Thomas Tuchel facts for kids
Tuchel with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Tuchel | ||
| Date of birth | 29 August 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Krumbach, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
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Current team
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England (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1979–1987 | TSV Krumbach | ||
| 1987–1992 | FC Augsburg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1994 | Stuttgarter Kickers | 8 | (1) |
| 1995–1998 | SSV Ulm | 69 | (2) |
| Total | 77 | (3) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007–2009 | FC Augsburg II | ||
| 2009–2014 | Mainz 05 | ||
| 2015–2017 | Borussia Dortmund | ||
| 2018–2020 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| 2021–2022 | Chelsea | ||
| 2023–2024 | Bayern Munich | ||
| 2025– | England | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Tuchel (born 29 August 1973) is a German football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national team. Many people think Tuchel is one of the best football managers in the world. He is known for his smart ideas about how teams should play.
Tuchel was born in Krumbach, Germany. He stopped playing football at age 25 because of a knee injury. In 2000, he started coaching youth teams at VfB Stuttgart. He later coached FC Augsburg II for one year. In 2009, he became the head coach of Mainz 05. He left Mainz in 2014.
In 2015, Tuchel joined Borussia Dortmund. He won the DFB-Pokal with them before leaving in 2017. He then moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2018. At PSG, he won two league titles. In his second season, his team won four trophies in one year. He also led PSG to their first ever UEFA Champions League final.
Tuchel became the head coach of Chelsea in 2021. In his first season, he won the Champions League. He was also named The Best FIFA Football Coach. He then won the UEFA Super Cup and Chelsea's first FIFA Club World Cup. He left Chelsea in 2022 after some disagreements with the club's management. In 2023, he signed with Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga. He left Bayern in 2024. In October 2024, he was announced as the new manager for the England national team, starting in January 2025.
Contents
- Playing Career: From Player to Coach
- Coaching Career: Starting Out
- Manager Profile: How Thomas Tuchel Coaches
- Personal Life
- Managerial statistics
- Honours
- Images for kids
- See also
Playing Career: From Player to Coach
Thomas Tuchel was born in Krumbach, Bavaria. He played for his local club, TSV Krumbach, where his father was his coach. In 1988, Tuchel joined the FC Augsburg youth academy. However, he never played for their main team and left at age 19.
After leaving Augsburg, Tuchel joined Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992. He played eight games for them in the 1992–93 season. Later, he moved to SSV Ulm in 1995. He played as a central defender for SSV Ulm until 1998. He had to stop playing football at 25 because of a knee injury.
Coaching Career: Starting Out
Tuchel began his coaching journey in 2000. He was hired by Ralf Rangnick to coach youth teams at VfB Stuttgart. He helped young players like Mario Gómez and Holger Badstuber develop. In the 2004–05 season, Tuchel led the club's under-19 team to win the Bundesliga title. He left Stuttgart after that season.
In 2005, Tuchel returned to Augsburg as the youth team coordinator. He got his UEFA Pro Licence during this time. For three years, he worked as a coordinator. Then, in 2007, he became the first team coach for FC Augsburg II. He coached Julian Nagelsmann there, who later became a coach himself. Tuchel was known for being very passionate during games, sometimes getting fined for arguing with referees. His Augsburg II team finished fourth in the 2007–08 season.
Mainz 05: A New Style of Play
Tuchel's work at Augsburg II caught the eye of bigger German clubs. In 2009, he was hired by Bundesliga club Mainz 05. He had already coached Mainz's U-19 team and won the U-19 Bundesliga. The club's executive, Christian Heidel, noted Tuchel's attention to detail.
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Tuchel's team at Mainz used a unique tactical approach. Even with players who weren't the most skilled, he taught them to pass long and press opponents hard. They would often crowd one part of the field to win the ball back quickly. This high-pressure style created chances by forcing mistakes from the other team. In his first season, Mainz finished ninth in the 2009–10 Bundesliga.
In the next season, Mainz had an amazing start. They won their first seven games, including a victory against Bayern Munich. Tuchel's team finished fifth, earning a spot in the Europa League. Mainz scored 52 goals that season, with André Schürrle scoring fifteen and Sami Allagui ten.
The following season was tougher. Mainz finished thirteenth after losing key players. They also left the Europa League early. In the 2012–13 season, they finished thirteenth again. However, striker Ádám Szalai scored thirteen goals, helping the team. In his final season, Tuchel led Mainz to seventh place. This meant they qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League group stages. He brought in Japanese forward Shinji Okazaki, who scored 15 goals.
Tuchel decided to leave Mainz in May 2014, feeling he couldn't improve the team further. He had 72 wins, 46 draws, and 64 losses in 182 games. His win percentage was 39.56%.
Borussia Dortmund: A New Challenge
In April 2015, Jürgen Klopp announced he would leave Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund quickly chose Tuchel as their new head coach. He signed a three-year deal starting July 1, 2015. Both Klopp and Tuchel had coached Mainz before moving to Dortmund.
Tuchel worked to keep important players at Dortmund. He also brought in new players like Roman Bürki and Julian Weigl, who had great potential. He changed the players' diets, replacing pasta with wholemeal foods. Tactically, Tuchel often used a 4–1–4–1 formation or a 4–2–3–1 formation. His team focused on creating space out wide or in between opponent lines.
2015–2016: Strong Start, No Trophy
Tuchel's first fourteen matches at Borussia Dortmund were unbeaten. However, they didn't win any trophies in the 2015–16 season. They lost to Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal final on penalties. They were also knocked out of the Europa League by Liverpool, who were coached by Klopp. Young player Christian Pulisic became a star during this season. Dortmund scored 82 goals in the 2015–16 Bundesliga, a club record. They finished second in the Bundesliga, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
2016–2017: DFB-Pokal Victory and Departure
For the next season, Dortmund spent a lot of money on new players. They needed to replace key players like Mats Hummels, İlkay Gündoğan, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Players like Ousmane Dembélé, Marc Bartra, and Mario Götze joined the team. Tuchel moved Raphaël Guerreiro from left-back to midfield. Dortmund reached the DFB-Pokal final again. This time, Tuchel won his first major trophy as a coach, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1. The team finished third in the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League quarter-finals.
Despite winning the DFB-Pokal, Tuchel was dismissed three days later, on May 30, 2017. His time at Dortmund had some challenges, including a difficult relationship with the club's CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke. Tuchel had also expressed concerns about player transfers. He left Dortmund with 68 wins, 23 draws, and 17 losses in 108 games. His win percentage was 62.96%.
Paris Saint-Germain: French Dominance and European Final
In May 2018, Tuchel signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), replacing Unai Emery. He reportedly turned down Bayern Munich to join PSG.
Tuchel's first big move was signing Kylian Mbappé permanently. To balance the books, he allowed some players to leave. He also signed experienced goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defenders Thilo Kehrer and Juan Bernat.
Tuchel won his first trophy at PSG, the Trophée des Champions, by beating Monaco 4-0. He also won his first league game. He set a record for the most wins to start a domestic league season, with twelve straight victories. PSG topped their Champions League group. By December, Tuchel had set a record for most points by Christmas in Ligue 1.
In January 2019, PSG was knocked out of the Coupe de la Ligue. However, they later beat the same team 9-0 in the league, which was PSG's biggest home win ever. PSG signed midfielder Leandro Paredes in January. But they were knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester United in the first knockout round. PSG won the league title on April 21, 2019, Tuchel's first league title as a coach. However, they lost the 2019 Coupe de France final on penalties.
2019–2020: Winning Four Trophies and Reaching the Champions League Final
After his first season, Tuchel extended his contract until 2021. In his second transfer window, he focused on signing hardworking midfielders like Ander Herrera and Pablo Sarabia. Key players like Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani left. PSG also signed defender Abdou Diallo, midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Tuchel started his second season by winning the Trophée des Champions again. In the Champions League, PSG beat Real Madrid 3-0 without some of their main players. They qualified for the knockout stage with two games to spare. PSG then had a long unbeaten run, scoring many goals.
On February 18, 2020, PSG lost 2-1 to Tuchel's former club Dortmund in the Champions League round of 16. But they won the second leg 2-0 at home, moving to the last eight. This game was played without fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The domestic league was canceled on April 30. PSG returned to play in July, winning the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue. On August 12, PSG scored two late goals to beat Atalanta 2-1 in the Champions League quarter-finals. This was their first semi-final appearance since 1995. In the semi-final, PSG beat RB Leipzig 3-0 to reach their first ever Champions League final. They lost the final 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
2020–2021: Final Season in Paris
In his third transfer window, PSG let go of several players. They made Mauro Icardi's loan permanent and brought in players like Alessandro Florenzi and Moise Kean on loan. PSG started their league season with two losses, which hadn't happened since 1984.
Tuchel secured the club's first win on September 16. This started an eight-game winning streak. However, after only three more league wins, and with PSG third in the league, Tuchel was dismissed on December 24. This was surprising to many, as PSG had topped their Champions League group.
Tuchel's time at PSG had some difficulties with the club's management. He once said he felt more like a "politician in sport" than a coach. He also had disagreements about player transfers. Tuchel left PSG with 95 wins, 13 draws, and 19 losses in 127 games. He had the best win percentage in Ligue 1 history (75.6%). Before leaving, Tuchel helped his housemaid's child with heart surgery and bought her family a home in the Philippines.
Chelsea: European Glory
It feels very good to be coach here. It has felt like this from the first day and has never changed.
On January 26, 2021, Tuchel signed an 18-month contract with Premier League club Chelsea. He replaced Frank Lampard and became the first German coach for the club. Tuchel had previously been considered for the Chelsea job in 2016.
2020–21: Winning the Champions League
Tuchel's first match was a 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He won his first game on January 31, beating Burnley 2-0. He then won his first London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Tuchel led Chelsea to the FA Cup quarter-finals and extended his unbeaten run to five games. This run continued to eight games after Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League.
On March 8, Tuchel's unbeaten run reached eleven games. He became the first Premier League coach to keep five clean sheets in his first five home matches. His unbeaten run reached 13 games, a club record for a new coach. This was partly due to his change to a three-man defense. The run ended at 14 games with a 5-2 loss to West Bromwich Albion. During that run, Chelsea only conceded two goals.
On April 17, Tuchel led Chelsea to the FA Cup final, beating Manchester City 1-0. Chelsea later lost the final to Leicester City. Tuchel also guided Chelsea to the Champions League final by beating Real Madrid. He became the first coach to reach two Champions League finals in a row with different clubs. He then led Chelsea to win the Champions League, beating Manchester City 1-0. After this, Tuchel signed a contract extension until 2024.
2021–22: Club World Cup Champions and Cup Finals
In his first full transfer window at Chelsea, Tuchel signed goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and re-signed Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee. Chelsea started the season with an eight-game unbeaten streak. On October 20, Chelsea had their biggest win under Tuchel, beating Malmö 4-0 in the Champions League. Three days later, they beat Norwich City 7-0.
Chelsea then went on a 12-match unbeaten run. A month later, Tuchel led Chelsea to the EFL Cup final, where they lost to Liverpool on penalties. On February 12, Tuchel won the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea, their first time winning this trophy.
[I was told] we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we go by train. If not, [then] by bus [and] if not, I will drive a seven-seater [car].
In March 2022, Chelsea faced challenges due to sanctions. Tuchel was praised for staying calm and committed to the club during this time.
After a six-game winning streak, Chelsea lost 4-1 to Brentford. A week later, they won 6-0 against Southampton. On April 12, Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid. Four days later, Tuchel led Chelsea to their second successive FA Cup final. However, they lost to Liverpool on penalties again, just like in the EFL Cup final.
2022–23: Departure from Chelsea
On May 30, 2022, a new group called BlueCo bought Chelsea. This lifted the previous restrictions on the club. To prepare for the 2022–23 season, Tuchel and Chelsea spent a lot of money on new players. They signed Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, among others. Some key players also left the club.
Chelsea started the league season with a 1-0 win. On August 14, Tuchel was sent off after a heated moment with Antonio Conte during a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. He was fined and given a one-match ban. On September 7, 2022, Tuchel was dismissed as Chelsea's manager. This happened after a 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. Chelsea had also lost league games to Leeds United and Southampton.
Tuchel later said he didn't expect to leave Chelsea so soon. He felt honored to be part of the club's history. He left Chelsea with 60 wins, 24 draws, and 16 losses in 100 games. His win percentage was 60%.
Bayern Munich: Bundesliga Title and Challenges
2022–23: Winning the Bundesliga
On March 24, 2023, Tuchel was announced as the new head coach for Bayern Munich. He replaced his former player Julian Nagelsmann. Tuchel said that Bayern's team was "one of the most talented and best in Europe." His first game was a 4-2 win against his old club Borussia Dortmund. However, Bayern were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League in April.
Despite some wins, Bayern lost 3-1 to RB Leipzig on May 20. This dropped them to second place in the league. On the final day of the season, Dortmund drew their game, while Bayern won 2-1 against FC Köln with a late goal from Jamal Musiala. These results secured Bayern's 11th straight Bundesliga title, and Tuchel's third league title overall. After the season, Bayern's CEO and sporting director, who had hired Tuchel, were dismissed. Before Tuchel's first full season, Bayern signed defender Kim Min-jae and striker Harry Kane.
2023–24: Champions League Semi-finals and Departure
Bayern lost the 2023 DFL-Supercup 3-0. They started the Bundesliga season well but were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in November. They also topped their Champions League group. However, in February 2024, they lost two league games in a row. They also lost the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to Lazio. This was Tuchel's tenth loss in 43 games, which was a lot compared to the previous manager. A week later, it was announced that Tuchel would leave Bayern at the end of the 2023–24 season.
Bayern recovered in the Champions League, beating Lazio 3-0 in the second leg to reach the quarter-finals. They then scored 13 goals in their next two league games. However, losses to Borussia Dortmund and Heidenheim meant Bayern could not win the Bundesliga. This was their first season without winning the league in 11 years. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2020. Tuchel was praised for his flexible tactics in beating Arsenal. He became the first German coach to reach this stage with three different clubs.
Some Bayern fans wanted Tuchel to stay. However, Tuchel confirmed his departure, saying he needed to focus on football. Bayern were then knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in a controversial game. Tuchel's final Bayern game was a 4-2 loss, and Bayern finished third in the league, their worst finish since 2010.
Tuchel's departure was influenced by several factors. He reportedly had difficulty connecting with some players. There was also criticism of his playing style. Tuchel also wanted to sign a specialist defensive midfielder, but a deal for João Palhinha fell through. Tuchel later said he didn't think he was "the only problem" at Bayern.
England: A New Chapter
On October 16, 2024, Tuchel was announced as the new head coach of the England national team. His appointment officially begins on January 1, 2025. He signed an 18-month contract. His coaching team will include his former assistant, Anthony Barry. Tuchel is the first German and third foreign head coach for England.
Tuchel said he has always felt a connection to English football. He called it a "huge privilege" to represent the national team. The FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, called Tuchel "one of the best coaches in the world."
Manager Profile: How Thomas Tuchel Coaches
Training Methods: Creative and Challenging
Tuchel is known for his creative training methods. At Mainz and Dortmund, he made players do unusual drills. For example, he had them touch the ball with their knees or hold tennis balls during defensive practice. He even cut the corners off the training pitch to encourage accurate passing. Training sessions were often so hard that actual games felt easier.
Tuchel is a very detailed analyst. He once paused a documentary about Pep Guardiola for two hours to study a graph of Barcelona's passing patterns. He has also used ideas from other sports like archery and kick-boxing. He even made his Mainz team train with a handball club for almost a month. Tuchel also focused on mental training, sharing articles and books with his players. He used to ban certain foods like refined carbohydrates, replacing them with healthier options. He changed this approach when he joined PSG.
At Chelsea, Tuchel's training sessions were lighter. He used different types of drills, sometimes with smaller footballs or using hands instead of feet. He also allowed players more rest after big games. Players said that before games, training focused on keeping possession rather than long tactical talks.
Tactics: A Flexible Approach
Tuchel is called a "tactical chameleon" because he can change his tactics easily. He is praised for his knowledge and flexibility. His style of football is about being flexible and practical. He once said his philosophy is to control the ball, the game's speed, attack often, and score as many goals as possible. Tuchel is often compared to Pep Guardiola for his tactical skills. Chelsea fans even called him Tommy Tactics.
At Mainz, Tuchel's team was very adaptable. They would change their formation multiple times during a game to counter their opponents' strengths. Tuchel said they broke traditional rules because they were not as strong as other teams and had to find new ways to win. At Dortmund, he often used the 4–1–4–1 and 4–2–3–1 formations. His team focused more on keeping the ball, with their average possession increasing by almost 9%.
At Paris Saint-Germain, Tuchel mainly used a 4–3–3 formation. This allowed his attacking players like Neymar and Mbappé to shine. The team's full-backs would push forward to create more attacking options. Players were encouraged to find space between opponent lines to break their defense. PSG also used Gegenpressing, which means immediately trying to win the ball back after losing it.
At Chelsea, Tuchel often changed his starting lineup. He mostly preferred a 3–4–2–1 formation. The wide players, called wingbacks, provided the team's width. He brought Antonio Rüdiger back into the team as a left centre-back. This setup allowed the attackers to stay narrow and press opponents. Chelsea became one of the best teams at scoring from winning the ball back high up the pitch. They also conceded very few goals.
At Bayern Munich, Tuchel changed his approach. He used a 4-2-3-1 formation with full-backs staying deeper. Bayern moved the ball wide through their wingers. He used two central midfielders who pushed forward to create space. This approach helped Bayern create many scoring chances and concede few. However, his team sometimes struggled against teams that defended deeply. Tuchel was also good at making small tactical changes during games to win.
Personal Life
As a child, Thomas Tuchel loved football. His first football hero was Hans-Günter Bruns.
Tuchel went to Simpert-Kraemer-Gymnasium school. He even created tactical strategies for volleyball in his PE classes. He studied business administration at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. While studying, he also worked as a bartender.
Tuchel married Sissi in 2009, and they have two daughters. They later divorced in 2022. Tuchel is currently in a relationship with Natalie Max. He speaks several languages, including German, French, English, Luxembourgish, and Italian. He describes himself as an "imperfect vegetarian" and drinks very little alcohol. He enjoys reading crime thriller novels and books about architecture and design. He is also a fan of tennis, rock music, and hip hop.
Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| FC Augsburg II | 1 July 2007 | 30 June 2008 | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 58.82 | |
| Mainz 05 | 3 August 2009 | 11 May 2014 | 184 | 72 | 46 | 66 | 39.13 | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 29 June 2015 | 30 May 2017 | 107 | 67 | 23 | 17 | 62.62 | |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 14 May 2018 | 24 December 2020 | 127 | 95 | 13 | 19 | 74.80 | |
| Chelsea | 26 January 2021 | 7 September 2022 | 100 | 60 | 24 | 16 | 60.00 | |
| Bayern Munich | 24 March 2023 | 18 May 2024 | 61 | 37 | 8 | 16 | 60.66 | |
| England | 1 January 2025 | present | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Career Total | 613 | 351 | 122 | 140 | 57.26 | |||
Honours
Manager
Borussia Dortmund
- DFB-Pokal: 2016–17
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2018–19, 2019–20
- Coupe de France: 2019–20
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2019–20
- Trophée des Champions: 2018, 2019
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2019–20
Chelsea
- UEFA Champions League: 2020–21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2022–23
Individual
- VDV Bundesliga Coach of the Season: 2015–16
- Premier League Manager of the Month: March 2021, October 2021
- German Football Manager of the Year: 2021
- UEFA Men's Coach of the Year: 2020–21
- IFFHS Men's World's Best Club Coach: 2021
- The Best FIFA Football Coach: 2021
Images for kids
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Tuchel with Paris Saint-Germain in 2019
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Tuchel at Mainz 05 in 2014
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Tuchel coaches Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly against Dynamo Dresden in 2019
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Tuchel with Kylian Mbappé, who was a regular in Tuchel's team
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Tuchel with Chelsea F.C. in 2021
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Tuchel in a press conference with Chelsea in Saint Petersburg in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Thomas Tuchel para niños
