Thomas Tuchel has insisted he does not have a release clause in his England contract and has promised to ignore any offers from big clubs between now and the 2028 European Championship.

The Football Association extended Tuchel’s contract as head coach to the end of Euro 2028 in February. He even left the door open to extending it again, despite admitting he plans to return to club management in the future.

Mauricio Pochettino signed a new contract with the United States after the World Cup, which included a £7.5m release clause that Manchester United intend to trigger to take the Argentine to Old Trafford.

Tuchel, though, has stressed there is no chance he will follow Pochettino’s example and quit England for a big club job before the Euros. “No release clause,” answered Tuchel to a question about his contract.

“And there’s no intention [to leave]. I signed the contract. I want to stay until the Euros. I want to do the Euros. We have unfinished business.”

Asked whether that means there is no chance of him accepting an approach from a big club between now and the Euros, Tuchel answered: “I would say so.”

‘I love my players, I love my staff’

The FA included performance clauses related to the World Cup in Tuchel’s latest contract. Sources have claimed that he had retained the right to speak to a big club, such as Real Madrid, if approached.

But Tuchel intends to repay the faith of the FA, which assured him his job would be safe before the World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico. The FA was not swayed by public anger at the nature of the semi-final defeat to Argentina.

“They made it [the commitment] very early,” Tuchel said. “They made it very early in person from Dan [Ashworth] and Mark Bullingham. They made it very early in the World Cup. Even before the [performance] clause was activated.

“They just made it very clear and it comes from a place of trust, and that’s what you look for as a coach. I love my group of players. I love my staff and I have bosses who trust me and are happy with the way we do things. So, it’s a lot. And I appreciate it a lot.

“It’s in a good place. I’m in a good place, and I love the players. I miss my players [when I’m not with them], and I miss my team, and I miss the 50 [club] matches that I’m not involved in a year. But I’m desperate to win the Nations League and try to win the Euros.”

A return to club football... at some point

Asked whether the Euros would definitely mark the end of his England career or whether he could continue past the 2028 tournament, Tuchel replied: “I’m open for everything.”

But he did make it clear he was planning to return to club management at some stage by saying: “Yes, definitely. I miss the 50 matches. I miss these two minutes when everything is done. It’s like the best two minutes. You’re in a full stadium. Lights are on and you’re just so excited and you’re part of it.

“That’s actually the two minutes where I realise how lucky and grateful I am. Then the whistle goes and you’re just in the tunnel again, trying to win the game for your team. I also know the downside. Sometimes these two minutes don’t feel so good if you’re in a bad place with your club team.

“First of all, I’m very grateful for what I have here because I know how rare it is to be in love with your team and to have the trust and to be able to work freely with your coaching staff, which I am.

“From the first talks, it was not only about we want to get the results. But we were very aligned and this alignment is key. If you look in a club, it’s key that it’s from top to bottom. That the message and the way things should be done is aligned. And I feel this alignment. You cannot force it and you cannot have it artificially. So that’s why I’m in a good place and competitive at the same time.”

Tuchel’s England team face Croatia at Wembley on Thursday night before heading to Madrid to take on world champions Spain on Sunday. He confirmed he was considering offering goalkeepers James Trafford and Jordan Pickford one game each and Jarell Quansah is in line to start in the centre of defence against Croatia.