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Thomas Tuchel drew plenty of fanfare when he joined England's staff as its manager in Jan. 2025. The Ligue 1, Bundesliga and Champions League-winning boss enjoyed a fairly glittering reputation in the European game, even if things fell apart at the end of prior stints with Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Tuchel figured to have the qualities needed to push the Three Lions to the top of the totem pole at the 2026 World Cup. When they took on Argentina in the semifinals, his limitations grew too difficult to ignore.
Tuchel's tactics were at the heart of England's 2-1 defeat to La Albiceleste on Wednesday. The play-caller's insistence on removing attacking talent for defenders gave Argentina a platform to mount dangerous attacks from the flanks — specifically the right one, occupied by Argentina dynamo Lionel Messi.
The fact that Lionel Scaloni's side scored two goals in the match's waning moments was hardly surprising. The score could have been worse if it were not for timely interventions by Djed Spence and Jordan Pickford.
Tuchel's display had some feeling disillusioned with England's progress under his tutelage. The German-born taskmaster inked a two-year extension prior to this year's competition, ostensibly locking him down until the 2028 European Championships.
However, things happen, especially after devastating losses. In the event that Tuchel were to be sacked, who could the Three Lions look towards to replace him? Here's a look at the list.
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Thomas Tuchel replacements for England
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1. Pep Guardiola
Guardiola is arguably the most impactful manager in world football. He'd represent a major coup for the Three Lions in the 2028 Euros and beyond, offering the sort of tactical nous and gamesmanship that could help England exorcise its demons in international competition.
The 55-year-old hasn't yet announced whether he is interested in taking charge of a national team following his Manchester City departure at the end of the 2025-26 campaign. If he were to express interest in returning to the dugout, he'd have ample suitors.
Guardiola's style of play is easy on the eye and he's one of few managers who are unflinching in their desire to attack opposition side's penalty area. That could make him a hit in England's setup, barking out orders to gifted attackers like Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers.
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2. Lee Carsley
Carsley is a bit of an unknown to casual audiences, who might not recognize that the former Derby County, Everton, Birmingham City and Coventry City midfielder has been plying his trade as England's U21 boss for the past five seasons.
He enjoyed a brief spell as interim coach following Gareth Southgate's dismissal in 2024, giving senior debuts to Rogers, Noni Madueke and Tino Livramento — all of whom featured in this year's World Cup squad. Furthermore, the 52-year-old has found plenty of success with the youth side, leading England's U21s to the 2023 European Championship title.
Carsley would represent a cheaper alternative to Tuchel, who is adept at handling young talent. With gifted youngsters in and around the Three Lions setup — from Kobbie Mainoo to Rio Ngumoha and Max Dowman — England would do well to appoint someone willing to give opportunities to younger talents. Carlsey meets that description to a T, even if he doesn't quite have the experience a World Cup contender might desire. He's also homegrown — a prerequisite of sorts if you want to capture a World Cup.
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3. Eddie Howe
Howe went from Premier League cast-off to trophy-winning manager in five short seasons, helping Newcastle compete near the top of the Premier League table for the first time in a decade. The project looks to have gone a bit stale in recent years, with Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Sandro Tonali all leaving town in the past two years.
If England were to come calling, it would be hard to see how the 48-year-old could decline the request. Howe is an attacking manager whose defensive tactics left something to be desired during his time at Bournemouth.
He looks to have found his form in that aspect at Newcastle, leading the side to fourth-, third- and fifth-place finishes in each of the past three seasons. Howe helped platform Gordon's development after an inconsistent spell at Everton and has aided in Livramento and Lewis Hall's success in recent seasons. He's not a marquee name by any stretch. But it's not hard to see the logic behind a potential Howe appointment.
MORE: Jude Bellingham slap Argentina player in the head after blowing World Cup semifinal
4. Mauricio Pochettino
While the United States crashed out of the World Cup in embarrassing fashion, Pochettino's reputation looks to have emerged fairly unscathed. The Argentine manager breathed life into a U.S. attack that looked turgid at times in recent tournament appearances. Supporters of his will wonder what he could do with a superior roster to that which he had at his disposal in the U.S.
Pochettino, 54, is tactically flexible and showed openness to getting the kids involved. His trophy record — or lack thereof — could be of concern to a side that fancies itself a contender for the European Championships and World Cup. But the allure is still there, especially for those who watched Tottenham play during his pomp.
5. Graham Potter
Potter's stock has dropped tremendously since he landed the Chelsea job after starring at Ostersund, Swansea City and Brighton and Hove Albion. Now Sweden's manager, the 51-year-old is a bit of an underwhelming option compared to a tactical guru like Guardiola.
Still, there's a world where Potter — a darling among stat enthusiasts — could draw interest should Tuchel leave his post. At Potter's best, his teams play attractive football defined by quick passing and free-flowing exchanges across the park. He can be quite tactical, routinely changing formations in an effort to get the most out of his talent.
Potter is no superstar. His track record at Chelsea and West Ham is concerning and Sweden proved fairly timid in the knockout stages, failing to test France in its Round of 32 loss. There's also the case of his contract — Potter's deal with Sweden runs through 2030, meaning the Three Lions likely would have to buy out his contract.
Still, if England's FA wants to get creative, it might take a peek at the man from Solihull.
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