Thomas Frank has been confirmed as Tottenham’s new head coach on a three-year contract.
Frank is moving across London after nine years at Brentford to succeed Ange Postecoglou, sacked last Friday, 16 days after his team won the Europa League.
‘In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game,’ said a Spurs spokesman. ‘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.’
Brentford’s director of football Phil Giles issued heartfelt thanks to Frank for his impact on the club he led to promotion in 2021.
‘It has been a pleasure working alongside Thomas,’ said Giles. ‘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.
‘There have been so many special moments with Thomas and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal.
Tottenham on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Thomas Frank as their new head coach
Ange Postecoglou (above) was relieved of his duties at Tottenham by Daniel Levy last Friday
Talks progressed quickly and Frank has been appointed within a week of the Australian’s exit
‘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.
‘However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact.
‘We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential.’
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy had identified 51-year-old Frank as the man he wanted before sacking Postecoglou last Friday and has spent most of this week negotiating compensation for Brentford for him and several of his coaching staff.
Justin Cochrane will join Frank at Spurs although Brentford tried their utmost to keep him the 43-year-old, who spent nine years coaching career in Tottenham’s academy.
Cochrane, who joined the Bees three years ago from Manchester United is on Thomas Tuchel’s England staff and so highly rated that Brentford considered him among the candidates for the head coach role.
Also moving across London from the Getch Community Stadium are fitness coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton. Andreas Georgson will join the coaching team from Manchester United.
Postecoglou’s assistant coaches Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo have all left Spurs with Matt Wells and goalkeeping coach Rob Burch remaining.
Frank guided Brentford to the Premier League in 2021 and they haven’t looked back since
Postecoglou was sacked despite winning Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years – the Europa League
Postecoglou’s success in delivering silverware, which he promised he would, means that the Dane will take charge of Tottenham in the Champions League, and he will want a squad that is able to compete at the top level.
Reports had claimed Tottenham were looking to hijack Manchester United’s push to sign Frank’s golden boy Bryan Mbeumo from his now former club.
However, sources have disclosed that Spurs are ‘highly unlikely’ to enter the race for the forward, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last term.
Last month, Mail Sport’s Oliver Holt played a couple of sets of padel at Brentford’s Osterley facility with Frank and assistant first-team coach Kevin O’Connor.
During their day together, Frank explained what it takes to build a successful culture at a football club – like he has at Brentford and continue to improve it one step after another.
‘We stand on the shoulders of others,’ Frank told Mail Sport in an interview last month. ‘And we build on foundations they have built for us. We need to acknowledge that every single time.
‘It’s all about the ego. So how fragile is it or how big is it? Some people need reassurance all the time and to say, ‘The reason I’m so good is because of me and has nothing to do with these top players and good staff’. It depends who you are.
‘So you need to believe in your own skill set, but be humble enough to know there’s a lot of hard work and you’re not the only one and all that. So I’m confident in myself and what I’m capable of doing. Also humble enough to know I can do nothing alone. No one can.
‘Look, if you ask whether I’m tough, I think I’m extremely resilient. And I think we’ve all got a dark side. I’ve got five per cent dark side in me. Even my wife says that.
‘You need that dark side, to have an edge and I have an edge. I’m extremely competitive, very determined, and you don’t survive in this business if you’re not tough.’
