Tottenham set to replace Postecoglou with Brentford boss Frank

Just two weeks after lifting the Europa League, Australian coach Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his duties as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

A 1-0 win over English rivals Manchester United in Bilbao saw Spurs clinch their first major trophy since 2008, but this feat was not enough for Postecoglou to keep his job.

Spurs’ 4-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on the final day of the season was their 22nd of the campaign, with the North London outfit posting their worst-ever Premier League finish to date.

In a club statement, Spurs clarified that the club felt a change in management was necessary after a “review of performances.”

The fallout from Postecoglou’s sacking initiates a major summer for both Tottenham and Brentford

“Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph,” the statement continued.

Following the sacking, Spurs worked quickly to identify Postecoglou’s successor. It took just four days for famed football journalist Fabrizio Romano to confirm that an agreement had been reached with fellow Londoners Brentford for Danish gaffer Thomas Frank to take over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Other Premier League coaches, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, had all been tipped to be in the running, but the club’s ownership ultimately opted for the impressive Dane.

Frank becomes Spurs’ fifth permanent manager in just over four years, since Portuguese legend José Mourinho was dismissed just days before the club’s doomed Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Some fans worry Levy’s decision has surrendered the chance of further silverware in the near future

Upon the announcement, a noticeable number of Spurs fans took to social media to voice their grievances towards club chairman Daniel Levy. After all, the Greek-born Australian coach finally ended Spurs’ barren, trophyless run, and some fans worry Levy’s decision has surrendered the chance of further silverware in the near future.

Now that Postecoglou is gone, attention turns to his successor. Frank is a proven top-flight manager, leading Premier League first-timers Brentford to four consecutive comfortable campaigns since their promotion in the 2020/21 season.

With the club’s comparatively limited financial resources, the Bees were heavily tipped to be relegated at the first time of asking. Such relegation is still yet to materialise, and Spurs fans will hope Frank can continue to reproduce his magic at his new club.

The Dane is famed for developing players already at his disposal. The likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Nørgaard, who starred for Brentford in the Sky Bet Championship, are still among the club’s top performers in the Premier League.

The fallout from Postecoglou’s sacking initiates a major summer for both Tottenham and Brentford

For Brentford, Frank’s departure inaugurates their most awkward challenge since their promotion to the top-flight. The club are set to receive a substantial compensation fee of £10 million for their manager, they must get Frank’s successor spot on. With the likes of Mbeumo also rumoured to be departing, the club will do very well to match this campaign’s tenth-placed league finish.

It is Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna who it touted to replace the departing Dane, but the Northern Irishman’s rumoured appointment would bring another layer of uncertainty.

While McKenna worked wonders to earn the club two successive promotions from League One to the Premier League, the Tractor Boys were relegated with a whimper after splashing a whopping £120 million on new recruits.

The fallout from Postecoglou’s sacking initiates a major summer for both Tottenham and Brentford. Both clubs must get their next moves right, or last season’s successes will very much be a thing of the past.