Thomas Tuchel is just hours away from taking charge of his first England match at a major tournament. The Three Lions finally get their World Cup 2026 campaign underway on Wednesday night as they face Croatia. Their Group L opener kicks off at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, following victories from fellow tournament favourites France and Argentina, who both found the net three times in their respective opening fixtures.
Tuchel's Appointment and Expectations
Tuchel, 52, was appointed England head coach in January 2025, with the hope that he could guide the nation to its first World Cup triumph since 1966. His predecessor, Gareth Southgate, reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the finals of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, but ultimately fell short on each occasion. WalesOnline now takes a closer look at Tuchel's life away from the dugout, exploring the former Chelsea and PSG manager's romantic history and current financial earnings.
Split from Wife
The German's separation from his ex-wife made headlines both in his homeland and around the world during his tenure at Chelsea. Tuchel had been married to his wife, Sissi, for 13 years, having married in 2009 before the couple divorced in 2022. Their separation came just months after Sissi had moved to Surrey with the couple's two daughters, Emma and Kim, to be closer to Tuchel during his second campaign at Chelsea.
At the time, the Blues boss said: "It was a long summer, but it did not feel so long because I was in Paris to help my family move 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."
However, the following April, the marriage had come to an end, with the pair understood to have "exhausted all avenues" with no prospect of 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
Just weeks after his divorce became public knowledge, Tuchel was reported to have found love again with Brazilian mother-of-two Natalie Max, who is believed to be 13 years his junior. The now-52-year-old manager and Max sparked their romance before being spotted enjoying each other's company in Sardinia during the summer of 2022, reportedly staying at a luxury villa costing £20,000 per night. Tuchel and Max are believed to have begun their relationship in May 2022, just a month after his marriage ended, with those close to the manager suggesting they are "very much in love."
Max, who serves as a director at consulting agency Natexo, has maintained a relatively low profile since news of her relationship with Tuchel emerged, though she has been seen supporting him from the stands at various grounds.
England Salary
Tuchel sits fourth among the World Cup 2026 head coaches when it comes to earnings. He is reportedly receiving £4.9 million per year as he looks to end 60 years of disappointment for the Three Lions. The highest-paid manager at the tournament is Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is said to earn £8.5m annually. Appointed in 2025, the legendary Italian is arguably the most distinguished managerial figure at the World Cup and has been charged with delivering Brazil's long-awaited sixth title. Germany's Julian Nagelsmann and the USA's Mauricio Pochettino occupy second and third place, earning £5.9m and £5.1m, respectively.
Thomas Tuchel's life away from the football field has attracted plenty of attention ahead of England's World Cup 2026 campaign. As he leads the Three Lions into their opening match, all eyes will be on both his tactical decisions and his personal narrative.
