PSG confirm Tuchel as new coach

‘I can’t wait to start working with these great players’

PARIS, May 14, (AFP): Thomas Tuchel has been appointed as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal, the French champions confirmed on Monday.

The 44-year-old German has agreed to succeed Unai Emery, who will leave the Qatar-owned side after the final game of the French season this weekend.

"It is with much joy, pride and ambition that I am joining this big club," said Tuchel in a statement released by PSG.

"I can't wait to start working with all these great players who are all amongst the best in the world.

"Paris Saint-Germain has enormous potential and it is by far the most exciting proposition in football."

According to French sports daily L'Equipe, Tuchel was recommended directly to Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani by the Qatari consul in Germany.

At one point linked to Arsenal before Arsene Wenger announced he would be leaving the Premier League club, Tuchel will begin his new role in early July with the start of pre-season training.

It was an open secret that Tuchel had been lined up as the next coach of the ambitious club from the French capital.

They had been on the look-out for a replacement for Emery since being beaten 5-2 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in March.

That disappointment in Europe, following

Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar poses with his trophy after receiving the Best Ligue 1 Player award during a TV show on May 13, in Paris, as part of the 27th edition of the UNFP (French National Professional Football players

Union) trophy ceremony. (AFP)

a humiliating loss against Barcelona at the same stage a year ago, meant there was no chance of Emery's two-year contract being renewed at the end of this campaign.

Emery has nevertheless just overseen a clean sweep of the domestic honours in France this season, after winning the French Cup, League Cup and season-opening Champions Trophy in his first campaign.

Tuchel was a free agent after leaving Borussia Dortmund a year ago, despite leading the team to victory in last season's