Brentford have continued their policy of promoting from within as Keith Andrews has stepped up to become manager, replacing the departed Thomas Frank.
Frank – who succeeded Dean Smith as boss in 2018 having been his assistant – has left for Tottenham after they sacked Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian leading them to Europa League glory, their first trophy since 2008.
Former Brentford first-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane was seen as the front-runner to replace Frank but after he followed the Dane to Spurs, the Bees have turned to former Ireland international Andrews on a three-year contract.
“I’m very appreciative of the owner (Matthew Benham), the board and the staff that have supported this decision,” Andrews said. “It’s an opportunity I feel I’m very capable of doing and ready to do.
“I don’t know where to start in terms of what’s exciting me because there’s so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.”
This is Andrews’s first managerial role having served as the club’s set-piece coach for one season. The 44-year-old made 35 appearances for Ireland during a playing career that included spells with the likes of Wolves, MK Dons, Blackburn and Brighton before becoming assistant manager with the MK Dons in 2015 and then joining the Ireland Under-21 set-up as assistant coach to Stephen Kenny.
He later joined Kenny in the senior set-up from 2020 to 2023 before working alongside Chris Wilder at Sheffield United and then getting his role with the Bees.
Brentford director of football Phil Giles described Andrews as “a very good fit” for the job, saying: “He gets on with everyone, he’s very open and he’s a learner.
“Keith is clear in what he wants, he’s detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him. He understands the players in the building and the way we’ve played and trained under Thomas Frank.
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“Keith will bring his own evolution but isn’t starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress. He’s a very good coach and has clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. We were looking for somebody not just to maintain what we’ve been doing but actually try and get better.”
Frank left Brentford after seven years and the Bees had considered a number of other replacements, including Kieran McKenna after Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League. However, Brentford believe the 39-year-old has bigger aspirations within the Premier League and while the likes of Francesco Farioli, Kjetil Knutsen and Edin Terzic were also linked, they have opted for continuity with Frank.
The Bees face a potentially disrupted summer with No 1 goalkeeper Mark Flekken having moved to Bayer Leverkusen, Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard seemingly heading to Arsenal, last season’s top scorer Bryan Mbeumo being the subject of a £60m bid from Man United and Yoane Wissa heavily linked with a move away.
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