Gary Neville offers Eddie Howe backing after hitting out at England's Thomas Tuchel appointment


Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes Thomas Tuchel's England appointment raises serious questions within the FA. The former Manchester United defender does not believe the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss is better than Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe or ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter.

Howe had been repeatedly linked with the Three Lions job after Gareth Southgate's departure earlier this summer. The 54-year-old left the position after England's defeat to Spain in the European Championship final.

Tuchel, who has been out of a job since leaving Bayern Munich last season, will begin his duties as head coach from January 2025 after signing an 18-month deal. Not everyone is happy with the decision to appoint the German head coach, with Neville among those to voice an opinion.

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“I think there are some serious questions for the FA to answer in respect of English coaching,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I do think that we are damaging ourselves, accepting that Thomas Tuchel is better than any of the other English candidates.

“With the likes of Graham Potter, who has managed in the higher echelons of the Premier League, we’ve got Eddie Howe currently at Newcastle. I do think there are outstanding candidates that could have been appointed that are English.”

Tuchel won the Champions League during his first season at Chelsea and has won trophies wherever he's been, while the last English coach to win a domestic trophy was Harry Redknapp in 2008, winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth. Howe has repeatedly referenced his desire to win silverware with the Magpies and that he's happy at St. James' Park.

The decision to appoint the former Blues boss means Howe can now focus his efforts on Newcastle, without the unwanted attention.