Thomas Frank ‘clashed with chairman over transfers’ before agreeing Tottenham move
Thomas Frank is on the verge of becoming the next head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, with the spotlight firmly fixed on how the Danish tactician will navigate working under Spurs chairman Daniel Levy — a figure well-known for his exacting standards and strong grip on club affairs. If confirmed, Frank would be the fifth permanent manager appointed by Levy since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in 2019, as Spurs seek to chart a new course following the conclusion of the Ange Postecoglou chapter.
Although Postecoglou’s final league position — 17th with 22 defeats — painted a bleak picture, he did manage to deliver the club’s long-awaited piece of silverware, ending a painful trophy drought. That achievement, while overshadowed by poor league form, raises the bar for Frank as he prepares to take on one of the Premier League’s most demanding roles. The expectation is clear: not only must he improve on Spurs’ domestic consistency, but he must also deliver on the European stage.
Frank, however, arrives with a growing reputation and the credentials to back it up. His tenure at Brentford has been widely lauded — transforming a modest club with a data-centric model into a competitive Premier League outfit. The Dane’s steady hand and tactical acumen have earned him plaudits, and many believe he’s now ready to take the leap from managing a mid-table side to leading a team with Champions League ambitions.
Yet, Frank’s managerial career hasn’t been without friction. Despite being praised for his collaborative work within Brentford’s analytics-driven system, his past reveals moments of conflict behind the scenes. During his time in charge of Danish side Brondby, Frank reportedly clashed with ownership. According to The Daily Mail, he had notable disagreements with chairman Jan Bech Andersen, especially after a change in ownership disrupted his first season.
That tension reached a breaking point in 2016, when it was discovered that Andersen had been anonymously criticizing Frank on an online forum. The revelation created a media storm in Denmark and ultimately led to Frank’s resignation in March of that year. Despite this rocky exit, he would soon find his way to Brentford, first as an assistant before being promoted to head coach after Dean Smith departed for Aston Villa.
Interestingly, there seems to be no lingering animosity between Frank and Andersen. Reflecting on Frank’s journey, Andersen told The Mail: “The transition from being a philosophy-driven youth coach to managing in the Premier League with limited resources is an extraordinary accomplishment. His ability to adapt and his pragmatic approach have been crucial to his success, and it’s fully deserved that he now gets a chance at a traditional club like Tottenham.”
As Frank prepares to take the reins in North London, he’ll be fully aware of the unforgiving nature of the job. Spurs have cycled through managers at a rapid pace in recent years, with none lasting more than a couple of seasons. Beyond the internal pressures and high expectations from the board, Frank will face a new test — managing domestic and European competitions simultaneously for the first time in his career.
Still, if his past is any indicator, Frank has the resilience, adaptability, and vision to make a mark. Now, it’s a matter of whether those qualities can thrive under the bright lights and scrutiny of Tottenham Hotspur.