Ex-Bayern Munich president: ‘Thomas Tuchel was a catastrophe’

Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeneß is one man who has been left unimpressed by the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new England manager, branding the German a ‘disaster’.

The 51-year-old has has been confirmed as the new permanent Three Lions boss having signed a contract worth £6million a year on Tuesday.

Tuchel will start work in January on a deal that runs for 18 months – meaning the 2026 World Cup in North America could be his only tournament in charge. 

The former Chelsea boss will be only the third non-English manager of the men’s England team and the first since Fabio Capello quit in 2012. A press conference to announce his appointment is expected to be held at Wembley tomorrow at 1.30pm, which will be attended by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham. 

But Hoeneß, who is honorary president at the Bavarian giants after 40 years as general manager, has recalled his bad memories of the German coach in a speech given to around 120 club employees, Bild reports.

He told the ‘Leadership Summit’ that Tuchel was a ‘disaster’ during his 15-month stint, making the 33-time Bundesliga champions less enjoyable to watch.

Six months ago, the outspoken Hoeneß claimed that the manager was not enthusiastic about developing young talent at the side.

In August he poked yet another dig at the former Chelsea man, while praising new appointment Vincent Kompany.

The 72-year-old said: ‘If we play football again like Bayern Munich can and don’t lose in Heidenheim and Hoffenheim after leading 2-0, then a different tune will be played again.’ 

Hoeneß’s remarks will not please England fans unsure of what to expect from their new manager after a Champions League-winning season at Chelsea was followed by an acrimonious exit.

Tuchel is believed to have fallen out with players, including Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich, as well as members of the board at Bayern and it is not the first time his relationship with those around him has deteriorated.

At Chelsea, he fell out with incoming chairman Todd Boehly over being given new transfer responsibilities including buying, selling and negotiating for players.

According to The Independent, players also changed their perception of the German when he split with his wife of 13 years Sissi and began dating a woman 14 years his junior. 

Prior to that, Tuchel was dismissed from his role as Paris Saint-Germain boss despite winning the treble, in a move that many thought was influenced by his misfiring relationship with sporting director Leonardo.

The FA sounded out candidates including Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe for the job, which Lee Carsley is currently doing on an interim basis, after Gareth Southgate stepped down following the heartbreaking defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.

But talks between Tuchel and the FA accelerated rapidly, with the governing body aware of interest in the 51-year-old from Manchester United, who are considering the future of boss Erik ten Hag. 

The German is a steady pair of hands with experience. Carsley does not get to choose his successor or even influence the criteria on which they will be judged, but his suggestion that the next boss should be ‘world class’ hit on something.

Tuchel won consecutive league titles with Paris Saint-Germain before inspiring a mediocre Chelsea side to Champions League glory in 2021. He then lifted a Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

England have not appointed a manager of the German’s pedigree since Capello and his impressive CV could win over fans fed up with bosses they perceive as being second-rate.

Another reason for his hiring is that Tuchel is on the market, which is more than could be said for rival candidates Howe and Guardiola. 

The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving the German giants at the end of last season but the FA still had to act quick to pip United to their man.

It is understood Tuchel is effectively on gardening leave after quitting Bayern last summer, which could have financial implications for the FA but nothing serious enough to derail the deal.

Tuchel, who has been a regular visitor to London since leaving Chelsea in 2022, wants to return to work and the England job proved too attractive to turn down.

English coach Anthony Barry, who worked with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern before taking up his current role with Portugal, is likely to reunite with Tuchel at St George’s Park.

Carsley, whose prospects of taking the job on a permanent basis took a hit when his ultra-attacking England line-up were beaten by Greece at Wembley last week, will stay in charge for next month’s Nations League rematch with the Greeks and the closing group game against the Republic of Ireland.