New England boss Thomas Tuchel has made a bold selection to help improve England’s chances in the 2026 World Cup: Anthony Barry. This selection continues the strong professional relationship he and Barry Anthony Willis have shared across teams like Chelsea and Bayern Munich. For English football, though, it begged one very important question: who is Anthony Barry, and how will his expertise and experience help the team?
From Lower Leagues to Coaching Elite Players
38-year-old Liverpool-born Barry was never much of a footballer. Having graduated through the academy at Everton, he made his way onto teams like Yeovil Town, Fleetwood Town, and Accrington Stanley in the lower leagues in England. Unfortunately, His playing days were cut short by injuries, though rather bizarrely, they accelerated his passion for coaching—a path he very quickly took. I knew right from my first session with Accrington Stanley’s U16s that this was what I was called to do,” Barry said in a recent interview. His early days as a coach were marked by resourcefulness, minimal equipment, and a third of a pitch, but he fell in love with the process.
It was when Paul Cook appointed him to the Wigan Athletic backroom staff in 2017 that Barry’s coaching career actually took flight. In truth, this was the actual beginning of what would become his meteoric rise. By their time at Wigan, Barry had made a name as a diligent, hardworking, detail-conscious coach, eventually catching the attention of prominent footballing figures such as Frank Lampard. Lampard would later take Barry to Chelsea, and that proved to be the turning point when he got introduced to the biggest stages in English football. It was a reward for the innovative set-piece tactics and tireless work rate at Chelsea, and players and management certainly sat up and took note.
Anthony Barry Bayern to Anthony Barry Portugal
In brief, Anthony Barry’s coaching career has been quite eventful. After coaching in Wigan, Barry moved to Chelsea to work under Frank Lampard; then, he became an indispensable part of Tuchel’s staff. His presence had been very important during Chelsea’s triumphant season, 2020-2021, the time when they won the UEFA Champions League. This was a remarkable moment for Barry, as Tuchel attributed his different approach to set-piece coaching to himself. “His work with set pieces was completely new for me,” said Tuchel.
Meanwhile, Anthony Barry continued his overseas experience in international coaching with the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, and Portugal. He has been an assistant to Roberto Martinez first at Belgium and now Portugal, which extended his tactical work. With the Portuguese national team, he worked with international superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, giving him insight into elite football. The spell in Portugal sealed his reputation, especially concerning the organization of defense and also the way set-pieces are prepared.
Barry Anthony Willis Specialties and Successes
Barry Anthony Willis has earned a reputation for being one of the most renowned set-piece coaches, but his ability is far more profound than this. He is known to be very methodical, studying and working out many out-of-the-box strategies based on detailed data about various phases of the game. As a matter of fact, Barry’s work in this regard originated when he went through a painstaking study of 16,380 throw-ins from a season in the Premier League- a thesis that earned him widespread respect from fellow coaches. His data-driven approach means he can exploit tactical advantages during matches that could prove priceless to an England team looking to win the title in the next international tournaments.
To that effect, Anthony Barry has proved capable of being very adaptable and able to work with some of the biggest names in world football. Herein, his rapport with top players, such as Harry Kane, for example, draws praise from all quarters; Barry offers, “Harry is a dream to work with. He has an understanding of his game second to no other.” This ability to connect with top-flight athletes while retaining the firm discipline of coaching is one of the strong attributes of Barry himself.
The Former Ireland Manager’s Solid Bond with Tuchel
The most intriguing dynamic of Anthony Barry’s career to date is, in fact, the one which he has been able to establish with Thomas Tuchel. Having first worked together at Chelsea, their working relationship is particularly close and based on mutual respect. When Tuchel made the switch to Bayern Munich, he wasted little time in bringing Barry in, an action that certainly speaks volumes about the regard the German head coach holds his opinions and tactical dependency on Anthony Barry. We drive each other to get better,” Barry Anthony Willis once said of their relationship. The trust and openness defining their professional partnership have endured through promotions and changes in the country.
Appointing Anthony Barry as his assistant with England was a no-brainer for Tuchel. Already, the duo has shared success at Chelsea and Bayern, and they now seek this same formula with the Three Lions. The England job marks their third collaboration, and both men wait with bated breath to see what their partnership can yield in terms of success for the national side. “Anthony Barry Bayern,” as he was referred to in Germany, is a name now set to become common at St. George’s Park.
Could Be a Smart Move for England?
The hiring of Anthony Barry alongside him, though, suggests the FA are as interested in developing homegrown coaching talent as it is in tactical innovation. The appointment of Tuchel had certainly raised some eyebrows – only the third non-Englishman to take charge of the national team for the first time since Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006. Barry’s inclusion has eased, to an extent, English anxiety over the absence of home representation.
This brings an insider’s view of knowing English football and international expertise into the mix. We’re delighted to have appointed Anthony Barry as his No 2,” said FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham. “He’s a really talented young coach, and we believe this is the best way to maximize our chances of winning the World Cup.
With his deep understanding of the culture inside English football and also mastery of set pieces, Barry might just give England that slight edge in tight games. With the raw talents at his disposal, including Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, he could be the missing key to unlocking rigid defenses in tournament play. Besides, from his past experiences with Ireland and Portugal, he would be familiar with the challenges thrown up by international football.
Anthony Barry’s Vision for the Future of England’s Team
It’s really the culmination of everything for Anthony Barry thus far in his career, having managed and experienced with some of the world’s finest players and coaches, finding himself in a position where he can help guide his home country to potential glory. “To any Englishman, the chance to work with the national team is the crowning jewel of the job,” Barry said. His history suggests that he will come at the challenge with the same meticulous, data-driven approach that has borne fruit everywhere else he has been.
England will, thus, be pinning their hopes on Barry’s set-piece acumen, tactical brilliance, and camaraderie with the players for taking the team to its next level. Considering how talented this squad is, all eyes are on how far Barry and Tuchel will mold them into winners as the 2026 World Cup draws near.
Anthony Barry will undoubtedly continue to play an even more critical role over the next few years. His well-known experience in club and international football, combined with his partnership with Tuchel, will make him very important in the English setup’s quest to finally bring football’s most coveted trophy back home.
