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Thomas Tuchel appears to have made a lasting impression on Football Association (FA) officials prior to being chosen as England’s new head coach.

As reported by The Guardian — referring to a passage from the book Inside England by Rob Draper and Jonathan Northcroft — Tuchel captivated decision-makers during a confidential meeting held in Munich in 2024, ultimately leading to his appointment as the manager of the Three Lions.

“It’s fair to say Thomas left us completely amazed. He presented a PowerPoint plan focused on how to add a second star to the England badge, outlining every single day of the next 18 months at St George’s Park,” shared FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

It wasn’t only the content of his presentation that impressed the panel; the German tactician also commanded the room with his “passion and eloquence.” “It was outstanding,” Bullingham added. The meeting reportedly took place in a private room at Munich Airport, with all participants arriving on separate flights to maintain secrecy. In the end, Tuchel triumphed over several other strong contenders to secure the role.

Bullingham further explained that the FA had utilised extensive data analysis to pinpoint the most suitable candidate, noting, “There are some incredible things you can achieve with data — from identifying which managers excel at player development to those who perform well in knockout tournaments.”

Despite his appointment, Tuchel has faced some criticism in England in recent times.

FA technical director John McDermott spoke highly of Tuchel, stating: “He exudes warmth and clarity. He’s passionate about football, especially English football. He asked me countless questions.”

Tuchel officially assumed charge of the Three Lions on 1 January 2025, succeeding Gareth Southgate, whose team had suffered defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.

Since taking over, the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich manager has overseen twelve matches, recording nine victories, one draw, and two losses. While England began strongly, including an impeccable World Cup qualifying run, Tuchel has come under scrutiny in recent months following a 0-1 friendly defeat to Japan and a 1-1 draw with Uruguay — results that have sparked debate about his team selections.

At the upcoming World Cup to be held across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, England have been grouped with Croatia, Panama, and Ghana in Group L.