Thomas Frank Set To Take Over As Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach.
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to appoint Thomas Frank as their new head coach, marking a significant shift for the north London club following the departure of Ange Postecoglou. The deal, confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, will see Brentford release their highly regarded manager for a compensation fee in the region of £10 million.
Frank, 51, has been at the helm of Brentford since October 2018, guiding the club from the Championship to an established Premier League side. His tenure saw the Bees secure promotion in 2021 and achieve respectable finishes of 13th, 9th, 16th, and 10th in their four seasons in the top flight. The Dane’s tactical flexibility, ability to develop talent, and knack for upsetting bigger clubs—such as memorable victories over Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City—have made him a standout candidate for the Spurs job.
The agreement includes not only Frank but also several members of his backroom staff, with reports suggesting up to five assistants could follow him to Tottenham. Among them are likely to be Justin Cochrane, Claus Nørgaard, Keith Andrews, Manu Sotelo, and fitness coach Tom Perryman, who have been integral to Brentford’s success. This move signals a near-complete overhaul of Postecoglou’s coaching team, with only Matt Wells and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch expected to remain from the previous setup.
Postecoglou’s sacking came as a shock to many, given he ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League just 16 days prior. However, a dismal Premier League campaign, with Spurs finishing 17th after losing 22 of 38 matches, prompted chairman Daniel Levy to make a change. Frank’s appointment is seen as a strategic move, aligning with Spurs’ shift under technical director Johan Lange to focus on developing young talent, such as Archie Gray and Brennan Johnson, both of whom Frank previously targeted for Brentford.
Negotiations between Tottenham and Brentford have progressed swiftly, with both clubs maintaining a healthy relationship. The £10m release clause in Frank’s contract, which runs until 2027, is expected to be met, though discussions continue regarding the compensation for his backroom staff. There is optimism that the deal will be finalised before the weekend, potentially allowing Frank to take charge ahead of Spurs’ preparations for the 2025/26 season, which includes a Champions League campaign.
Frank’s arrival could also spark transfer activity, with speculation that he may push to bring Brentford stars Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to north London, though Manchester United are also in the race for Mbeumo. His tactical approach, which blends a 4-3-3 with adaptability to formations like 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1, is expected to suit Spurs’ youthful squad, though his lack of experience in major European competitions may pose a challenge.
Tottenham fans, still reeling from Postecoglou’s exit, have expressed mixed feelings. Some see Frank as a shrewd appointment, with former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara praising the potential move and suggesting it could lead to exciting signings like Mbeumo. Others, however, remain emotionally tied to Postecoglou, who was popular in the dressing room, with players like Pedro Porro and James Maddison publicly backing him.
As Spurs prepare for a new chapter under Frank, the focus will be on whether the Dane can build on the club’s recent Europa League success and restore their Premier League fortunes. With Levy and new chief executive Vinai Venkatesham backing the move, all eyes will be on how Frank navigates the high expectations at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.