Rooney ‘taken aback’ by Tuchel’s appointment as England manager

Interim manager Lee Carsley will continue to lead England for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Carsley previously guided the team to victory in the European Under-21 Championship last year.

England has a successful history with its youth teams, having also secured under-20 and under-17 World Cup titles in 2017. This success coincided with the establishment of the Football Association’s national football centre at St George’s Park in 2012, designed to foster talent development for players and coaches.

Wayne Rooney expressed surprise at the FA’s decision not to appoint someone from within their own ranks, given the strong foundation that has been built over the past 10 to 15 years. “What the FA have built has been great,” Rooney remarked. “It’s been a fantastic platform for young coaches, so I’m surprised they haven’t chosen one of their own. But I wish him all the best and hope he succeeds.”

Rooney, who earned 120 caps and scored 53 goals for England, played under six different permanent managers, including Gareth Southgate and Roy Hodgson. Reflecting on the upcoming World Cup and European Championship experiences, he noted the challenges of having a foreign coach watching their own nation compete. “I’ve experienced that first hand, and it’s not ideal,” he added. “But I’m sure Thomas is professional and will do everything he can to help England win.”