Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes the Football Association should continue with Thomas Tuchel as England head coach. However, he says the only reason to make a change would be if Pep Guardiola becomes available.
England suffered a painful 2 to 1 defeat against Argentina in the World Cup semi final after giving away a one goal lead late in the match. The result led to criticism of Tuchel, especially over his substitutions. Despite the disappointment, Tuchel has confirmed that he wants to stay and lead England into Euro 2028.
Rooney Says Tuchel Still Deserves the Job
Rooney believes changing managers now would be the wrong decision. He praised Tuchel’s coaching ability and said top managers often become stronger after learning from difficult moments.
According to Rooney, there are very few coaches who match Tuchel’s quality. He believes Guardiola is the only manager who would be a clear upgrade if he became available.
Rooney explained that every coach grows through experience. He expects Tuchel to learn valuable lessons from his first World Cup campaign and return with a better understanding of tournament football.
World Cup Experience Matters
Rooney also pointed out that managing at a World Cup is very different from club football. He compared Tuchel’s situation with former England manager Fabio Capello, who also lacked previous World Cup experience when taking charge of the national team.
He said tournament football brings unique challenges that cannot be fully understood until a coach experiences them. Rooney believes Tuchel has now gained that knowledge and can use it to improve England’s future performances.
Questions Over Tuchel’s Contract Extension
Tuchel signed a two year contract extension in February after originally taking charge in January 2025. His initial task was to guide England to World Cup success.
Rooney admitted he found the timing of the extension surprising. He said the Football Association had presented Tuchel’s appointment as a mission to win the World Cup. Because of that, Rooney questioned why a longer contract was offered before the tournament had even taken place.
Even so, Rooney made it clear that he still supports Tuchel staying in charge unless Guardiola becomes available.
Guardiola Remains the Only Alternative
Before appointing Tuchel, the Football Association reportedly explored the possibility of hiring Pep Guardiola. Rooney believes the Manchester City legend remains the only coach who would justify replacing Tuchel.
For now, Tuchel continues to have the support of the Football Association. His attention will now turn toward preparing England for Euro 2028 and building on the lessons learned from the World Cup.
