Thomas Tuchel has officially confirmed the appointment of Anthony Barry as his assistant coach, following his acceptance of the role as boss of the England men’s team. Tuchel, the former Chelsea, PSG, and Bayern Munich manager, was announced as Gareth Southgate’s successor on Wednesday morning. He is scheduled to begin work on 1 January 2025, with interim boss Lee Carsley set to oversee the team for the remaining two Nations League matches next month.
Expressing his excitement for the role, Tuchel described it as a “huge privilege” and is looking forward to leading England on the journey to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Alongside Tuchel, the highly-regarded Anthony Barry will take on the position of assistant coach. Barry, a Uefa Pro licence holder, previously worked closely with Tuchel at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.
Barry also has international football experience, having been part of the coaching staff for Belgium and Portugal during the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 respectively. The duo will be joined by a small backroom team at St. George’s Park, with further coaching updates expected in the near future. Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, praised Barry as “one of the best English coaches,” highlighting his talent and expertise.
In a statement, Barry expressed his excitement at the opportunity to work with the national team of his birth country. He described working with the England national team as the pinnacle for any Englishman in football and eagerly accepted the offer to join Tuchel once again. Barry emphasized the importance of St. George’s Park and the support it provides to coaches and players, acknowledging the talent within the squad and their impact in uniting the country.
Barry concluded by expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming project, stating, “This squad is very talented and have done so much to bring the country together, I look forward to meeting and working with them on this exciting project.” The collaboration between Tuchel and Barry is poised to bring a fresh perspective and expertise to the England set-up as they prepare for future challenges on the international stage.