England manager Thomas Tuchel issues 27-word Christmas message to Three Lions fans as the suited and booted German prepares to take charge ahead of World Cup qualifiers
- Tuchel will officially start his reign as England manager in a week
- He took to social media to talk to fans and wish them well on Christmas Day
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England manager Thomas Tuchel has sent a Christmas message to Three Lions fans on social media as his official takeover date draws closer.
The German, who previously managed Chelsea and was most recently in charge of Bayern Munich, will officially begin his reign as England manager on January 1, now just a week away.
His first game in charge will be on March 21 next year when the Three Lions take on Albania in their first qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
His team will then take on Latvia and Andorra before the current season is over.
However, on Wednesday he took to social media to share a 27-word message with the England fans on the official English channels, where he was seen wearing a suit and boots and standing outside.
He said: ‘A quick message to all our England fans: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe, happy holidays and see you soon at the stadium. Bye.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel shared a message for England fans on Christmas Day
A video was also shared on the channels in which a number of England stars wished their fans a Merry Christmas, including men’s captain Harry Kane, women’s star Mary Earps and the likes of Conor Gallagher, Anthony Gordon and Chloe Kelly.
Tuchel has kept a low profile since being confirmed as the new England team boss in October, failing to attend his side’s most recent matches under Lee Carsley.
However, the German attended the World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich in early December, where his new team will find out who will face the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
It appears that was when the video, which was shared on Christmas Day, was filmed.
Tuchel, 51, replaces Gareth Southgate, who spent eight years in the role and led the Three Lions to the European Championship finals and the World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals.
Lee Carsley took over the reins of the team on an interim basis after Southgate left and was at one point thought to be in the running for the full-time role.
In the 2026 edition, there will be sixteen groups of three teams, instead of eight groups of four, before entering the knockout rounds.
Tuchel has a stellar CV at club level, but has never managed an international team.
The 51-year-old has managed five teams, including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, PSG and Bayern.
The England job will be his first since he left Bayern at the end of last season.
Tuchel famously guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, just four months after replacing Frank Lampard in the dugout at Stamford Bridge.
He also won the Club World Cup with the Blues and has claimed league titles with PSG and Bayern, although he left the German giants behind after they finished third in the Bundesliga last season.