England announcement LIVE: Thomas Tuchel's first words as boss, FA appointment slammed

Lee Carsley will return to his post as England Under-21s manager after being replaced by Thomas Tuchel, according to FA chief Mark Bullingham.

Carsley was widely touted to get the top job after being placed in interim charge but England bosses have opted to head in a different direction.

"I would like to thank Lee for stepping up and doing everything we asked of him," said Bullingham. "He is a very talented coach and a major part of our England pathway.

"He will now focus on retaining the U21 EURO title in the summer. These are exciting times for England fans at senior and MU21 level."

Newcastle United hero Alan Shearer claims that Magpies boss Eddie Howe was not contacted over the England job.

Howe was seen by many as the outstanding homegrown candidate to take over from Gareth Southgate, but getting him out of St. James' Park was always going to be a challenge for the FA.

Shearer, though, claims they did not even try before ultimately opting for Thomas Tuchel.

"I really hope that they have spoken to English managers," he told The Rest is Football.

"I’m told that they didn’t speak to Eddie Howe or they didn’t sound him out, I’m reliably told, which is a big surprise for me considering he would be the outstanding English candidate."

England legend Gary Lineker believes that Lee Carsley should have been given the job over Thomas Tuchel.

Carsley has won three of his four matches in interim charge, though a humiliating defeat at home to Greece last week undoubtedly harmed his chances of stepping up permanently from the Under-21s.

"I’d have given the job to Lee Carsley," Lineker told The Rest is Football. "I have seen enough to suggest to me the players really trust him.

"And he is imaginative enough to produce something that is a joy to watch, is entertaining and front-footed football. I’d have gone for Lee Carsley [but] it is not my job to pick people like that.

"I really liked him. But I could tell he knew he was not getting the job."

Thomas Tuchel already has experience managing a large group of England players from his time at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Harry Kane and Conor Gallagher have both been regulars in the latest Three Lions squads.

And others could be brought in from the fringes.

Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling have all seen their international minutes decline in recent times.

Tuchel's appointment could also be encouraging for Eric Dier, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham.

Thomas Tuchel has been announced by the FA as England's new head coach.

He said: "I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already.

"To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.

"Working closely with Anthony [Barry] as my assistant coach, we will do everything we can to make England successful and the supporters proud.

"I want to thank the FA, in particular Mark [Bullingham] and John [McDermott], for their trust and I am looking forward to starting our journey together."

Former Germany international Didi Hamann believes the 'only question' around Thomas Tuchel's appointment is how England fans will receive him.

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello are the only two foreigners to have managed the Three Lions.

No German has ever held the top job.

"The only question will be how the public feels about a German coaching England," Hamann told wettbasis.com. "I know that the English are very fair sportsmen, but whether they will accept a German as national coach - even if it is Thomas Tuchel, who, as mentioned, has a very, very high status - is not to be underestimated. I am now excited to see how this develops.

"I was a bit surprised because when this came up a few months ago, some well-known people came forward and said that a German cannot coach England. In principle, I could imagine it, but I'm not English."

The FA have called a press conference for 13:30 (BST) this afternoon, when Thomas Tuchel is expected to be confirmed as England's new manager.

It is not yet known whether Tuchel will face the media or Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, will sit in front of the cameras alone.

England's pursuit of Tuchel moved quickly following positive talks this week.

Thomas Tuchel has been described as a 'born winner' and he has the trophy cabinet to match.

The 51-year-old's first job started in 2007 with Augsburg's reserve team.

He later took charge of Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Those spells brought him a Bundesliga title, two Ligue 1 titles, a FIFA Club World Cup and a host of domestic trophies.

Tuchel also won the Champions League just months after landing at Stamford Bridge, beating Manchester City in the 2021 final.

Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp is troubled by the FA's decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel.

The ex-West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham boss would have been happier to see a homegrown coach given the chance.

"I wanted an Englishman to manage England," he told Sky Sports. "I'm very patriotic. I think we should have an English manager.

"Obviously the field was small to choose from because all the Premier League clubs are run by foreign owners and they bring foreign managers in.

"I do think that the FA, with all the money they spend on coaching courses, when the jobs come along, an Englishman never seems to get the big jobs."

Harry Kane has first-hand experience of working with Thomas Tuchel from last season's trophyless campaign at Bayern Munich.

Despite the fact Tuchel's stint in Bavaria did not go to plan, Kane still saw enough to conclude that he is a 'fantastic' coach.

"I obviously know Thomas very well from the last year," the Three Lions skipper told Sky Germany. "He's a fantastic coach and a fantastic person."

Former England international Danny Mills is confused by Thomas Tuchel opting not to start his managerial duties until January next year.

The Three Lions play two more Nations League matches in November, against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Tuchel's deal runs until the end of the 2026 World Cup, giving him the chance to end England's major trophy drought which, at that point, will have dragged on for 60 years.

"It gets even more odd," Mills told talkSPORT. "It’s not just that it’s 18 months, he’s not starting until January. Why would he not come in for the next two games, get to know the players, the regime and everything?

"He has done well, he has won things, but again it doesn’t mean Thomas Tuchel is just going to come in and we’re going to win the World Cup."

Good morning and welcome to Express Sport's rolling coverage of the England manager announcement.

Thomas Tuchel is expected to be unveiled later today and we'll bring you all the build-up, as well as the reaction to the FA's decision.