Arsene Wenger admits he couldn't be England boss as he questions Thomas Tuchel appointment

Former Arsenal boss says he could not manage England after insisting a national team boss should be from his own country - as he questioned the Three Lions' appointment of

Tuchel was unveiled as England head coach last week in a shock reveal that has divided fans and pundits, with some unhappy that the FA didn't choose an Englishman to succeed , who quit after their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Eddie Howe and Graham Potter were among the candidates to take the top job but FA chief Mark Bullingham claimed Tuchel was picked for the job because he was the best available coach who could deliver a trophy at the next World Cup in 2026.

Wenger - who managed for 22 years between 1996 and 2018 and was occasionally linked to the England post - said it would be difficult for him to be Three Lions boss as he used the example of not being able to sing the French national anthem if he managed a game against his country.

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He told beIN Sports: "I just feel - to make it as simple as possible - If I’m the manager of England and I play against France I cannot sing the national anthem of France."

Wenger, who now works as FIFA's Chief of Global Development, said that a manager should be from the same country of the nation he coaches to prevent such problems from arising.

"To me on that front, I prefer that the manager is from the country," he went on. "Why should the player have to be from a country and not the manager? There is a big inference."

Tuchel was asked about whether he would sing the national anthem when he officially takes over next year - with the German saying he hadn't made a decision yet.

Wenger, who claimed he turned down advances from both France and Germany, said of Tuchel: "I think he is a perfect coach and a perfect candidate, but he's not English. But it's allowed so there is nothing wrong with that."

Quizzed on why he was so reluctant to take a national team job during his lengthy managerial career, he said: "I always thought the national team is a part-time job with 10 games per year, and I prefer to play 60."

Wenger, who won three titles during his time as Arsenal boss, revealed this summer that he "regrets" not telling Southgate to reconsider his future at England manager, having seen him at a Gala this summer.

He said: "I saw [Southgate] just after the final and I forgot to tell him: 'Don't make a quick decision', because when you lose such a big final, you always think in the next 48 hours you will resign. So that's the only regret I have.

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