FORMER England assistant manager Steve Holland will be named the new head coach of Yokohama F-Marinos this week.
Gareth Southgate’s No 2 flew to Japan for contract talks last week and has agreed to take charge for the new J1 League season, which starts in February.
Gareth Southgate's former England assistant Steven Holland is set for a managerial job in Japan
Gareth Southgate's former England assistant Steven Holland is set for a managerial job in JapanCredit: Getty
Holland won numerous trophies as a No2 at Chelsea
Holland won numerous trophies as a No2 at ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Holland, 54, has not had a managerial role since an 18-month spell in charge of Crewe in League One 17 years ago.
But he has been one of England’s most successful coaches over the past two decades.
He helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles and the Champions League during eight years as an assistant coach at Stamford Bridge.
After leaving the Blues to join the FA, he helped Southgate lead England to a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals before standing down last summer.
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Thomas Tuchel, another Champions League winner with Chelsea, is now at the helm of the national team.
He officially starts his new role next month.
And Tuchel now knows that his first match will be against Albania at Wembley on March 21.
England have been drawn against the Balkan side in a tasty World Cup 2026 qualifying group.
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Serbia, Latvia and Andorra make up the other teams in Group K.
Fans are already eagerly awaiting Tuchel’s first England squad after his recent praise for Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
The Sun's Charlie Wyett reacts to World Cup 2026 qualifying draw as Thomas Tuchel’s England are placed in group full of controversy
While the German has even extended an olive branch to Three Lions rebel Ben White.
Speaking about the Arsenal defender, Tuchel said: “It should be a clean start and clear narrative, I will be in the stadiums from January.
“Yes, I will reach out to him (White).”