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Michael Owen says Thomas Tuchel as England boss 'not right' – 'I want English everything'
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen says everyone involved with the England team should be English and seeing German manager Thomas Tuchel lifting the World Cup would be 'just not right'
Michael Owen has blasted Thomas Tuchel's England appointment and said only Englishmen should manage the Three Lions
The Liverpool, Manchester United and England legend has previously slammed the FA's decision to hire the German boss as Gareth Southgate's replacement instead of a homegrown talent. Tuchel, 52, signed a short term 18-month contract, which started in January, with his only goal winning the 2026 World Cup in North America next summer.
But many former England players and managers have criticised the decision to appoint a foreign coach, and Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for his country, argues giving Tuchel the job goes against the very point of international football. Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport, via betting site BetSelect, Owen said: "The Premier League is obviously multinational. We're watching the greatest players, the greatest managers, the greatest coaches.
"We're being cared for by the greatest physios, doctors, and psychologists. The Premier League employs the greatest people from all over the world, and that's fantastic. It makes us what we are.
"But I think [having a foreign coach] defeats the whole purpose of international football. It should be the best of what England has to offer against other nations. There's no xenophobia about it at all. It's just that's what international football is.
"It's our country against your country. And that should extend right through the squad, whether you're a masseur or a bus driver, or whatever your role is; it's England’s best, because these things matter.
"It should be an Englishman. It should be English coaches. It should be English doctors. It should be English everything. That's what it is. That's international football, and that's what it should be."
Considering England’s managerial options if the shortlist was only homegrown coaches, Owen added: "People would ask, but who then? I'd say, what about Frank Lampard? And they'd be like, No, no, no. Tuchel is way more qualified.
"Well, that's the whole point of it. That's the whole point of it. If we're not producing managers, then that's our fault.
"That's why we've spent millions on St. George's Park. Let's get our a*** into gear and start producing [English managers]. We might be one of the best footballing nations in the world again if we start doing things like this.
"We need to be able to say we’ve got great referees, managers, coaches, linesmen, administrators, whatever you want. Let's have our nation be a great footballing nation throughout, not just great footballers.
"The team will go out on the pitch, but it needs a huge backup team and great people in the backup team to influence the results as well. And that would be my take on it.
"So I've got nothing against Thomas Tuchel. He's a great manager. He could do great things. But if we win the World Cup and a German manager is lifting the World Cup, I mean, really?
"What would happen if Gareth Southgate were to manage Brazil and lift the World Cup? I'd be looking at it, thinking it's just not right.
"Whether it's a foreigner managing England or an Englishman managing a foreign national team. In my eyes, it's just not right.
"If you're English, the only team you can play for is the team you're qualified to play for. Once you nail your team, once you nail your colours to the mast, then that's it.
"That should go through right throughout, including management.”
England play Wales in a friendly on Thursday, October 9 at Wembley before travelling to face Latvia in a European qualifier on Tuesday, October 14.
Daily Star Sunday
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen says everyone involved with the England team should be English and seeing German manager Thomas Tuchel lifting the World Cup would be 'just not right'
Michael Owen has blasted Thomas Tuchel's England appointment and said only Englishmen should manage the Three Lions
The Liverpool, Manchester United and England legend has previously slammed the FA's decision to hire the German boss as Gareth Southgate's replacement instead of a homegrown talent. Tuchel, 52, signed a short term 18-month contract, which started in January, with his only goal winning the 2026 World Cup in North America next summer.
But many former England players and managers have criticised the decision to appoint a foreign coach, and Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for his country, argues giving Tuchel the job goes against the very point of international football. Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport, via betting site BetSelect, Owen said: "The Premier League is obviously multinational. We're watching the greatest players, the greatest managers, the greatest coaches.
"We're being cared for by the greatest physios, doctors, and psychologists. The Premier League employs the greatest people from all over the world, and that's fantastic. It makes us what we are.
"But I think [having a foreign coach] defeats the whole purpose of international football. It should be the best of what England has to offer against other nations. There's no xenophobia about it at all. It's just that's what international football is.
"It's our country against your country. And that should extend right through the squad, whether you're a masseur or a bus driver, or whatever your role is; it's England’s best, because these things matter.
"It should be an Englishman. It should be English coaches. It should be English doctors. It should be English everything. That's what it is. That's international football, and that's what it should be."
Considering England’s managerial options if the shortlist was only homegrown coaches, Owen added: "People would ask, but who then? I'd say, what about Frank Lampard? And they'd be like, No, no, no. Tuchel is way more qualified.
"Well, that's the whole point of it. That's the whole point of it. If we're not producing managers, then that's our fault.
"That's why we've spent millions on St. George's Park. Let's get our a*** into gear and start producing [English managers]. We might be one of the best footballing nations in the world again if we start doing things like this.
"We need to be able to say we’ve got great referees, managers, coaches, linesmen, administrators, whatever you want. Let's have our nation be a great footballing nation throughout, not just great footballers.
"The team will go out on the pitch, but it needs a huge backup team and great people in the backup team to influence the results as well. And that would be my take on it.
"So I've got nothing against Thomas Tuchel. He's a great manager. He could do great things. But if we win the World Cup and a German manager is lifting the World Cup, I mean, really?
"What would happen if Gareth Southgate were to manage Brazil and lift the World Cup? I'd be looking at it, thinking it's just not right.
"Whether it's a foreigner managing England or an Englishman managing a foreign national team. In my eyes, it's just not right.
"If you're English, the only team you can play for is the team you're qualified to play for. Once you nail your team, once you nail your colours to the mast, then that's it.
"That should go through right throughout, including management.”
England play Wales in a friendly on Thursday, October 9 at Wembley before travelling to face Latvia in a European qualifier on Tuesday, October 14.
Daily Star Sunday