This marks the end of Thomas Frank’s reign as Tottenham Hotspur manager.
After Spurs lost 2-1 to Newcastle United on Tuesday night, the Dane said he was “1000 per cent” in charge once the north London derby started.
Well, about 12 hours later, confirmation came that he had been fired and sent on his way after a pretty harrowing time at N17.
Frank left Lilywhite as one of the worst managers in history. That’s a fact. His winning percentage in all competitions is 34.2%, which ranks him at the bottom of all permanent Spurs managers.
Manager win rate with Spurs in PL | |
|---|---|
1) antonio conte | 57% |
2) Mauricio Pochettino | 56% |
3) Nuno Santo | 50% |
4) Jose Mourinho | 47% |
5) Ange Postecoglou | 41% |
6) thomas frank | 27% |
ENIC therefore had little choice but to relieve him of his duties. They sit just five points above the relegation zone and need to change before they fall into a deeper crisis.
Who could replace Frank at Spurs?
The current job market is not full of options. That means Spurs could well turn their attention to interim options before settling on a permanent option in the summer.
Ryan Mason, who was sacked by West Brom a few weeks ago, is reportedly an option, while John Heitinga, who was part of Frank’s coaching staff, could be given a job until the end of the season.
As for his permanent successor, Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille in the last 24 hours, is now a free agent. Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola have also been touted in recent months, but will not leave until the end of the season.
It’s the same problem Tottenham are facing with manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose name was sung by supporters inside the stadium on Tuesday night.
According to The Independent, he is an “ideal” target for the club as they seek to quickly resolve their management issues.
The newspaper says Spurs are considering a formal approach to bring the former PSG manager back to north London, with “informal” talks already underway.
However, he is currently the manager of the United States national team, and despite his obvious desire to return to the club, he has no intention of going anywhere until he leads the United States to victory at their home World Cup.
Why Pochettino is better than Glasner and Iraola
Well, here we go again. Spurs have been here many times over the years. They tried everything, but no one could take Londoners to the next level.
Salaries of all 20 Premier League managers
The income of each manager in the Premier League.
They used big-name players such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, but both ended in disappointment. They have also used established Premier League managers such as Nuno Santo and Thomas Frank. Ange Postecoglou’s use as a left-fielder won them the Europa League trophy, but they did badly domestically.
So what’s the answer? Well, there’s a sense that Glasner and Iraola, no matter how well-regarded they are in Premier League circles, are capable of failing to the same degree as Frank and Nuno.
The Crystal Palace manager may have orchestrated FA Cup success at Selhurst Park, but his very public falling out with Eagles owner Steve Parish is unlikely to fill many at Spurs with glee, given how the relationship has been governed to date.
There’s also De Zerbi, who is known for his attack-oriented, possession-based football, which will be desirable for Spurs supporters. He has performed brilliantly for Brighton and was at one point in contention with Marseille for the Ligue 1 title this season. It is believed that the Italian will one day manage one of the elite teams, but it is uncertain whether he will be able to revive a team that currently appears to be sinking.
However, Pochettino will be signing one of the few managers who have achieved something positive at Spurs. There’s romance in this move, of course there is, and there are some who say don’t go back, but Spurs know what they’re getting here. All other candidates, including De Zerbi, are a risk and this appointment cannot afford to set the Lilywhites back any further.
The Argentine has unfinished business at Tottenham. Tottenham have unfinished business with Poch. That Champions League final was one of Spurs’ greatest achievements in the modern era, and no one has come close to it since. He’s the guy they need to get, forget about everything else.
The truth is that Pochettino remains a truly elite manager, one who has not only proven he can lift Spurs up but also has a proven track record of nurturing young talent.
Dele Alli and Harry Kane both rose to stardom under the Argentine. Dele won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and Kane’s huge goal tally in a 4-2-3-1 system is well documented.
This certainly bodes well for the current Spurs squad, which has plenty of top talent available to Pochettino. Consider Archie Gray and Lukas Bergvall, Tuesday night’s goalscorers. Players like Luka Vuskovic could also soar to new heights under the 53-year-old’s wing.
This will be a romantic promise. Leave it to Vinay Venkatesham & Company.
Better than Pochettino: Spurs free to hire ‘one of the best players in the world’
Tottenham have finally sacked Thomas Frank after months of dismal performances and results.
