England defender Kyle Walker acknowledges the desire for an English manager but believes Thomas Tuchel is a “great appointment” for the national team.
Tuchel was recently named as Gareth Southgate’s successor, becoming only the third foreign coach to lead England after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. While some have criticized the FA for bypassing English candidates, Walker thinks results are what truly matter.
Reflecting on his experience playing under Tuchel when Chelsea beat Manchester City in the 2021 Champions League final, Walker said, “I understand why the English public want an English manager in charge of the national team, but for me, it’s about who can deliver the results. He’s shown he can handle big personalities and achieve success at major clubs like PSG and Chelsea. Beating City in the Champions League is something I remember well.”
Walker added on the BBC podcast, ‘You’ll Never Beat Kyle Walker’, “It’s a fantastic appointment, and it’ll be even better if he picks me for the team again. But the real test will come when we, as a group, perform on the pitch.”
Tuchel will take over on January 1 with a short 18-month contract, and his main goal is to win the 2026 World Cup. Walker, who has played in two European Championship final losses under Southgate, says the team needs to secure silverware.
“It would be disappointing if this group of players doesn’t win a trophy,” he admitted. “On paper, we’ve got an incredible team, but football doesn’t hand out trophies for potential alone.”
With 91 caps to his name, Walker hopes to reach 100, but he recognizes that his World Cup spot in 2026 isn’t guaranteed. He’ll be 36 by then and knows form, not just experience, will be crucial. “We’ll see. I’m not counting myself out, but I’m being realistic. You need form to earn your place—it’s not about past achievements. That said, experience can still play an important role,” Walker concluded.
