Brentford boss Thomas Frank leading contender to succeed Postecoglou

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been tipped to succeed Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked by the club today.

Postecoglou guided Spurs to their first European trophy in 41 years after beating Premier League rivals Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao, Spain, clinching a historic win.

Postecoglou presided over the club’s worst-ever Premier League campaign as they finished 17th, with their lowest-ever points tally after 22 losses.

Despite winning the Europa League and ending a 17-year trophy drought, Tottenham chief Daniel Levy have sacked the 59-year-old manager.

Now, according to Sky Sports News, Brentford boss Thomas Frank is the leading contender to succeed him and has a release clause in his contract, although negotiations are yet to take place with the Bees.

However, Sky Sports adds that there have been no approach yet from the Europa League winners, with other managers such as Fulham boss Marco Silva and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, both being admired by the London club.

Thomas Frank and Brentford celebrated a 2-1 win over Premier League champions Manchester City before the World Cup break in November(Image credit: getty Images)

Postecoglou parted ways with Spurs after two years, just a little over two weeks after he guided Spurs to a 1-0 Europa League final win over Manchester United to claim their first European trophy in 41 years

The Australian manager was sacked from Spurs after two years, just a little over two weeks after he guided Spurs to a 1-0 Europa League final win over Manchester United to claim their first European trophy in 41 years.

In September, Postecoglou boldly declared he “always wins things in his second season” – a claim he honored with his last game, following the club’s heroic starring in Bilbao against United – but that was not enough to keep his job.

Despite being sacked, winning the Europa League makes him only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

Spurs confirmed Postecoglou’s sacking shortly after 5 pm on Friday and cited the woeful domestic campaign as the reason for his exit.

A club statement read: “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.

Meanwhile, the 51-year-old manager who signed a five-year deal at Brentford until 2027 still has two years left on his contract, and a big buy-out clause was written into the deal when he signed his last deal in December 2022.

The Danish boss is one of the most highly-rated managers in the Premier League, and Brentford do not want to lose him.

Frank led the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2021, ending a 74-year exile from the top flight, and have since established the Bees as a top-flight club.