Millwall head coach Neil Harris namechecks Newcastle United boss in FA warning message

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has shared his disappointment at the FA not appointing an Englishman to follow in the footsteps of Gareth Southgate, adding that he would have loved to see Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe handed the job.

It was confirmed this week that former PSG and Chelsea boss Tuchel would take over the hotseat in January with Lee Carsley continuing as interim head coach until that point. The 51-year-old has been out of work since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last season after his contract was cut short by a year.

Speaking to the South London Press, Hariss reacted to the appointment of Tuchel. He said: “Firstly I am a huge England fan who has travelled around the world to watch my national team. I was a huge Gareth Southgate fan – what he achieved was phenomenal and people are now realising that, a little bit after bemoaning him during the Euros.

Neil Harris ‘disappointed’ by Tuchel appointment

“I’m disappointed we haven’t got an Englishman. I don’t know Thomas and I’m not knocking him as a person or a football coach – he has done exceptionally well in his career.

“I’m a massive fan of his, but as an Englishman and an English football fan – with the pyramid system and everything the FA stands for – how we haven’t got an Englishman to manage us is beyond me. I know why. And I can’t share why. There are people out there we could’ve appointed – and feel we should’ve appointed.

“Having said that, I’ll support Thomas Tuchel hugely as an Englishman and a football fan, because he is the one leading us at the moment.

“Eddie Howe would’ve been my choice by a long, long way. You have to have English parents and English grandparents to play for the national team. So why does that change as a manager?”

Harris was then asked if it was a 'systematic failure' by the FA for failing to appoint an English candidate. Praising the role of grassroots football in the growth of coaches from the UK, Harris added: “Is it a failing of English football that we allow so many foreign coaches to come and manage in our country? Maybe that is the problem.

“Maybe that has got to be considered. Maybe that has got to be considered, when every owner wants to bring in a foreign coach and every club wants a foreign coach – every football fan..the perception is we have to get foreign coaches and foreign players. Are we failing in that sense?

“I feel quite strongly about that. Ultimately Thomas Tuchel is the manager and I will support him.”

Tuchel: ‘I’m sorry, I just have a German passport!’

Upon being appointed England boss this week, Tuchel faced questions about his nationality. Speaking at a press conference, he said: "I'm very excited and honoured to be here as new head coach of England. I read a quote from Pele at the entrance saying Wembley is the heart of football and I agree.

"I'm sorry, I just have a German passport! I love to live here. Hopefully, I can convince them, and give everything to this role.

"I want to get the best out of these players. It's pretty obvious I am very emotional and I love what I am doing, I'm passionate about football. This task and this role, it brought the young me alive. I'm excited for the big task of the Three Lions and playing at Wembley.

"We will do it with passion and emotion. We have to go through the qualification process to the World Cup and it starts for us in January."