.
Manchester United reaction
Manchester United did not pull the trigger on appointing Thomas Tuchel in the summer, or more recently, and now the chance has been lost.
United In Focus spoke to journalist Graeme Bailey to learn how United have reacted to the news Thomas Tuchel has been appointed by the FA.
Bailey explains: “It is fair to say they are totally unmoved – one person told me that if United really wanted Tuchel, he would have been appointed in the summer – but there was a reason they moved away from him then.
“They feel that Tuchel’s people were making it public about England to force United’s hand – that didn’t happen and they took the England job.”
Ineos admired Tuchel enough to meet with him in the first place – but there was not an overwhelming sway to appoint him.
He added: “That is not to say some within the footballing department did not still want Tuchel, they did – but that was far from being a majority opinion.”
Manchester United backing Erik ten Hag for now
Erik ten Hag was given lukewarm backing in the summer when the club extended his contract by one year.
With the team 14th in the Premier League table, the current status is unacceptable and results must improve, with fans increasingly agitated.
Ineos are refusing to panic and did not want to rush into replacing Ten Hag, yet continue to monitor the performances.
Bailey adds: “In terms of the current situation, United are comfortable – they know the options available to them, if they were to move on from Erik ten Hag – which remains a possible outcome in the coming weeks.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy could be considered for a caretaker role if it comes to it, if United’s immediate Erik ten Hag successor is immediately unavailable.
Former England boss Gareth Southgate is out of the running for now after declaring he will not take a new job until next summer.
While only Ineos know what their actual plan is, the Tuchel train has now passed, for better or worse.
United fans and some of the Red Devils’ players will get a close look at his qualities as England boss over the coming years.
Whether this is a decision which haunts United depends more on Ten Hag, or his eventual successor, rather than Tuchel himself.
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