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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Dan Kilpatrick

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou insists Thomas Tuchel not being English could prove a positive

Ange Postecoglou says Thomas Tuchel is an "exciting appointment" as England head coach and believes there will be less pressure on the German than an English coach.

Tuchel was this week unveiled as the third foreign coach in England's history, leading to criticism of the Football Association for not picking a native manager.

Postecoglou believes there is more scrutiny on the England job than any other in the "football universe" but believes it will be advantageous for Tuchel to not be English.

"I get there is a lot more scrutiny in the England national team's manager role absolutely, probably more than any other role in the football universe, I'd say," said Postecoglou, who managed his native Australia, from 2013 to 2017.

"It's funny how there is this clamour for an English manager but I'm not sure you guys have treated English managers really kindly in the past.

"It's not like they get extra support by being English and managing their national team, just looking at the history and again I'm looking at it from afar.

"Whenever an Englishman does take this role, and I certainly felt it as manager of Australia, there is a greater weight on your shoulders because it is your nation and you're always going to live there.

Ange Postecoglou believes there will be less scrutiny on Thomas Tuchel (The FA via Getty Images)

"It's not like sometimes with the foreigners that they can do the job and it's not going great, they can go back and live where they live and they don't have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis.

"There is a greater weight of responsibility when it is your own national team and I really believe that, in particular the England national team.

"It is something that the people who make these appointments are wary of, it's not just about coaching and it's how you deal with all these other things that are attached to the England national team job. Sometimes the foreign coaches don't have to deal with it as much as an English manager would."

Postecoglou insisted he was not surprised by Tuchel's appointment and believes England have secured a highly-respected knockout specialist to succeed Gareth Southgate.

"No [I'm not surprised]," he said. "They obviously looked for someone to replace Gareth, who did an unbelievable job.

"Like most things they probably canvassed who was the most appropriate for the role now. There are some very good English coaches around. National team jobs it’s not always straightforward. It’s about timing sometimes. I found that when I became Australian national team boss.

Spurs boss has not ruled out a return to international management (Action Images via Reuters)

"It was a good time for them and a good time for me. I was doing well and I could get out of where I was. That’s not always the case. Sometimes things have to align but they have a fantastic manager in Thomas with an outstanding record, particularly in knockout football.

“He’s highly respected and a great group of players at the moment who are just beginning to emerge on a global basis. Exciting appointment."

Postecoglou was reportedly on the FA's shortlist for the job and he did not rule out a return to international football in future but said he would not manage the Socceroos again.

"I enjoyed international football, but I felt by the end of it I was really keen to get back into the day to day of club football," he said.

"That is where I am really passionate about but in the future who knows. I do feel an attachment to certain nations I worked in so I wouldn’t be exclusive to Australia. In fact I wouldn’t coach the Australian national team again because I have kind of done that.

“It is a different role, there is greater responsibility, there is a whole nation’s expectations around the position and you feel that but hugely enjoyable as well."

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