Frank has been tipped to replace PostecoglouFrank has been tipped to replace Postecoglou
Frank has been tipped to replace Postecoglou | AFP via Getty Images
Tottenham are said to be eyeing a Premier League boss after sacking Ange Postecoglou.
Tottenham are now looking for a new manager after deciding to sack Ange Postecogou just over two weeks after winning the Europa League. The title will was Spurs’ first silverware in 17 years and it came with qualification for next season’s Champions League, but a disastrous Premier League campaign has been enough for Postecoglou to lose his job.
A club statement on Friday read: “Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.
“Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month - an achievement that will live with us all forever. We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
“However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. 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.
“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.
“We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.”
Thomas Frank links
The search for a new boss could well lead Tottenham to Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who is viewed as the favourite for the role by most. Frank has been very consistent with a Bees side with a low budget, and there is a feeling that he is due a big opportunity.
But Frank has spoken in glowing terms about Brentford, showing just how tough it may be to prize him from the West London club. “It was a fantastic season," Frank told the Brentford website last week.
“We had the positive of finishing in the top 10. It was the smallest of margins from finishing ninth, if we had one more point or three more goals then we would have done that and equalled our best-ever Premier League position. We always wanted to thrive and try to be an asset to the Premier League, because if you only want to avoid relegation, only want to survive, it’s so negatively loaded.
“We are positive, we believe. If you have those two things, then anything is possible. Of course, then we need to back the nice wording with the hard work, the alignment, the strategy, the processes. If you merge all of that together, then it’s possible to do what we’ve done. All Brentford fans should be extremely proud of their club and what we have done over the last many years; it’s quite unique. I think we’re one of the best stories in England over the last five years."
Reserving special praise for the club’s owner, he added: “This season has shown that it is maybe even more competitive than it has ever been if I compare the four seasons we’ve been in the Premier League. We all know that budget matters, money matters. That’s a big part of your performance range or indicators.
“And we all know that we are among the lowest in the division, but the good thing is that strategy from top to bottom, alignment from top to bottom. We have top leadership in Matthew Benham, who is a fantastic owner and probably one of the best in the world, good and calm leadership from Phil Giles, Lee Dykes and Jon Varney; all of that is important.
“We’ve got a very good group of staff, a good group of players, and we are aligned in how we want to play, the principles we want to get into the players and how we want to develop people. All of that makes it possible for us to compete.”
Thinks change quickly in football, but Frank does not sound like a man ready to push for an exit this summer.
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