Thomas Frank has been dismissed by Tottenham after nearly eight months in charge, following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle on Tuesday.
Currently, Spurs find themselves in 16th place in the Premier League, only five points clear of the relegation zone, amid a string of poor performances.
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The north London club has gone eight Premier League games without a win—their longest winless streak since October 2008.
They have secured just two victories in their last 17 league outings, accumulating a mere 12 points during that stretch.
Tottenham expressed that they were “determined to give Frank the time and support needed to build for the future together,” but felt “a change at this point is necessary” based on recent results.
Frank became head coach in June after the departure of Ange Postecoglou and signed a contract until 2028, but was unable to significantly enhance the club’s league performance, despite achieving good results in European competitions.
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Frank led Spurs to automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stage, finishing fourth in their group, despite a mixed Premier League record of seven wins, eight draws, and 11 losses this season.
However, the team was eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup fourth round and to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round.
“During his time with the club, Thomas showed unwavering commitment, putting in tremendous effort to move the club forward,” Tottenham stated. “We thank him for his contributions and wish him success in the future.”
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Injuries and results lead to Frank’s departure
Despite the setback against Newcastle, Frank anticipated remaining in charge for the north London derby against Arsenal on February 22.
When asked by TNT Sports whether his job was at risk, Frank replied, “I spoke to [the owners] yesterday, so no. I understand the frustration, and it’s easy to point fingers at me. That’s part of the job, unfortunately. I will work tirelessly to turn this around, but it’s not solely on one person. We definitely need to improve, and I have to be part of that.”
Following defeats at home against Newcastle and struggling West Ham, Spurs were met with loud boos from their supporters.
Fans even chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” during the loss to West Ham and the subsequent 2-2 draw at Burnley.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust welcomed the news of Frank’s dismissal but cautioned that his exit alone wouldn’t rectify the club’s issues. They emphasized, “The immediate priority must be finding a manager who can lift the team out of the relegation battle we currently face. However, merely changing managers will not solve our problems; ambition and strong leadership must follow.” They called for the next appointment to establish stability and a clear footballing identity, supported by adequate resources for success.
After a draw against Manchester City in early February—when the Spurs were booed off at halftime while down 2-0—team captain Cristian Romero criticized the board, stating it was “disgraceful” that the squad consisted of only 11 fit senior players for the match. His own performance led to a straight red card in the following fixture against Manchester United.
Despite winning five, drawing two, and suffering just one loss in their eight Champions League group-stage matches—losing only to holders Paris St-Germain—their Premier League form has been disappointing since November, including a heavy defeat by Arsenal and a troubling loss to Nottingham Forest.
Last month, Frank expressed his belief that he was trusted by the board, but sources indicate he faced considerable internal scrutiny, and at least one executive had suggested the possibility of a change in management.
Under Frank, Tottenham secured just 10 league points at home but performed better on the road, earning 19 points from 13 away matches.
Starting with four league victories, including wins against Burnley, Manchester City, and West Ham, as well as a Champions League win over Villarreal, the team struggled to maintain momentum, and Frank’s style ultimately failed to win over the fans.
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Before joining Tottenham, Frank spent seven years managing Brentford, leading the team from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021.
Keith Andrews, Brentford’s current manager and Frank’s former set-piece coach, expressed his hope for Frank’s bright future. “I felt sadness for him today. I hope he’s okay, which I believe he will be, but it’s certainly a tough day for him,” Andrews said. “He will bounce back; he has shown that he is a capable Premier League manager.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also expressed sympathy towards Frank: “Thomas is an excellent coach and a remarkable person. He has demonstrated his capabilities in the Premier League. Our responsibility extends beyond just performance; results ultimately determine what happens. I wish him all the best for his future endeavors.”
Analysis – Tottenham had no other choice
In recent weeks, it became apparent that Thomas Frank’s time was winding down, despite the club’s leadership remaining committed to providing him with the support needed to turn things around.
Ultimately, they concluded that Frank’s continued management posed a greater risk of further decline rather than improvement.
Tottenham wanted this appointment to succeed and believed in Frank’s potential, yet the mounting pressure from fans and lackluster performances made it impossible for the club to delay taking action.
Appointing an interim manager until the season’s end seems prudent, given the potential shift in the managerial landscape this summer.
The most notable possibility is the return of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has openly stated his desire to come back. Fans have expressed their support for his return, creating what appears to be a perfect match. However, Spurs are likely to wait until after the World Cup to make such an appointment.
If it isn’t Pochettino, there are other candidates available, including Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, and Marco Silva, while the dynamics may also favor World Cup coaches Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Julian Nagelsmann.
For now, Tottenham aims to have Frank’s immediate replacement in place before players return to training on Monday.
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