Colin Sheridan: Not being English makes Tuchel's job hard, being German makes it harder

While the former PSG, Chelsea and Dortmund boss is undoubtedly one of the top managers in football, his country of origin will absolutely be held against him

UP IN ARMS: England manager Thomas Tuchel on the touchline during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Group K match at Wembley Stadium, London. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.

In vino veritas, innit! When the apology comes, it will be worth the wait and will likely break new ground in terms of the veracity of non-apology apologies. Last week, the Guardian and various news outlets in the UK reported that the former Portsmouth, Tottenham and West Ham gaffer Harry Redknapp called England boss Thomas Tuchel a “German spy” and appeared to perform a Nazi salute during a discussion about the England head coach at a charity event. The video, which has been (naturally) widely circulated on social media, shows Redknapp answering a question on Tuchel’s suitability for the role.

“I don’t know,” Redknapp earnestly teased, before going full Ricky Gervais. “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s a German spy. I’m telling you. Seriously, he’s been sent over to f**K us up. He has. I’m telling ya, he’s like Lord Haw Haw in the war – ‘We have your best soldiers captured’ and all that.”