​In 2015, Anthony Barry was a lower-league footballer at Accrington Stanley, nearing the end of his playing career and taking his first steps as a coach with the club’s Under-16 side.Eleven years on, he will sit alongside Thomas Tuchel as England attempt to reach a first men’s World Cup final since 1966 when they face Argentina on Wednesday (kick-off 20:00 BST).AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBarry has become a recognisable figure during this tournament thanks to his no-nonsense half-time television interviews during England’s matches.At 40 years old, he already has a wide-ranging CV as an elite coach with prior experience at Chelsea, Bayern Munich and with the Portugal and Belgium national teams.His journey to this point is one of the most remarkable rises in football.The Liverpool-born coach describes himself as the yin to Tuchel’s yang and acknowledges their partnership can “look a bit strange at times” because of their difference in height and background.The England assistant is quick to make clear that Tuchel is the boss – and pokes fun at their “little and large” frames, with the German about eight inches taller.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFootball Daily: Anthony Barry on Thomas Tuchel and the World CupBarry’s playing career path is not one that will be very recognisable to many of those in the England squad, with former midfielder spending most of his time in the lower leagues.He was part of the Accrington Stanley side 20 years ago that won the Conference to return to the Football League for the first time in 44 years.Barry was reminded of that anniversary while speaking to 5 Live Sport.”In shock at the question because, 20 years ago, was I really winning the league for Accrington Stanley?” he said.Barry’s first coaching job after retiring as a player was as assistant manager at Wigan Athletic. But, after impressing Frank Lampard on the Uefa Pro Licence course, he became first-team coach at Chelsea in the summer of 2020.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTuchel replaced Lampard when the former England midfielder was sacked in January 2021, but the German retained Barry. Within months Chelsea had won the Champions League.During that time Barry had also spread his wings into international football – working as an assistant coach with the Republic of Ireland before taking the same role under Roberto Martinez – first with Belgium, then Portugal.That allowed him to coach at a World Cup and European Championship, while also working with global greats including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kevin de Bruyne.Known as an innovative and enthusiastic coach, Barry also specialises in set-pieces and he wrote a dissertation as part of his Pro Licence for which he analysed 17,000 throw-ins.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBarry was reunited with Tuchel when the German took him to Bayern Munich in 2023.”As a young English coach, it’s a gift to be around a manager like him,” he said.”He is, in my opinion, absolutely world class, and right