Thomas Tuchel
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Thomas Tuchel | |
| |
| Full Name | Thomas Tuchel |
| Date of Birth | 29 August 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Krumbach, West Germany |
| Chelsea career | 2021-2022 |
| Win percentage | 60% |
| Honours | UEFA Champions League: '21 UEFA Super Cup: '21 FIFA Club World Cup: '21 |
| Other clubs | FC Augsburg II FSV Mainz 05 Borussia Dortmund Paris Saint-Germain Bayern Munich England |
Thomas Tuchel is a former manager of Chelsea. He is regarded as one of the best managers in the history of the club, winning UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
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Before Chelsea
Early career
Tuchel began his coaching career with youth teams, notably at VfB Stuttgart and FC Augsburg, where he worked in player development. He later took charge of Mainz 05’s youth setup before being promoted to manage the senior side in 2009. At Mainz, he made an immediate impact, guiding the club to a remarkable seventh-place finish in the Bundesliga in 2010–11, their best-ever position at the time. His Mainz side was admired for its energy, pressing, and tactical organisation. Tuchel became known for developing players and for his tactical flexibility, which laid the groundwork for his reputation as a modern, progressive coach.
After taking a short sabbatical in 2014, Tuchel returned to management in 2015 with Borussia Dortmund, succeeding Jürgen Klopp. At Dortmund, he refined his possession-based style, integrating swift attacking transitions with structured defensive setups. In his two seasons at the club, Dortmund won the DFB-Pokal in 2017 and regularly challenged Bayern Munich, although Tuchel’s relationship with the club’s board was often tense, foreshadowing similar issues later in his career.
In 2018, Tuchel was appointed manager of Paris Saint-Germain. His tenure in France brought him silverware, including multiple Ligue 1 titles, domestic cups, and most notably, a run to the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. PSG lost narrowly to Bayern Munich, but Tuchel was credited with improving the team’s organisation and getting the best out of stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. Despite this success, clashes with PSG’s hierarchy led to his departure in December 2020.
Chelsea
Tuchel took over Chelsea in January 2021, replacing Frank Lampard. At the time, Chelsea were underperforming in the league, but Tuchel swiftly imposed a three-at-the-back system that transformed the team. With a solid defensive structure, intelligent pressing, and disciplined organisation, Chelsea became one of the hardest sides in Europe to beat.
The highlight of his time at Stamford Bridge came just months into his tenure. On 29 May 2021, Tuchel led Chelsea to victory in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Manchester City 1–0 in the final. It was a crowning achievement that immediately secured his place in Chelsea’s history. Under his leadership, Chelsea also won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, completing a collection of major honours.
Tuchel’s Chelsea were admired for their tactical discipline and ability to adapt to different opponents. Players like N’Golo Kanté and Mason Mount flourished under him, while he managed to revive the confidence of key figures in the squad. However, his second season was marked by turbulence off the pitch, with the club engulfed in uncertainty following sanctions against then-owner Roman Abramovich. Tuchel handled the situation with composure and became a respected spokesperson during the crisis, but results dipped in the early months of the 2022–23 season. In September 2022, after a Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, he was dismissed.
After Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel returned to management in March 2023 with Bayern Munich, taking over late in the season. He guided the team to the Bundesliga title in dramatic fashion on the final day of the 2022–23 season, edging Borussia Dortmund on goal difference. His tenure, however, was complicated by inconsistent performances and difficulties in the Champions League. In February 2024, it was announced that Tuchel would leave Bayern at the end of the season, bringing to an end a turbulent but eventful spell in Munich.
In a landmark move, Tuchel was appointed head coach of the England men's national team in October 2024—becoming the third foreign manager to helm the Three Lions and officially taking charge on 1 January 2025 with an 18-month contract. He was joined by Anthony Barry, his long-term assistant from Chelsea and Bayern.
Managerial record
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 63 | 35 | 17 | 11 | 109 | 55 | +54 | 56% |
| FA Cup | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 80% |
| Lg Cup | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 50% |
| Europe | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 13 | +17 | 67% |
| Other | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 67% |
| Total | 100 | 60 | 24 | 16 | 168 | 77 | +95 | 60% |
Honours
- UEFA Champions League (1): 2020–21
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2021
| Managers |
|---|
| Robertson (1905–06) • Lewis (1906–07) • Calderhead (1907–33) • Knighton (1933–39) • Birrell (1939–52) Drake (1952–61) • Docherty (1961–67) • Sexton (1967–74) • Suart (1974–75) • McCreadie (1975–77) • Shellito (1977–78) Blanchflower (1978–79) • Hurst (1979–81) • Neal (1981–85) • Hollins (1985–88) • Campbell (1988–91) Porterfield (1991–93) • Webb (1993) • Hoddle (1993–96) • Gullit (1996–98) • Vialli (1998–00) • Ranieri (2000–04) Mourinho (2004–07) • Grant (2007–08) • Scolari (2008–09) • Hiddink (2009) • Ancelotti (2009–11) Villas-Boas (2011–12) • Di Matteo (2012) • Benítez (2012–13) • Mourinho (2013–15) • Hiddink (2015–16) Conte (2016–) |
