‘Several candidates’

The FA have revealed that they spoke to plenty of potential successors to Gareth Southgate before opting for Thomas Tuchel.

The ex-Bayern Munich manager has penned an 18-month contract, which will start in January, meaning it’s clear his remit is to win the World Cup in 2026.

He also signed his contract more than a week ago.

The FA don’t mention who they had spoken to, but Pep Guardiola, Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were all people linked with the job, so you would expect the candidates to have been high calibre.

The process to find the next permanent England manager started in July, and it was decided that Tuchel is the man to lead the Three Lions.

This is sure to please Harry Kane, who has a big admirer in Tuchel.

Speaking about the England captain last year, the new Three Lions boss said: “It’s just a gift, I feel very privileged to be his coach. The guy is super humble, he’s the first out there on the pitch every single day and anything you ask of him, he will do it.

“He’s a huge personality who becomes a shark on the field, because he wants to score, he wants to win, and he does it on a daily basis. He doesn’t only score on a daily basis, he trains well, he does what is needed, he shows his quality.

“He calms everyone down around him and makes everyone better by his pure presence. It’s the highest level, I can put it like this, as a human being but also as a footballer. He’s a very different profile to all of my other players. He can play as a nine, a fox in the box like no other with outstanding finishing, but he also assists.”