Thomas Tuchel can enjoy a peaceful Christmas this year as Bayern Munich manager, but three years ago he was brutally sacked by Paris Saint-Germain on Christmas Eve. The German coach was dismissed on December 24, 2020, despite having led the French side to six major trophies, including consecutive Ligue 1 titles, and a Champions League final just four months earlier.
At the time of his dismissal, PSG were third in Ligue 1, only one point off the top. However, an interview Tuchel gave to German outlet Sport1 proved decisive. He reportedly said he felt more like "a sports politician or sports minister than a coach" in Paris and that his achievements had not received the credit they deserved. "We were a game away from winning the Champions League," he allegedly said. "But I never felt we got the credit we deserved. That makes you a bit sad and upset at times."
Tuchel's sacking set off a chain of events that led him to Chelsea, where Frank Lampard was soon dismissed. Tuchel then guided Chelsea to Champions League glory, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final. The following season, he won the European Super Cup and reached both domestic cup finals, but was sacked by new owner Todd Boehly early in the 2023/24 campaign after a falling out.
