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FA Board Not Unanimous on Tuchel as England Boss, With Some Preferring Homegrown Coach

The Times reports that not every FA board member backed Thomas Tuchel's appointment as England manager. Some preferred a homegrown coach, while supporters of Lee Carsley argued that youth-team experience can be enough preparation for the top job.

Updated: 18 July 2026Permanent article link

According to The Times, the Football Association's decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as England manager did not receive unanimous backing from the FA board.

Some board members insisted that England's head coach should be a homegrown appointment and were unconvinced by Tuchel, who has never previously managed a national team. The FA then assessed several candidates using data such as win rates and trophy records, and concluded that Lee Carsley, despite doing a decent job with the team, still fell short in terms of overall credentials.

Board members who supported Carsley offered a different view. They pointed out that Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni both had extensive experience in youth international football before taking charge of senior national teams, arguing that a strong background in youth teams can be enough to support a coach's push for major tournament honours.

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