Proud residents of Thomas Tuchel’s home town are delighted at his new job as England manager and have no doubt – he can win the World Cup for England.
Young Tuchel began his journey to managerial excellence as a schoolboy defender on the training pitches of the predominantly Catholic town set in the Black Forest region east of Munich in the late seventies.
And his surprise switch of allegiance to England has been broadly supported here – with widespread belief that he can succeed in his mission to win the 2026 World Cup.
Typical is current Krumbach FC player Tizirmo Ltrvillr who said: ‘He will do a good job for England. England has great players. You have a good chance of winning the World Cup.’
The Tuchel family are widely known in Krumbach and apparently loved by all.
Pictured: Vivian Kray, who lives in Krumbach with her husband and newborn daughter, and told MailOnline there is ‘nothing wrong’ with Tuchel’s move to manage the England squad
Pictured: Fitness coach and masters student Pascal Aldoais, 24, who voiced some concerns about Tuchel’s move to manage the Three Lions
Tuchel was announced as England manager last Wednesday, becoming only the third non-English manager to take charge of the Three Lions
While Thomas’s career has taken him around Europe, his parents Rudolf and Gabriele Tuchel still live in their hometown, where they had their only child in 1973.
As a nine-year-old, Tuchel told of his love of football in a friend’s Junior School year-book, known as a ‘poetry album’.
Then standing just 4’7′ – compared to the towering 6’4′ he is today – the schoolboy footballer revealed his childhood hopes and dreams – and that he was a fan of ABBA, ACDC, and of course, sport.
According to the blue-eyed youngster, who weighed just 28kg, he hated practical classes such as Design and Technology, instead preferring to be out on the football field.
He wrote his favourite teacher was Miss Kojetinsky – although his first football coach was his own father, Rudolf Tuchel.
Tuchel’s favourite song as a child was ‘Words Don’t Come Easy’ by FR David – but as a multi-lingual coach, words shouldn’t be a problem when he takes over the helm as England manager, having already led Chelsea and Bayern Munich to title wins.
It was in a park just a few minutes’ walk from Tuchel’s old school, the Simpert-Kraemer Gymnasium, where we spoke to current Krumbach player Tizirmo Ltrvillr who was out walking his dog.
The player is Italian by birth, 26, but now lives in Krumbach and plays for the team of his adopted home just as Tuchel used to.
He told MailOnline: ‘Thomas Tuchel played for Krumbach and now I play for Krumbach too, the same club where he grew up.
Current Krumbach player Tizirmo Ltrvillr (pictured) told MailOnline: ‘Thomas Tuchel played for Krumbach and now I play for Krumbach too, the same club where he grew up.
Pictured: A friend of the Tuchel family, Mayer Reiner, who has lived in Krumbach for decades, said that Tuchel used to be a fan of Bayern Munich but isn’t any more
‘I didn’t get to see him play or train but from what I have heard he is a good person with a good personality.
‘He has a good reputation here in this town, everyone is very positive about him.
‘He still comes back to Krumbach. But it is very interesting that he is moving to the UK. He loves England, he was at Chelsea previously. ‘He will do a good job.’
Friend of the Tuchel family Mayer Reiner, who has lived in Krumbach for decades, said he used to be a fan of Bayern Munich but isn’t any more.
Tuchel managed the German club from 2023 to 2024, helping the team to victory in the Bundesliga before failing to repeat the feat last season – the first time they had lost the title in 12 years.
‘They’re too high up in the leagues now,’ Mr Reiner told MailOnline. ‘They have too much money and just bring in loads of international players.’
Mr Reiner, who is retired, said he is ‘good friends’ with the Tuchels. ‘Thomas Tuchel is from around here. His parents still live here. I’ve known them well for a long time,’ he said.
‘We often celebrate holidays together.’
From an early age Tuchel’s promise as a professional sportsman was clear: his favourite subject at school was PE, and he was known as a strong swimmer and football player.
A view of one street in Krumbach shows the town’s clock tower
Meanwhile Mr Reiner added Tuchel’s father Rudolf enjoys football and painting, and has even painted several houses in the town.
‘He’s a football coach, and he really mentored Thomas and made him what he is today.’
According to the pensioner, Tuchel is sure to enjoy being England manager, because London ‘is better than Krumbach.’
Meanwhile his own son has followed in Tuchel’s footsteps at Chelsea and also visited London – but will not be heading back anytime soon.
‘He used to go to the UK every weekend to see his wife,’ he said. ‘But they’ve moved here now. It’s very romantic.’
Tuchel, now 51, travelled to London this week to confirm an 18-month contract to manage the England team through the 2026 world cup – which is due to take place in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Fitness coach and Masters student Pascal Aldoais, 24, was more reticent about Tuchel’s move to manage the Three Lions.
‘On the one hand it’s very good to have international managers to support international development, but on the other hand, for example with Bayern Munich, they are now just buying players from all over the world.
‘Because of that they are not really encouraging people in their own country.’
Seen here is Krumbach’s marketplace and historic town hall
He is hopeful a successful 18 months for England – with a World Cup win – could help the popularity of the Bundesliga.
‘I think it could raise awareness of our Bundesliga – if people realise he is a German coach and if he’s doing a great job then they might go and see what German football is like.
‘But if he doesn’t, that won’t happen. It all depends on the results.’
Vivian Kray, who lives in Krumbach with her husband and newborn daughter, told MailOnline there is ‘nothing wrong’ with Tuchel’s move to manage the England squad.
The social worker, who is currently on maternity leave, said: ‘I’m into football when the world cup is on. My husband is really into the Bundesliga.
‘There is nothing wrong with his decision to move to the England team. It’s an international sport, it’s wonderful.
‘But his time managing Bayern Munich was not successful. It’s always sad when we [Bayern Munich] lose, when we’re not good enough.’
Another resident, who did not give his name, said the move to appoint Tuchel would make the next World Cup ‘truly exciting’.
He said: ‘I’m pleased about it because it can unite our two countries. There are differences between us, we go about things in different ways, but this will be a great sign of our shared interests.
‘I think it’s great that England has the courage to bring in a German manager. You’ve already had Swedish and Italian managers.’
He added it will be ‘truly exciting’ to see Tuchel and England go up against Germany at the next World Cup, and will mean the nations push themselves to be the better team.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk