Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday hired Brentford’s Thomas Frank as their new head coach, as the Dane replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou.
Frank agreed a three-year contract with Spurs and becomes the north London club’s fourth permanent head coach since June 2021.
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Thomas Frank as our new head coach on a contract that runs until 2028,” a club statement said. “In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.”
Photo: Reuters
Tottenham set their sights on Frank after chairman Daniel Levy axed Postecoglou last week, just 16 days after he won the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
Frank is the 14th permanent manager of Levy’s 24-year tenure.
Levy made an official approach to Brentford earlier this week, with the deal concluded after Spurs agreed to allow the Dane to hire his Bees assistant coach Justin Cochrane.
Frank’s Brentford contract was set to run until 2027, with a reported release clause of ￡10 million (US$13.6 million).
The 51-year-old led Brentford back to the top flight in 2020-2021 after an absence of 74 years and has established the west London club in the Premier League.
Now he will be tasked with lifting Spurs back among the Premier League’s elite.
Tottenham are to play in the UEFA Champions League next season thanks to their Europa League success in Bilbao, Spain, where they beat Manchester United 1-0.
Tottenham’s first European trophy for 41 years was delivered on Postecoglou’s boast that he always wins silverware in his second season, but the Australian paid the price for a miserable Premier League season as Spurs finished 17th.
Tottenham finished seven places and 18 points below Frank’s Brentford.
While Postecoglou was criticized for an overly attacking game for much of his two-season reign, Frank has been credited with a tactically flexible approach and a deft man-management style.
Frank will also bring head of performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton with him from Brentford, while another assistant coach, Andreas Georgson, arrives from Manchester United.
Georgson spent a year at Brentford as a set-piece coach, while Tottenham’s technical director Johan Lange worked with Frank at Lyngby in Denmark.
Brentford director of football Phil Giles saluted Frank’s role in his club’s remarkable rise.
“From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build, and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club, but it’s not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength,” Giles said.
Frank is to lead Spurs for the first time competitively on Aug. 13 in the UEFA Super Cup against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
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