England Manager Tuchel Plans Contact with Ben White Regarding National Team Return

Thomas Tuchel, the manager of England’s national football team, has stated his intention to “reach out” to Arsenal defender Ben White concerning a potential recall to the squad. White transferred to Arsenal from Brighton in July 2021 for a fee of £50m. White previously departed England’s training camp at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following the group stage, citing personal reasons for his return home. The 27-year-old player has earned four caps for the Three Lions, with his most recent international appearance occurring in March 2022. Tuchel’s appointment as England manager was announced in October, succeeding Gareth Southgate. His official term is set to commence on 1 January. The German manager stated, “I will reach out to him,” adding, “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative.” He further commented on his presence, saying, “I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players and they should just know, ‘OK, the boss is there from January’.” On Friday, England learned the composition of their qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, which includes Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. In March, former manager Southgate had indicated that White, who is capable of playing both as a centre-back and a right-back, had informed him of his unavailability for selection. White is presently recovering from knee surgery, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta having confirmed in November that the player would be sidelined for “months.” Thomas Tuchel previously guided Chelsea to a Champions League victory in the 2020-21 season. Tuchel marks the third non-British individual to permanently manage England’s men’s team, following Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. The 51-year-old has secured silverware in each of his last four managerial roles, which include stints at Borussia Dortmund, Paris St-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. Despite his impressive record, his appointment has garnered a mixed reception, particularly as he aims to secure the men’s senior team’s first major trophy since 1966. Tuchel acknowledged the varied public response, stating, “Of course, [the reaction] will always be mixed. So now I have to prove myself and to the people who are maybe a bit concerned – to prove to them how much it means for me and that it’s a dream job for me that I will give everything. And that I’m the man for the job.”