Sports
Thomas Tuchel Appointed England Manager: A New Era Begins
Thomas Tuchel has officially been named the new manager of the England men’s national football team, set to take over on 1 January 2025. The 51-year-old German coach has signed an 18-month contract, becoming the third non-British permanent manager of the team, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
Tuchel’s appointment follows the resignation of Gareth Southgate, who stepped down in July after England’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Since then, interim manager Lee Carsley has led the team for four games, and he will remain in charge for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Expressing his pride and excitement, Tuchel stated, “I am very proud to have been given the honour of leading the England team. I have long felt a personal connection to the game in this country, and it has given me some incredible moments already. To have the chance to represent England is a huge privilege, and the opportunity to work with this special and talented group of players is very exciting.”
Football Association (FA) chief executive Mark Bullingham praised the decision, saying, “We have appointed one of the best coaches in the world. Thomas and the team have a single-minded focus on giving us the best possible chance to win the World Cup in 2026.”
The FA had approached other high-profile candidates, including Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe, but Tuchel was ultimately selected as the “preferred candidate” after several interviews. Tuchel, a former Chelsea boss, recently parted ways with Bayern Munich after a season but remains highly regarded for his tactical acumen and previous successes, including leading Chelsea to a Champions League victory in 2021.
The announcement of Tuchel’s appointment was delayed to avoid distractions during England’s international fixtures, but the decision was finalised earlier this month.
As England prepares for the 2026 World Cup, excitement builds around this new chapter under Tuchel’s leadership. The Prince of Wales also weighed in on social media, describing the moment as “exciting times for England, with a generation of talented players and a new manager taking the reins.”
Tuchel’s arrival marks the beginning of a fresh journey for the England national team, and fans will be eager to see how his tactical expertise can drive the team forward on the global stage.
Warren Gatland is set to leave his role as Wales head coach after a record-breaking 14 consecutive Test match defeats, bringing an early end to his second tenure in charge.
Although the 61-year-old was contracted until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, he was already expected to step down after the Six Nations. Now, his departure will come midway through the tournament, with Wales still set to face Ireland on 22 February in Cardiff, Scotland on 8 March, and England on 15 March.
Possible successors include former Australia coach Michael Cheika, Glasgow’s Franco Smith, and Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby.
Gatland, who enjoyed a highly successful 12-year first stint with Wales—winning three Grand Slams and leading the team to two World Cup semi-finals—returned in December 2022 to replace Wayne Pivac. However, his second tenure has been marred by poor performances, with Wales suffering their worst losing streak in 144 years of international rugby. The 22-15 loss to Italy last weekend cemented their decline, dropping them to 12th in the world rankings.
In total, Gatland has overseen 151 Tests across both spells, with 76 wins, 73 losses, and two draws. His recent record stands at just six victories in 26 matches, a win ratio of only 23%.
Tiger Woods has pulled out of this week’s Genesis Invitational, stating he is “still processing” the recent death of his mother, Kultida Woods.
The 15-time major champion, who had initially planned to participate, announced his withdrawal on social media, saying, “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready. I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.”
Woods’ mother, Kultida, passed away on February 4. Just days later, tournament organizers had confirmed Woods’ participation in the event, which is now being held at Torrey Pines instead of its usual Riviera Country Club venue due to wildfires in Los Angeles.
Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since The Open at Royal Troon last July. His competitive appearances have been sporadic since a 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries, and he underwent additional back surgery in September. Most recently, he played alongside his son, Charlie, in a 36-hole event in December and participated in an exhibition for the Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), which he co-founded.
As the tournament host, Woods hopes to attend the Genesis Invitational later in the week but has not committed to a specific timeline. The event benefits his TGR Foundation, which supports youth education initiatives.
Fans and fellow players have expressed their condolences and support for Woods as he navigates this difficult time.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during Spurs’ Europa League clash against Elfsborg last week and will undergo surgery.
Dragusin is expected to be sidelined for at least six months, though recovery from ACL injuries can sometimes extend to a year. Tottenham confirmed that their medical team will monitor his rehabilitation to determine his return timeline.
The Romanian international had become a key figure for Spurs, starting 21 of their last 23 games. His absence adds to an already extensive injury list, which includes Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert, Cristian Romero, and Dominic Solanke. However, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies have recently returned to action.
Dragusin joined Tottenham from Genoa in January 2024 in a £25 million deal. To bolster their defensive options, Spurs signed Austria international Kevin Danso on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for £21 million. They also made an ambitious £70 million bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, which was rejected, but secured the signing of 19-year-old attacker Mathys Tel from Bayern Munich.
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