Former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel is Everton's top target to replace the sacked Ronald Koeman.

Dutchman Koeman was sacked by the Toffees on Monday after drifting into the relegation zone following a dismal 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.

Tuchel gained a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest coaches after succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund but is currently without a club after leaving the German side at the end of last season.

But who is Tuchel? And what would he bring to the Toffees? Our man Alex Richards has his say...

Tuchel talking to Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Borussia (
Image:
Alexandre Simoes)

Career

Tuchel had an undistinguished playing career as a defender, making a handful of appearances for Stuttgarter Kickers in Germany's second division. He played 69 times for third division side Ulm between 1994 and 1998.

That modest playing background did not prevent him ascending to the Borussia Dortmund job, replacing Jurgen Klopp at the Westfalenstadion.

Tuchel's path to top flight management started with a coaching role in the VfB Stuttgart youth set-up in 2000, from where he moved on to FC Augsburg. He then forged a smart reputation at Mainz in a five year spell, during which he led them to their highest ever Bundesliga finish.

Tuchel during his time as Mainz head coach (
Image:
Getty)
Tuchel with then-Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp (
Image:
Dennis Grombkowski)

He took an unpaid sabbatical in the final year of his contract, during which he apparently turned down opportunities with Leipzig and Hamburg, before joining Dortmund in 2015.

After leading BVB to second in his debut campaign, he had hoped to challenge for the title last season, despite the summer losses of Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan.

But despite big spending, landing the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Mario Gotze and Andre Schurrle, BVB struggled for consistency and ended up 18 points adrift of eventual winner Bayern Munich, and finished below RB Leipzig.

Tuchel did manage to bring the DFB Pokal Cup back to Westfalenstadion, but just three days later a year of in-fighting, most notably pointing the finger at CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke for “making” the players play just 24 hours after a terrorist attack,came to a head as he was sacked.

"I am thankful for two beautiful, eventful and exciting years. It's a shame that it doesn't continue. Thanks to the fans, the team, the staff, and everyone who has supported us,” were his parting words.

Style

Like Klopp, he urges his side to be daring, committing bodies forward with high pressing and aggressive, dynamic football. However, has arguably shown greater tactical versatility to the now-Liverpool manager, alternating formations with increasing regularity and taking the side away from the 4-2-3-1 of his antecedent, increasingly utilising the 4-1-4-1 formation more familiar with Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola and Tuchel were Bundesliga rivals (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)
Tuchel has been repeatedly linked with Premier League clubs (
Image:
Borussia Dortmund/Getty Images)

His stock in Britain is extremely high, probably less so than within Germany. The feeling is that his Dortmund side should have been doing more and that his tactical/personnel decisions were at times proving a hindrance rather than a help. However, when his side were 100 per cent 'at it' they're a match for anyone, as the Champions League double-header with Real Madrid proved.

One thing that certainly cannot be denied is his ability to develop young players; witness the rise of Julian Weigl and Dembele. That could help the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman and Jonjoe Kenny.

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