Report: Thomas Tuchel to be next manager of PSG

Many wondered what the next step would be for Thomas Tuchel after he was forced out at Borussia Dortmund at the end of last season. He always seemed likely to take this year off, but now it appears that he’ll be back managing on the sidelines of Europe next season.

According to a report from ESPN, Tuchel will be the man to take over from Unai Emery at PSG.

His appointment is unlikely to be officially announced before the end of the season and the departure of Unai Emery but there is no doubt the former Borussia Dortmund man will be in charge at the Parc des Princes come July when the players come back from their holidays and report for preseason.

Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Carlo Ancelotti or even Luis Enrique looked better suited to the job. Sources told ESPN FC that Nasser al Khelaifi, the PSG chairman, established contact a few weeks ago with Conte’s entourage.

Antero Henrique, the sporting director, pushed for fellow Portuguese coaches Paulo Fonseca and Leonardo Jardim. In the end, and it says everything about the way the club is run, it was the Emir of Qatar himself, who owns the club, who decided Tuchel was the right man for the job. Al Khelaifi and Henrique had to follow.

It’s still not official that Emery will leave PSG, but it seems like a certainty. The Parisian giants again failed to advance past the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. Their 5-2 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid likely sealed Emery’s fate, despite the fact that they will once again win Ligue One.

Tuchel will find that managing PSG is a much different experience than managing Dortmund. He will have nearly unlimited funds at his disposal in the transfer market, and his club will be heavily favored to win the French title. But his seat will always be hot, especially if his squad falters again in the Champions League.

Things haven’t exactly gotten better at BVB since Tuchel’s departure. Peter Bosz started his campaign well, but was eventually fired after a dismal run without any victories. Stability is still not apparent at Dortmund, and the Black and Yellows will likely have another new manager at the start of next season.

Hindsight is 20/20, but the decision by Hans-Joachim Watzke to force Tuchel out last season has not been justified. Tuchel made his mistakes in Germany, but he’s widely touted as one of the brightest young managers in all of Europe. PSG know that, hence him being given this great opportunity at one of the continent’s biggest clubs.