Mark Bullingham has admitted the FA interviewed “approximately 10 candidates” for the England job.
Thomas Tuchel, 51, was handed the role on Wednesday (October 16), putting pen-to-paper on an 18-month deal earlier in the month. However, Tuchel wasn’t the only man up for the role.
“As you’d understand, the whole process was confidential,” Bullingham said when asked if there were any other contenders for the position, as Tuchel was unveiled to the media.
READ MORE: How England will fare at the World Cup with Tuchel, according to a supercomputer
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“We had to maintain that for us and the candidates. We interviewed approximately 10 candidates and we interviewed English candidates within that.”
Bullingham was then asked about England employing a foreign manager – with Tuchel following in the footsteps of Fabio Capello and Sven-Goran Eriksson. He said: “We were very clear we wanted the best person for the job.
“We fell we’ve done that. We feel delighted that Thomas has joined us.” Tuchel then chimed in, apologising for his German passport.
Tuchel continued: “Mark and John made it very clear that it is about football and that excited me straight away. Then we found so many things that suited my approach and hunger to achieve special things.
“I always wanted to come back to England, that was one of my ambitions. Within weeks, we found a vision, a project and an adventure to be a part of. I know there are some trophies missing in the federation and I want to make it happen.”
The German will now be tasked with bringing football home should the Three Lions qualify for the 2026 World Cup – which will be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.