In a significant move, Tottenham Hotspur has officially appointed Thomas Frank as their new head coach, poaching him from Brentford where he had established a strong reputation.
The announcement was made by Spurs on Thursday.
According to ESPN, Spurs were eager to secure Frank, 51, as the successor to Ange Postecoglou, who was also considered alongside Marco Silva of Fulham and Andoni Iraola from Bournemouth.
Postecoglou’s departure came just 16 days following his success in clinching the Europa League title, ending a lengthy 17-year trophy drought with a narrow 1-0 victory against Manchester United in Bilbao.
“With Thomas, we are bringing one of the game’s most forward-thinking and innovative coaches on board,” the club stated. “His proven expertise in player and squad development positions us well for the upcoming season.”
While Postecoglou celebrated Europa League success, his tenure was marred by a dismal Premier League run, where Tottenham narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 17th with 22 losses—their worst performance since the 1977 relegation.
Frank now heads east across London after a fruitful seven years at Brentford, where he led the team to Championship promotion in 2021 by defeating Swansea City in the playoff final.
During Frank’s leadership, Brentford emerged as a solid Premier League contender known for their high-paced, progressive playing style. Over four seasons under his management, they finished 13th, 9th, 16th, and 10th, with last season witnessing them score 66 goals, ranking them among the league’s top scorers.
Frank is recognized for his adept use of player analytics, successfully identifying hidden talents that were later sold for substantial profits, including Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney, Saïd Benrahma, and goalkeeper David Raya.
Despite losing key players, Brentford under Frank remained competitive in the Premier League, even contending for European spots last season.
Forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, who collectively netted 39 goals last season, could become transfer targets for Spurs this off-season.
Known for his meticulous approach, Frank’s Brentford side frequently scored within the opening minute of matches, showcasing their aggressive kickoff strategies. “We adapt our approach each game, focusing on a proactive mindset,” Frank noted previously.
Taking the reins at Tottenham presents a new set of challenges for Frank, who must quickly gain the trust of fans still reminiscing about Postecoglou’s trophy-winning efforts, which many believe warranted an extended tenure.
Joining Frank in this new chapter at Spurs will be Brentford’s assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam, and first-team analyst Joe Newton, alongside Andreas Georgson from Manchester United.
This report incorporates information from Reuters.