Rio Ferdinand reveals England dressing room reaction to Thomas Tuchel appointment

The players will be excited by the appointment of as the new manager aims to deliver World Cup glory, according to .

will be after agreeing to succeed . The former boss has been out of work since under a cloud at the end of the 2023/24 season.

He is poised to start work on January 1 on an , which will see him work towards the 2026 World Cup. The 51-year-old will earn – double the amount that his predecessor Southgate took home.

Former England defender Ferdinand has hailed the FA’s decision, believing he is the best person for the job, with and unavailable. Ferdinand also disagrees with those who think the England manager should be English – and has given an insight into the players’ perspective.

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“I think the players will be happy,” he said on . “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 . [Bukayo] Saka asking Kai [Havertz] at , 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.

“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 suffered defeat at the hands of Spain in the final of Euro 2024 in the summer and lost on penalties to Italy at the same stage in 2021 under Southgate. Ferdinand believes Tuchel’s track record, including winning the final in 2021, will inspire confidence in the England squad.

“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,” he said. “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? 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.”

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