An England superfan who walked into his barber and asked for a Thomas Tuchel haircut hopes the new look will bring the Three Lions luck at the World Cup and help him attract partners. Rufus Benfell, 25, told the Star that the new style makes him feel "sexy" and "like a tactician," adding that he plans to keep the unique barnet for some time if England wins the tournament.
Inspired by Tuchel's Bald 'Island'
The Brighton resident explained: "I got the haircut to try and bring good luck and fortune to England. It's been so long since we've won anything and I've never experienced an England victory in my lifetime." While Thomas Tuchel is not necessarily the first football figure that comes to mind when discussing signature looks, Rufus says he has already started feeling "the essence" of the German coach. He said: "I feel like I'm capturing his essence. I can already feel the tactician mode kicking in in my brain."
A Tactical Transformation
Rufus reckons he has gained even more respect for Tuchel since becoming his trim twin, stating: "He's a very pragmatic guy. He wants his teams to be compact and organised, and I think that's how England will approach the tournament." The self-described bachelor also hopes the new look will help him in the love department, saying it makes him feel "pretty sexy."
Rufus added: "I'm single at the moment, but I think the haircut could go either way with potential partners. Personally, I think I look pretty sexy right now. People would be stupid not to consider me." Although it has boosted his self-confidence, not everyone in Rufus's life is a fan. He said: "My friends and family were a bit like, 'What the **** have you done?' I reckon my mum especially will be asking why I've done it."
Starting a Trend
Rufus is unfazed by the haters and hopes the look can encourage others to make the same change. He said: "Hopefully this will inspire other people to join in and rally behind the boys. I wouldn't mind starting a bit of a Thomas Tuchel trend. The more people who get involved, the better." For those unsure if they can pull off Tuchel's trim, Rufus also reckons the country could use a few more Anthony Gordon lookalikes, adding that he considered asking for the new Barcelona star's signature flowing locks. He said: "I did think about getting Anthony Gordon's haircut instead. That could have been interesting as well."
To Keep or Not to Keep
When asked if he plans to keep the signature trim after the World Cup, Rufus admits it all depends on how the Three Lions perform. "If England don't win the tournament, I'm not going to lie, I might have to get rid of this haircut as soon as possible. I don't want to be carrying around any lingering bad luck. But if football does come home, I've got to keep it for a decent amount of the summer. I think I'd owe it to the nation at that point."
