Thomas Tuchel was doing a very different job before phone call with ex-Man Utd manager changed his life

Thomas Tuchel was doing a very different job before he received a phone call from an ex-Manchester United manager that changed his career.

Tuchel leads a new era for England, having replaced Gareth Southgate, who left his position following Euro 2024.

He's named his first squad since his appointment and threw up some huge surprises after recalling former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who made his feelings clear on social media after being handed a spot in the German boss' 26-man party.

Ahead of facing Albania and Latvia in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers at Wembley Stadium, Tuchel ripped up Southgate's plan in his first training session.

The 51-year-old embarks on his first international gig of his managerial career, having only managed clubs previously, including Premier League outfit Chelsea.

Thomas Tuchel during England training. Image: Getty

But he lived a very different life before finding his feet in football management.

In 2000, Tuchel was pulling pints and collecting glasses as he worked as a bartender.

However, he earned his breakthrough in coaching when Ralf Rangnick gave him a call asking if he wanted a job in Stuttgart's academy.

Rangnick, who managed Tuchel at SSV Ulm, offered his fellow countryman a job after finding out he worked in a bar.

"He was always interested in why we were doing certain things," said Rangnick of Tuchel. "After a couple of weeks, you can tell what player could become a coach - he was always asking questions.

"When I became head coach of Stuttgart, I found out he was working in a bar to earn a living, I could hardly believe it."

Rangnick, who managed Man United on an interim basis, added: "I called him and said, 'Why don't you come to us and work as a youth team coach?' That's how his coaching career started.

"It was clear he shouldn't be working in a bar and would much rather be on a pitch with a team."

The rest, as they say, is history.

Tuchel managed FC Augsburg and Mainz before being hired by Borussia Dortmund.

From there, he ventured away from Germany, joining Paris Saint-Germain then Chelsea before returning to his homeland in the shape of the Bayern Munich job.