Thomas Tuchel is one of the best football managers going around today in world football. He has the best FIFA Football Coach 2021 and UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year 2020/21 to attest to the last statement. In a managerial career that has spanned over 20 years, Tuchel has had his fair share of ups and downs. But, one thing he has proven is that he is a world-class football manager, especially in recent years. Today we look into his style and records as the manager from the close quarters.
Early Days
Tuchel’s playing career was cut short prematurely when he was just 24. He had a chronic knee cartilage injury which shattered his football career and dreams. However, his passion and love for the game were too much to part ways with football. Two years later, Tuchel began his coaching career as a youth coach at VfB Stuttgart, after being hired by Ralf Rangnick. The professor took young Tuchel under his wings and he also became a true proponent of famous Gegenpressing. He honed his craft and knowledge for almost 8 years until Mainz 05 appointed him in 2009.
German Roots
Tuchel gradually came through the ranks as a manager in the German hierarchy. He officially started his managerial career at Mainz. He reinvented, rejuvenated, and rallied the club on several occasions. The way he managed and brought the best out of Mainz, despite not possessing exceptional players, caught the eyes of many people. He won 72 out of 184 matches at the club. He joined Borussia Dortmund in April 2015, after Jurgen Klopp left the club. The fans and pundits of football from across the globe took proper notice of Thomas Tuchel during his time as Boss in Black and Yellow. He won 62.62 % of the matches in his two-year time being in charge at Dortmund while lifting 2016/17 DFB-Pokal.
Paris Bound
PSG was going to be both an easy and difficult job for Tuchel. He joined the club in 2018 and remained at the club for 2 and a half years. He won a whopping 75% of his matches at the Club. PSG is generally one of the favorites to win every tournament they take part in. That’s what makes the job easy and difficult. He won the domestic titles on both occasions and lifted four other trophies with the Parisians. However, these are the trophies you normally expect PSG to win. The biggest challenge and dream for PSG has always been winning the Champions League, and he came agonizing close to winning that in 2019/20.
Chelsea Calling
He did win the coveted a year later with Chelsea. Chelsea FC was struggling to find its feet in the latter stages of Lampard’s stay at the club as manager. But, Tuchel utilized the same group of players and secured the top 4 spots in the league, and also won the Champions League. Tuchel has enhanced his reputation and stature as the football manager in just a year as in charge in Chelsea FC. Everyone is impressed by Tuchel’s tactics, man-management, and the style of football Chelsea was playing under him. He adapted his coaching philosophy and strategies to the English Premier League very quickly, while winning games and trophies. This is what impressed one and all. Chelsea has hit a rough patch lately, but they are still one of the best teams in Europe. They lifted the Club World Cup just yesterday. Winning trophies even when things aren’t going perfectly. Now, that’s some team Tuchel has managed to forge. And, by the looks of it, the 48-year-old German coach is just beginning.
