Thomas Tuchel told Sky News he would “start learning” the national anthem after questions about whether he would sing it ahead of the England games.
The 51-year-old Germanwho was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Three Lions, said at a press conference he was still undecided on the matter.
However, speaking to Sky News’ sports correspondent afterwards Rob HarrisTuchel said: “I will absolutely start learning it.
“I experienced it three times here at Wembley, in cup finals, two or three times – it was very moving. I don’t want to offend people.”
He added: “Now I’ll get a feel for what people think and what the vibe is about it and I’ll make my decision, but that won’t change my approach about how hard I’m going to work at my dream to make it happen. “
It comes after a controversy over current caretaker manager Lee Carsleywho represented Ireland as a player after announcing he would not be singing God Save The King before Three Lions matches.
After questions from journalists at an earlier press conference, Tuchel said: “I will take some time on this decision.”
The Football Association revealed at Wednesday’s briefing that it had considered around 10 candidates for the role Tuchel will take up in 2025.
The governing body’s chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “We interviewed approximately 10 people, we interviewed some English candidates within that. You wouldn’t expect me to reveal more than that.”
Asked if any of them had turned down the opportunity, Mr Bullingham said: “Obviously some were better suited to the role than others. But we were absolutely delighted to end up with Thomas.”
Mr Bullingham added: “We believe he gives us the best chance of winning the World Cup, so we believe we have the best candidate for the job.”
Thomas Tuchel was all smiles at the press conference. Photo: PA
Before taking the England job, Tuchel was heavily linked with Manchester United, whose manager Erik ten Hag is under pressure.
Asked about those reports and why he chose England, Tuchel said: “The idea and the way Mark (Bullingham) and John (McDermott, the FA’s technical director) presented it was very fast, very exciting, very confidential and reliable.
“It was very clear. It was a decision for this job, not a decision against anyone else.
“I will not comment on other clubs.
Tuchel is launching a charming offensive – but it’s the performance on the pitch that will matter most
Dealing with hostility and hysteria comes with the territory – even for England’s English managers.
So all Thomas Tuchel could attempt was a charm offensive in his Wembley opener – flaunting the shirt on the pitch.
There was the prepared and oft-repeated line about the dream of putting a second star on the shirt by winning the 2026 World Cup.
And he talks about his attachment to England and football here.
The German claimed he was spared the Daily Mail’s back page headline which hailed his appointment as a “black day for England” – harkening back to the appointment of Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2000, which was slammed as “selling out our primogeniture’.
Unlike Eriksson and Fabio Capello before him, this third foreign manager of the Three Lions has actually coached here.
Tuchel will not want to dwell on how short that spell was – lasting just 15 months at Chelsea – but instead on the turnaround and rapid success.
Although the lesser-rated Club World Cup is on his CV, winning any form of senior World Cup has not been achieved by an England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966.
But the mission to end 58 years of injury is not just a tactical transformation of the squad.
It’s about a connection with the fans, where symbolism can become fixation – and the team can be used to measure the flaunting of patriotism. “I’m absolutely going to start learning it [the national anthem],” Tuchel told Sky News, recalling the Wembley Cup finals when he was in charge of Chelsea.
“It was very touching, but I haven’t decided yet whether I will sing it or not. I have little time for this.
“And even with the decision, I don’t want to offend people. I’m going to find out what people think and what the vibe is about it.”
Even the fear of offending shows how much of this work can be shell-stepping – where oddities, absurdities and contradictions can distract from the main work.
Tuchel said he was convinced to take the job because it was about football “not sports politics”.
That may be wishful thinking after Gareth Southgate has had to navigate everything from Brexit to human rights – while still leading England to back-to-back European Championship finals.
Ultimately, for Tuchel, it’s about getting the team over the line to win silverware.
“We believe we have everything we need,” Tuchel said. “But now it’s up to us to find the right ingredients and build the right group with the right mindset to make it happen.”
And Tuchel has shown the mindset and determination to rise from a coach in the lower leagues in Germany to one of the biggest jobs in world football.
He played a good game today. From March, on the field, he will have to start giving.
In an earlier video message to fans, Tuchel said he was aiming for a “second star” in the England shirt – which could only be achieved by winning the world championship.
Speaking from Wembley Stadium, the former Chelsea boss said: “I’m quite nervous, this is my first announcement as England head coach.
“There’s reason to be a little nervous, I think that’s good. I can promise that I am very excited and very honored.
“We will do everything to qualify for the World Cup and then try to get the second star on our shirt.
Read more:
What we know about the new England manager
As it happened: Tuchel’s press conference live
Tuchel has signed a deal to become England manager
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The New England manager shared a message with fans
Tuchel also said he hopes to win over skeptical fans who believe in Three lions should be managed by an Englishman only.
He said: “I will do anything to show respect for this role and for this country … no matter what [my] the national passport says I am.”
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German fans reacted to Tuchel’s appointment
Tuchel said he believed the England men’s team had the “ingredients” to win their first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
He also refused to say whether Harry Kane, who he managed at Bayern Munich, would remain England captain, saying it was “too early to answer such questions”.
Tuchel’s contract is for 18 months and was signed last Tuesday, the FA also revealed.
