Thomas Tuchel has named a former Chelsea goalkeeper on his staff as he officially starts work as England manager.
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Tuchel officially started work as England managerWill attend Tottenham vs Newcastle on SaturdayA former Chelsea goalkeeper is on his staffFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Tuchel has named his extended coaching staff after officially beginning work as England manager this week. The German, announced as Gareth Southgate's permanent successor in October, will be assisted by Anthony Barry and has now announced that Nicholas Mayer, James Melbourne and ex-Blues stopper Henrique Hilario will join him in the dugout. The new Three Lions boss will be present at Tottenham vs Newcastle on Saturday as he begins preparations for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia in March.
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Tuchel faced criticism for not officially starting as England boss for November's Nations League matches against Greece and Republic of Ireland but stressed at last month's World Cup qualification draw that work had effectively begun. Surrounding himself with staff he knows well is part of the 51-year-old's plan to claim the 2026 World Cup for the Three Lions.
AFPDID YOU KNOW?
Tuchel worked with Hilario during his stint as Chelsea boss but the Portuguese is best remembered for his time as a player at Stamford Bridge. The former goalkeeper featured just 39 times in eight seasons from 2006 to 2014 but was a member of the squad as the club won the 2010 Premier League title and 2012 Champions League. Melbourne was also on Tuchel's Chelsea staff and Mayer was formerly at Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
WHAT NEXT FOR TUCHEL AND ENGLAND?
With these appointments in place, the German can concentrate on his players – with attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reported to be followed by a trip to Liverpool vs Manchester United on Sunday. Tuchel has approximately two months before selecting his first squad for the games in March, when the pressure will be on to get two wins.
