Rooney Backs Tuchel’s Future with England, Suggests Guardiola as Only Alternative

Stick with Tuchel unless Guardiola is available – Wayne Rooney has publicly endorsed the Football Association’s decision to retain Thomas Tuchel as England’s head coach, though he acknowledges that Pep Guardiola remains the only manager who could potentially displace the German tactician. The former England captain believes the FA should maintain their current course unless the Manchester City manager becomes available for a move.

Tuchel’s Position After World Cup Semi-Final Exit

Despite England’s 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final, Tuchel has secured the continued support of the FA hierarchy. The German manager faced criticism regarding his tactical substitutions during the match, particularly after England surrendered a 1-0 lead in the closing stages. Nevertheless, Tuchel has expressed his determination to remain in charge and guide the Three Lions toward Euro 2028.

Rooney acknowledged that while Tuchel deserves to continue, the FA should actively pursue Guardiola if circumstances allow. Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the ex-captain stated: “I don’t see anyone else out there at the minute, unless you go and get Pep Guardiola. If Pep is available, then maybe you go and get him.”

Comparing Tuchel to Potential Replacements

The former Manchester United striker emphasized that Tuchel possesses the qualities necessary to evolve from his mistakes. “I think he is a top-class manager and what the top managers do, they learn from the mistakes and they improve and get better,” Rooney explained. He questioned whether any other candidate would offer greater value than the current England boss.

“If we sack him, what managers are we going to bring in? And I don’t think there’s anyone out there who’s as good as Thomas Tuchel, unless Guardiola,” Rooney added. However, he identified one area where Tuchel lacks experience compared to some of his peers. “But the big thing for me is he’s not experienced at World Cups. We had the exact same with [Fabio] Capello. The World Cup is different and you need to feel that environment and now he’s felt it.”

Contract Extension and Squad Selection Concerns

Tuchel’s current situation involves a two-year contract extension that was signed in February. This came after his initial appointment in January 2025, when he was given an 18-month mission specifically focused on winning the World Cup. The FA had previously approached Guardiola before settling on Tuchel, with reports indicating that a verbal agreement had been reached with the Spanish manager.

Rooney expressed some reservations about the timing of Tuchel’s contract extension. “I think the FA told us that Thomas Tuchel was coming in to win the World Cup and take us to the next level. It’s a little bit strange if its priority was to win the World Cup, but then you get a two-year contract before you actually go to the World Cup. That’s a bit strange.”

Regarding squad selection, Rooney highlighted concerns about Tuchel’s choices for the World Cup. The omission of Trent Alexander-Arnold from the 26-man squad generated significant discussion, alongside the exclusion of Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Adam Wharton. Conversely, the inclusion of Jordan Henderson, Trevoh Chalobah, and Ivan Toney raised questions about the manager’s priorities.

“I think he’s made mistakes with the squad selection. You can’t expect to win a World Cup and have a squad that is just happy and happy around the camp. You need debate, you need players to, you know, have conversations and not agree with you. You need players with their own personalities, their own opinions, their own character to question the manager at times.”

Rooney concluded that while Tuchel may have regrets regarding certain decisions, he remains one of the finest managers available to lead England into the next major tournament. “Top managers like that, they like that, then you can debate it. So, yes, I think looking back, he’ll have regrets. But I still think he’s as good as any manager out there to lead us into the next tournament, in my opinion.”

The football world will now turn its attention to the upcoming World Cup 2026, with England’s knockout path and broadcasting arrangements on BBC Sport and ITV providing fans with comprehensive coverage of the tournament ahead.