Thomas Tuchel’s appointment underscores a significant shortcoming in English football: the inability to cultivate top-tier home-grown managers. While it’s encouraging that England continues to provide managers for 11 national teams—on par with France and Italy, and only behind Spain, which boasts 14—there’s a troubling reality reflected in the FIFA world rankings. The highest-ranked teams led by English coaches are Jamaica (61st), New Zealand (95th), and Puerto Rico (154th), which hardly represents the stature of a leading football nation. This observation is not meant to undermine the efforts of coaches like Steve McClaren, Darren Bazeley, or Charlie Trout, but it does highlight a concerning trend. In contrast, Spain’s list of coaches includes those managing prominent teams like Portugal and Spain itself, while France’s roster features coaches for both Georgia and France. Italy, too, has coaches managing significant teams like Turkey, alongside smaller nations like San Marino. The decision by the Football Association to bring in Thomas Tuchel as the manager of the England national team can be seen as a stark acknowledgment of the failure to develop top-level English coaches. This move raises questions about the state of coaching in England and the broader implications for the future of the sport in the country.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has expressed his thoughts on Thomas Tuchel's recent appointment as the England national team manager. He acknowledged that some fans might feel disappointed about the lack of an English manager in the role. However, Arteta emphasized that there is much to be proud of, noting that many managers aspire to take on the England managerial position. Arteta, who is originally from Spain, highlighted the respect and admiration that foreign managers have for English football. He remarked on the passion, history, and traditions associated with the sport in England, suggesting that these qualities contribute to the appeal of the role for managers from outside the country. In addition, Arteta hinted that he might be open to the idea of managing the England team in the future, reflecting on the honor and significance of such a position.