Football | Thomas Frank apppointed Tottenham head coach

How will this impact two of London’s Premier League clubs?

Tottenham have appointed Brentford boss Thomas Frank as their head coach on a deal until 2028.

Author | Greg S

Frank replaces Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked earlier this month despite leading Spurs to victory in the Europa League final in May.

He spent seven years in charge of Brentford, guiding the club from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021 and becomes Tottenham's fourth permanent manager in the last four years. 

Spurs endured a dismal domestic campaign last season, finishing 17th and losing 22 of their 38 league matches.  Yet their European triumph in Bilbao, where they defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final, secured Champions League qualification and delivered the club’s first major silverware in 17 years.

READ MORE | Spurs fans respond to Europa League final success.

Frank will arrive North London with a big reputation and a fanbase (and owner) that demands success. Even the best managers (Mourinho and Conte) have struggled there. 

Who else is hearing to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Justin Cochrane is set to link up with Thomas Frank at Tottenham as assistant coach, despite Brentford's attempts to retain the highly regarded England youth coach.

Frank has also added Chris Haslam, his former's club's head of performance, and first-team analyst Joe Newton to his backroom team. 

The Brentford reaction

Frank joined Brentford in 2016 and became head coach in 2018. After play-off heartbreak in 2020, he led the club to Premier League promotion the following year, ending an 86-year wait for top-flight football.

In a statement published on the club's website, Bees Director of Football Phil Giles added: "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."

Paul, a Brentford fan, is sad to see a hero leave the club: "He established a strong bond with our fans, aided in player development, and played a key role in fostering the culture that has led us to grow continually."

Another fan added: "Now it is time to express our gratitude and for the club to embark on the next chapter of its journey with a new leader who we believe can achieve similar success and influence. Hopefully, we can even win a major trophy, just like Crystal Palace."