The chants were deafening as Tottenham fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle, frustration poured from the stands and the sense of inevitability hung heavy in the air. By Wednesday morning, Thomas Frank was gone.
Frank’s reign lasted just under eight months. Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation zone, and without a league win in eight matches, their worst run since October 2008.
The club confirmed the decision in a measured statement. “The club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today,” it read, adding that “results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”
The numbers are stark. Two wins in 17 league games and just 12 points collected in that stretch tell the story of a campaign that has drifted badly off course. At home, Spurs managed only 10 league points under Frank, a record that eroded belief inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tuesday’s defeat to Newcastle proved the breaking point. Supporters booed loudly and chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” while others sang the name of Mauricio Pochettino. The mood was raw, restless, and unforgiving.
This was not how it began. Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in June on a deal until 2028 and opened with wins over Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham. There was also a Champions League group stage campaign that delivered automatic qualification for the last 16.
In Europe, Spurs looked composed and structured. They won five and drew two of eight group matches, losing only to holders Paris Saint-Germain. Yet domestic form collapsed from November onward, including a 4-1 loss to Arsenal and a 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Injuries played their part. Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all missed significant time. Captain Cristian Romero criticised the board’s squad depth as “disgraceful” after a draw with Manchester City, before seeing red against Manchester United days later.
Frank insisted last month he felt trusted, but scrutiny was building behind the scenes. His style never fully convinced the fanbase, and the energy that once defined his Brentford side failed to take root in north London.
For Spurs, this is another reset in a decade defined by near-misses and managerial change. For Frank, who guided Brentford from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021, the challenge now is to rebuild his reputation.
The next appointment feels pivotal. With Arsenal looming in the north London derby and relegation fears creeping closer, Tottenham’s season now hinges on whether change brings clarity or deepens the chaos.
