FA retains Tuchel despite World Cup exit as Rooney cites shallow market
Thomas Tuchel will remain as England head coach through Euro 2028 after the FA decided against a mid-cycle sacking in an elite managerial market that offers no obvious upgrades.
The Football Association has retained Thomas Tuchel as England head coach following the team's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Tuchel was criticised for his substitutions after England squandered a late 1-0 lead, but he has stated his intention to stay and lead the team into Euro 2028.
The decision avoids the disruption of a mid-tournament sacking, but it highlights a persistent scarcity in the elite European coaching market. Former England captain Wayne Rooney noted that the pool of available talent capable of succeeding Tuchel is severely limited. "If we sack him, what managers are we going to bring in? And I don't think there's anyone out there who's as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.
The FA's current predicament is rooted in its previous recruitment strategy. The organisation approached former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola before appointing Tuchel in January 2025, with reports indicating a verbal agreement was in place. Guardiola remained unavailable then, and Rooney believes he remains the only viable alternative now. "I don't see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him," he said.
The FA’s contract strategy has also drawn scrutiny. Tuchel was initially handed an 18-month deal with the explicit mandate to win the World Cup. However, the FA handed him a two-year contract extension in February, before the tournament began. "It's a little bit strange if its priority was to win the World Cup, but then you get a two-year contract before you actually go to the World Cup. That's a bit strange," Rooney observed.
Rooney also questioned Tuchel’s operational decisions, particularly his squad selection. The manager left out Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton, opting instead for Jordan Henderson, Trevoh Chalobah and Ivan Toney. Rooney argued this created a compliant rather than competitive environment. "You can't expect to win a World Cup and have a squad that is just happy and happy around the camp. You need debate, you need players to, you know, have conversations and not agree with you," he said.
Despite these operational flaws, retaining Tuchel mitigates the risk of entering a shallow talent pool ahead of Euro 2028. Rooney endorsed this pragmatic approach, noting that Tuchel's initial World Cup exposure will provide long-term value. "The World Cup is different and you need to feel that environment and now he's felt it," he said, adding that top managers "learn from the mistakes and they improve and get better."
