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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has revealed he had no contact with the Football Association regarding the vacant England job.
Thomas Tuchel was announced as the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate on Wednesday, with the German having agreed an 18-month contract through to the 2026 World Cup.
The FA’s decision to appoint only the men’s team’s third foreign coach has been questioned by those who believe an Englishman should be in charge, with former England full-back Gary Neville suggesting it was a “big blow” for English coaching.
Howe has arguably the most impressive CV of any of the homegrown options but said on Friday there had been no contact from the FA.
Reports on Friday morning said the FA had been deterred from pursuing Howe because of a £6million compensation payment which would have been due to Newcastle.
The FA declined to comment on those reports, with its chief executive Mark Bullingham confirming earlier this week that approximately 10 candidates were interviewed, including some who are English.
Howe said the speculation over his future had been a “distraction” to some – although not him – and did not rule out coaching England if the chance came along again in the future.
“You can see it’s unsettling at times when certain things are said and written about,” he said.
“The more that everyone can focus on Newcastle – which has always been my only concern – the better.
“I’d never say that managing England isn’t something I’d like to do maybe one day if given the opportunity, but my focus is Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who was earlier this week reported to have been sounded out by the FA, had nothing to say on his involvement in the process.
Guardiola, whose City contract expires at the end of this campaign, said: “Thomas Tuchel is the manager. I’m the manager of Man City. This is the most important.”
On the question of Tuchel’s nationality, Guardiola said: “I know we’re proud of where we are born but the world is so big. We have to be open-minded.
“I came here to learn from all of you, not just to give you my experience from other countries.”
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said there had been an approach from Tuchel to one of his analysts, understood to be James Melbourne. Tuchel was in charge at Stamford Bridge between 2021 and 2022, winning the Champions League in 2021.
Maresca also said he had “heard something” about interest in goalkeeping coach Hilario but that no approach had been made for the Portuguese as yet.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, who himself was linked to the vacancy in the days after Southgate’s exit, said: “It’s funny how there is this clamour for an English manager, but I’m not sure you guys have treated English managers really kindly in the past.
“It’s not like they get extra support by being English and managing their national team just looking at the history, and again I’m looking at it from afar.”
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta said England should be “proud” that a foreign boss with such an impressive CV should be keen to take on the job.
“I think I would take a lot of pride that a lot of managers, a lot of people, would do anything to become the England manager,” the Spaniard said.
“And that’s related to, as foreigners, how we are treated in this country. How much we love the passion, the respect, the history, and the way things are done in this country.”
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil said English football only had itself to blame over the FA’s decision to look overseas.
“It’s not on the FA, it’s not on Thomas, that’s on us as a country,” he said.
“If the best man is not English, that’s on us, so next time it comes up can the nation make the sure the best man for the job is English. No issues with me, he (Tuchel) is a fantastic manager.”
