Thomas Tuchel is just hours away from taking charge of his first game for England at a major tournament. The Three Lions finally kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign on Wednesday night by taking on Croatia. Their Group L opener gets underway at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, after seeing fellow tournament favourites France and Argentina secure victories by scoring three goals apiece.
Tuchel, 52, was appointed England head coach in January 2025, in the hope that he could deliver the nation its only World Cup trophy since 1966. Predecessor Gareth Southgate reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the finals of Euro 2020 and 2024, before ultimately falling short. Now, Mirror Football takes a look at Tuchel's lesser-known life away from the field by delving into the former Chelsea and PSG boss's relationship history and current earnings.
Split from Wife
The German's split from his ex-wife made headlines in Germany and across the world while he was in charge of Chelsea. Tuchel was married to his wife, Sissi, for 13 years, tying the knot in 2009 before divorcing in 2022. Their split came just months after Sissi moved to Surrey with the couple's two children, Emma and Kim, to be closer to Tuchel during his second season at Chelsea. At the time, the Blues manager 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 [the house move] so I did not get in the way too much. Now it is good that they have joined me and that they are close to me, this is how it should be. It is also nice to be back now. It is a good feeling." Yet, the following April, the relationship was over, with the couple said to have "exhausted all avenues" with no hope of a reconciliation. The Independent reported that the end of Tuchel's marriage had become the talk of the Chelsea dressing room, and that the news had changed the players' perception of their manager. He was sacked from his role at Stamford Bridge less than six months later. "Sissi and Thomas have tried to avoid splitting, but in the end, there was no other way," a source told the Mail on Sunday at the time. "It is very sad, and now it is all about making sure their daughters are the top priority. Papers were lodged last week to get the divorce underway."
New Girlfriend
Reportedly just weeks after his divorce was made public, Tuchel found love again with Brazilian mother-of-two Natalie Max, who is believed to be 13 years younger than the now-52-year-old manager. After sparking their romance, the couple were seen enjoying each other's company in Sardinia in the summer of 2022, reportedly staying in a luxurious villa priced at £20,000 per night. Tuchel and Max are believed to have been in a relationship since May 2022, just a month after his marriage ended, with friends of the manager saying they are "very much in love". Max, who works as a director at consulting agency Natexo, has preferred to keep a low profile since her relationship with Tuchel was made public, but has been spotted in the stands at various grounds cheering him on.
England Salary
Tuchel ranks fourth among the World Cup 2026 head coaches in terms of salary. He is reportedly on a £4.9 million-a-year wage as he looks to end 60 years of hurt for the Three Lions. The title of the highest-earning manager goes to Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who reportedly earns £8.5m per year. Appointed in 2025, the legendary Italian is arguably the biggest managerial name at the World Cup and has been tasked with delivering Brazil's long-awaited sixth title. Germany's Julian Nagelsmann and the USA's Mauricio Pochettino come in second and third, earning £5.9m and £5.1m, respectively.
England's 2026 World Cup kits are available for purchase at the England Official Store, with free delivery on all orders using the code ENGFREEDEL.
