Thomas Tuchel taking the England job has led Thiago Silva to show what the former Chelsea head coach means to him.
Silva, 40, left the Blues this summer and now plays for Fluminense back home in Brazil. However, he played more matches for Tuchel than any other coach, making 144 appearances at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain with him on the touchline.
They spent five seasons together, with only Mainz stalwarts Nikolcee Noveski and Elkin Soto, plus Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, used more often by Tuchel during his coaching career. During that time, their teams won nine trophies, highlighted by the Champions League with the Blues a year after being beaten by Bayern Munich in the previous year’s final. 
Following the announcement that Tuchel will return to football in the new year, Silva’s wife, Belle, shared a signed photo of Silva and Tuchel embracing after reaching the semi-finals with PSG on her Instagram story. “Very happy for you, Mister, and I wish you all the success in this new challenge,” the accompanying words read. Silva then shared the post on his story, adding: “I love you Mister.”
Reflecting on their time together in France after Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in charge at Stamford Bridge, Silva said in February 2021: “It was a really unique week for me, different to anything I’ve previously experienced, because when managers have changed before, the incoming coach has never been someone I’ve already worked with, who I already have such a good relationship with.
“I had two unbelievable years with Thomas Tuchel in Paris, including getting to the final of the Champions League. That was a really great year for everyone at PSG.
“So it’s a special moment for me with his arrival here. Before it’s always been new managers who I’ve not worked with before.”
