The former Liverpool striker – who played under late Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello during his own England days – thinks the backroom staff for a national side should, like the players, be connected to the country.

He told FourFourTwo magazine: “International football is one country against the other.

“That should extend to the players, the doctor, the physio, the manager and the kit man.

“It’s our country against your country.

“If Gareth Southgate went to manage Germany and won the World Cup, what would we think as English people? It’s so weird!”

And Teddy Sheringham, who was a standout England player at Euro 96, believes the German is the wrong man for the job.

He said: “Tuchel just won’t have the same love for the country as Gareth or another English person would have had.

“The manager should be English.”

Another ex-player, John Barnes, warned the former Chelsea boss’ managerial style may not work with the England team.

He said: “I think he’s a very good manager but, from an English perspective, it would have been great to see an Englishman in charge.

“Tuchel’s very confrontational. English players don’t really like that – they’re used to having their egos massaged and he won’t do that.”

However, Shaun Wright-Phillips has no problem with the appointment.

He said: “If there was an English manager out there with the right credentials who was available, then fair enough, but I don’t think there was.

“Tuchel was available and his CV speaks for itself.

“If he comes in and gets the job done, it doesn’t matter where he’s from.”