Tuchel deal delights FA - but timing has echoes of Capello decision

"Thomas Tuchel's contract extension as England head coach will be celebrated as a coup by the Football Association, but comes with complications and a worrying precedent. On the one hand, the FA can congratulate itself at securing the services of the elite coach who flawlessly guided England to World Cup qualification on a deal stretching to Euro 2028. On the other, Fabio Capello."

"Whether the latter strategy is successful remains to be seen, and must also largely hinge on whether England justify their status as one of the World Cup favourites. At first glance, it represents a good day's work by the FA, and indeed Tuchel, whose contract was scheduled to end after the World Cup, when some of biggest jobs in Europe may well be available."

The Football Association secured Thomas Tuchel on a contract that runs to Euro 2028 after he guided England to World Cup qualification. The timing aims to lock in an elite coach and to avoid future distractions or outside interest from top clubs. The deal prevents potential moves to prominent European jobs that might have arisen had his contract expired after the World Cup. The move invites comparisons with Fabio Capello's pre-tournament extension in 2010, which set a problematic precedent. The ultimate judgment on the extension will depend largely on England's World Cup performance and Tuchel's ongoing ambitions.

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