Tottenham Hotspur have named Brentford manager Thomas Frank as their new head coach, signing the 51-year-old Dane on a contract that runs until 2028.
Frank succeeds Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed earlier this month despite guiding Spurs to Europa League glory in May, ending the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.
After seven successful years at Brentford, where he led the club from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021, Frank now becomes Tottenham’s fourth permanent manager since June 2021.
Despite Spurs enduring a difficult Premier League campaign — finishing 17th with 22 defeats and ending seven places and 18 points behind Frank’s Brentford — their Europa League triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao secured Champions League football for next season.
Frank will be joined at Spurs by Justin Cochrane, who arrives as assistant coach despite Brentford’s attempts to retain the England youth coach.
The new coaching setup also includes head of performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton, both of whom worked under Frank at Brentford, along with assistant Andreas Georgson, who joins from Manchester United.
Brentford issued a statement thanking Frank for his immense contribution to the club’s history.
Bees director of football Phil Giles praised Frank’s “wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence,” crediting him for helping shape Brentford’s rise from the Championship to an established Premier League side.
“He forged a special connection with our fans, developed and improved players, and was instrumental in creating the culture that has allowed Brentford to grow stronger every year,” Giles said. “We will never forget Thomas, but now it’s time for the next chapter.”
Frank’s Journey with Brentford
Frank initially joined Brentford as an assistant in 2016 before stepping up as head coach in October 2018 following Dean Smith’s departure. His first full season saw Brentford reach the Championship play-off final in 2020, narrowly losing to Fulham.
The following year, they bounced back to defeat Swansea City in the play-off final, ending an 86-year absence from top-flight football.
Under Frank’s leadership, Brentford secured 13th, 9th, 16th, and 10th-place finishes in the Premier League, establishing themselves as one of the league’s most competitive mid-table sides. Last season, their 66 Premier League goals ranked joint fifth-highest in the division.
In total, Frank managed 152 Premier League games for Brentford, winning 54, losing 60, and collecting 200 points from a possible 456.
A Change of Style at Tottenham?
Postecoglou’s aggressive high line and open attacking approach sharply divided opinion among Tottenham fans, particularly as it was largely abandoned during their successful Europa League run.
Frank, meanwhile, brings a data-driven and more pragmatic philosophy. He has previously stated his preference against speculative long-range shots.
Last season, only 23% of Brentford’s shots came from outside the box — the lowest in the Premier League — compared to Spurs’ 28%.
Brentford’s playing style under Frank also saw a heavy focus on crossing and aerial duels. The Bees attempted 675 crosses last season, while Tottenham delivered 752.
However, Brentford dominated the aerial battle, recording a league-high 1,210 aerial duels compared to Spurs’ 872.
Frank may look to bring greater precision in wide areas and increased physical presence in the air, while also maintaining discipline — Brentford committed far fewer fouls than Spurs in recent seasons, with only Manchester City conceding fewer fouls than the Bees last year.
With Champions League football returning to north London, Spurs now enter a new era under Frank’s leadership, hoping his measured approach will bring stability and sustained success.
