Rio Ferdinand reveals phone calls England players will be making after Thomas Tuchel appointment

Rio Ferdinand believes England players will be ringing each other to find out more about Thomas Tuchel as the 51-year-old prepares to be unveiled as the country's new manager later today

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 16/10/2024

- 09:16

The 51-year-old is set to unveiled at Wembley today

Rio Ferdinand believes England players will be ringing each other to find out more about Thomas Tuchel as the 51-year-old prepares to be unveiled as the country's new manager later today.

The German has agreed a deal with the FA to take over from Gareth Southgate, with the news breaking to the world on Tuesday.


It will be Tuchel's first international gig, having previously stuck to club management.

The 51-year-old is a serial winner, having picked up trophies with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich over the years.

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand believes England players will be ringing each other to find out more about Thomas Tuchel as the 51-year-old prepares to be unveiled as the country's new manager later today

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Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube channel, feels England players will be 'galvanised' by Tuchel's imminent arrival.

And he also believes squad members will be calling each other up to find out more about their new manager.

“I think the players will be happy,” he said.

"They want to be led to the Promised Land. I know for a fact, these players will be ringing each other asking what he’s like. Asking Mason Mount. [Bukayo] Saka asking Kai [Havertz] at Arsenal, Declan Rice the same. They’ll be texting all of their mates who’ve played under him going ‘what was he like? Am I the kind of player he likes?’ That’s what all the conversations will be.

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“Players will be questioning themselves. They might have been in the doldrums or the shadows before, but it will invigorate and galvanise some.

"There will be a little bit of anxiety and apprehension, but I’m sure he will settle that on day one and talk them through how he’s going to get them to win a trophy.”

England, under Southgate, made significant progress.

They reached two finals under the 54-year-old - yet the Three Lions were ultimately unable to win Euro 2020 or Euro 2024.

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Yet Ferdinand thinks Tuchel will finally deliver a trophy for the nation, with the former Manchester United star adding: “I think the way he plays, aggressive, on the front foot, tactically has the nous and especially in tournament football – he gets his teams through to the finals and win – so I think we’ve got as good a chance to win a tournament as ever now.

“I’m going to go as far to say that Thomas Tuchel will win England a tournament in his time as England manager.

"I’m putting it out there now, because I don’t think there’s too much to add to the ingredients.

"We’re getting to finals. How much more is there to add to the ingredients or melting pot?

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Thomas Tuchel

Rio Ferdinand believes Thomas Tuchel will win a trophy during his time as England manager

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"Gareth Southgate, the only thing he might have been lacking was the understanding or the ability to win.

“You could talk about the playing style being a bit more loose and not as conservative maybe. That might have been the thing that held us back.

"I don’t think I’m going to be saying that about Thomas Tuchel. I hope that means we go on to win, because then the FA look like they’ve pulled a masterstroke.”

Tuchel will be England's third foreign boss.

England players

Rio Ferdinand thinks England players will be eager to know more about Thomas Tuchel

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Sven Goran-Eriksson was the first, with the Swede spending five years in the role between 2001 and 2006.

Fabio Capello then came in next, with the Italian ultimately failing to live up to expectations despite his big reputation after being hired in 2007.

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