Thomas Tuchel is set to take charge of England for the first time at a major tournament as the Three Lions kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia on Wednesday evening. The match takes place at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, following France and Argentina's opening wins.
Tuchel's England Appointment
The 52-year-old German was named England head coach in January 2025, tasked with delivering the nation's first World Cup triumph since 1966. Previous manager Gareth Southgate reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024.
Personal Life: Divorce from Sissi
Tuchel's breakup from his former wife Sissi made headlines during his time at Chelsea. They married in 2009 and separated in 2022 after 13 years together. The split occurred months after Sissi moved to Surrey with their daughters Emma and Kim to be closer to Tuchel.
At the time, Tuchel said: "It was a long summer, but it did not feel so long because I was in Paris to help my family move the house and finish school for the kids over there. My wife took care of it so I did not get in the way too much. Now it is good that they have joined me."
However, by April 2022, the marriage was over, with reports stating they had "exhausted all avenues" for reconciliation. The Independent revealed the breakdown became Chelsea dressing room gossip, altering players' views of their boss. He was dismissed from Stamford Bridge less than six months later.
New Relationship with Natalie Max
Weeks after the divorce became public, Tuchel began a relationship with Brazilian mother-of-two Natalie Max, who is 13 years his junior. They were spotted together in Sardinia in summer 2022, staying in a villa costing £20,000 per night.
Tuchel and Max have been together since May 2022, just a month after his marriage ended. Associates say they are "very much in love." Max, a director at consulting firm Natexo, keeps a low profile but has been seen supporting Tuchel at stadiums.
