A FORGOTTEN Premier League champion is reportedly in line to join Thomas Tuchel’s coaching staff with the England national team.
Tuchel was today announced as the new permanent England manager after signing an 18-month contract that will see him in the hot-seat for the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel, who will take charge from 2025, is assembling his coaching staff ahead of his first game as Three Lions boss.
It was already confirmed that his trusted assistant Anthony Barry – who worked with the German at Chelsea and Bayern Munich – will be joining the team as his right-hand man.
And now it looks like another man from Tuchel’s days at Stamford Bridge will be joining the ranks – in the form of a unsung title winner.
According to Di Marzio’s Nathan Gissing, Tuchel will be bringing in former Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario.
Hilario, best known by his second name alone, spent eight years as a back-up keeper for the Blues before hanging up his gloves and immediately joining the club’s staff as a goalkeeping coach.
The 48-year-old has been with the club ever since, including Tuchel’s stint as boss in SW6.
But the one-time Portugal international now looks like he will be heading for a new role with the England national team – albeit in a reportedly “part-time” role.
Hilario made just 39 appearances for Chelsea during his playing days but was part of the squad for the club’s 2010 Premier League title, 2012 Champions League success and three FA Cup wins.
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It’s also claimed that Tuchel is expected to recruit a Chelsea video analyst to his team too.
Tuchel’s recruitment of familiar faces may stretch further than his coaching staff too.
SunSport Online exclusively revealed that the 51-year-old could throw a lifeline to Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling as part of his playing squad in the near future.
The pair had fallen out of favour under Gareth Southgate, with neither making an appearance for England since the 2022 World Cup.
But Tuchel is known to be a fan of both with the tactician regularly using Sterling during his Chelsea days and signing Dier for Bayern Munich last season.
THE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel's signature was not a straightforward one.
They tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.
They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.
The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.
But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.
Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.
Read the full story on England’s thrilling pursuit of Thomas Tuchel.
