Ex-England star demands Thomas Tuchel’s depa...

By Daniel Forsythe — 17 July 2026 — 4 min read

Butt calls for managerial change

Following England‘s exit from the World Cup semi-finals, former England international Nicky Butt has strongly advocated for the immediate removal of manager Thomas Tuchel. Butt’s comments came after England’s defeat to Argentina, where they surrendered a lead and ultimately crashed out of the tournament.

Butt expressed his views to Paddy Power, stating there was “no way” Tuchel could remain in his position. He further suggested that if Tuchel were to stay, John McDermott, the FA technical director, should also be dismissed. Butt highlighted that Tuchel does not possess the national affection associated with figures like Sir Bobby Robson or Kevin Keegan.

The criticism from Butt centres on what he perceived as a negative tactical approach by Tuchel during the semi-final match against Argentina. He argued that the manager, despite having a talented squad, failed to inspire and played into the opposition’s hands. Butt specifically pointed to Tuchel’s decision to bring on defensive players like Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, and Dan Burn, which he felt backfired.

Butt described Tuchel’s tactics as “crazy negative football” in a crucial semi-final against a team he believed was beatable. He suggested that Tuchel, an “unbelievable club manager,” would likely want to leave the role himself, despite any public statements to the contrary.

Potential successors for England role

With the discussion now turning to who should lead the national team, Butt has put forward several names as potential replacements for Tuchel. He identified Eddie Howe and Pep Guardiola as leading candidates, though he acknowledged that the timing might be difficult for Guardiola.

Guardiola recently concluded a 10-year period at Manchester City, during which he secured six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League trophy. Howe, on the other hand, has been credited with transforming Newcastle since 2021, guiding them to two Champions League campaigns and a League Cup triumph.

Butt stated that if the decision were to be made nine months later, he would “definitely be going for Pep Guardiola.” However, he noted that Guardiola’s recent departure from Manchester City for a rest from football would make an immediate return to management unlikely. Butt expressed his enthusiasm for Howe, stating he would “love him to go in.”

Another name mentioned by Butt is Mauricio Pochettino. Butt suggested Pochettino is a genuine contender due to his existing professional relationship with FA technical director John McDermott. The two worked closely during their time at Tottenham, a rapport Butt observed while working within the Manchester United academy system.

Pochettino recently managed the USMNT, guiding them to the round of 16 in the World Cup before a defeat against Belgium. Butt indicated he would not be surprised if Pochettino were appointed and would not oppose it, describing him as a “very, very good manager” who plays “good football everywhere he goes.”

Looking to the future of English football

Beyond the immediate managerial change, Butt also outlined a vision for the future of English football, particularly in developing young talent. He suggested that the FA should consider writing off the next Euros in 2028 and focus on building a young squad capable of winning the 2030 World Cup.

As part of this long-term strategy, Butt proposed immediately calling up Arsenal youngster Max Dowman to the England squad. He advocated for the 16-year-old midfielder to play in “every international break from now on.” Dowman made 13 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team last season and scored a goal against Everton in March.

Butt argued that the focus should shift from merely developing players to developing “winners” with the right mentality. He believes that this winning mentality needs to be instilled at a younger age, rather than expecting players to become winners at 22 or 23. Butt suggested that taking a few steps backward by playing younger players, even if it means losing the next major tournament, is necessary to move forward.

Tuchel, however, defended his tactical decisions following England’s semi-final defeat, attributing the issues to the “DNA” of English football. He stated that the team became too passive and lacked physicality, losing momentum after conceding a goal. Tuchel noted that ball possession, which he believes is crucial, might not be as ingrained in English football’s DNA as it is in Spanish, Argentinian, or Brazilian football.

Argentina, the reigning champions, are set to face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, after Spain eliminated France.