FA clarifies that Thomas Tuchel’s recent contract with England is unrelated to the Manchester United position.
Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of the Football Association, stated that there are “performance conditions” associated with Thomas Tuchel remaining as England’s head coach after the World Cup, but he did not reveal whether a break clause exists at the conclusion of this summer’s tournament.
Bullingham also mentioned that Tuchel’s contract extension was not a reaction to Ruben Amorim’s dismissal at Manchester United, despite speculation that Amorim could be a leading candidate for the position.
On Thursday, the FA confirmed that the German coach had agreed to an extension that will last until the end of the European Championship hosted in England in 2028.
There has been some criticism regarding the decision to renew Tuchel’s contract prior to the World Cup, rather than allowing the tournament to unfold first; however, Bullingham stated that it was not “realistic” to let the contract lapse.
When asked about the implications of a poor World Cup performance for England, Bullingham responded to reporters at the UEFA Congress in Brussels: “We have appointed him with the intention of him being our coach for 2028. Every individual has performance conditions in their contract, and I wouldn’t expect to disclose those details.”
“I have them as well, but we are very clear that we want him to coach us in 2028.”
Bullingham declined to comment on whether the new agreement includes a break clause following the World Cup.
When questioned about the FA’s decision to act before the World Cup, Bullingham replied: “I simply don’t believe that’s realistic. In any business with fixed-term contracts, as the end approaches, individuals will start contemplating their future.”
“From our perspective, we believed we had a world-class coach performing exceptionally well for us, and we wanted him to continue.”
Bullingham noted that this decision would eliminate speculation regarding Tuchel’s future before and during the tournament.
“Whenever we have a tournament, we prefer to have clarity a few months in advance,” he stated.
“We’ve experienced this with [England women’s head coach] Sarina [Wiegman] previously and with Gareth [Southgate] as well.”
“We generally aim for certainty to alleviate any uncertainty as we approach a tournament, which benefits everyone — the support staff and the players.”
This decision seems to prevent the likelihood of Tuchel being recruited by a major club seeking a new manager this summer, such as Manchester United.
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Sources have informed ESPN that the FA was eager to ensure Tuchel would not be involved in what is expected to be a managerial reshuffle this summer, with numerous elite coaches nearing the end of their contracts.
However, Bullingham emphasized that the availability of the United position was not a factor in the FA’s considerations and that discussions regarding an extension commenced well before Ruben Amorim’s exit.
“The conversation developed quite naturally after we qualified,” Bullingham remarked.
“From our perspective, it was a very natural progression. We felt he was genuinely enjoying the role.”
“He has relished working in international football. The time between matches allows for planning, which I believe he has appreciated, and he has embraced the challenge it presents.”
Information from PA and ESPN’s James Olley contributed to this report.
