Frank Out as Spurs Slide Deeper into Crisis

Tottenham Hotspur have parted ways with head coach Thomas Frank after a disastrous Premier League campaign left the north London club staring nervously at the relegation zone.

Spurs sit 16th in the table, just five points above the drop, following a dreadful run that saw them go eight league games without a win. It is their longest winless stretch in the Premier League since October 2008. In their last 17 league matches, Tottenham have managed only two victories and collected a meagre 12 points, a return that ultimately forced the board’s hand.

In a club statement, Tottenham admitted they had been determined to give Frank time and support to build for the future. However, recent results made it clear that a change was necessary.

Frank arrived in June following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou and signed a contract running until 2028. The Dane was seen as a progressive tactician capable of stabilising the club. While he delivered strong performances in Europe, his domestic record failed to convince.

In the league this season, Spurs managed seven wins, eight draws and 11 defeats. Their inconsistency left them adrift of European qualification spots and uncomfortably close to danger. Ironically, Frank’s side excelled in the Champions League group stage, finishing fourth to secure automatic qualification for the last 16. They won five of eight group matches, losing only once away to holders Paris Saint-Germain.

Domestically, though, disappointment mounted. Spurs exited the Carabao Cup in the fourth round after defeat to Newcastle and were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by Aston Villa. The exits compounded frustrations among supporters already angered by league performances.

Boos rang around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent weeks. Defeats at home to Newcastle and West Ham intensified the pressure. Frank was taunted with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” during the loss to West Ham and again in the 2-2 draw at Burnley.

Against Manchester City, Spurs were jeered off at half-time while trailing 2-0 before rallying to secure a 2-2 draw. Yet even that spirited comeback could not mask deeper issues within the squad.

Captain Cristian Romero publicly criticised the board, calling it disgraceful that only 11 senior players were available against City. Injuries have ravaged the squad throughout the season. Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have all been sidelined for extended periods. Romero himself is suspended for the next three league matches after receiving his second red card of the campaign in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

At home, Spurs collected just 10 league points under Frank, a shocking statistic for a club of their stature. Their away form was marginally better, with 19 points gained from 13 matches, but it was not enough to offset their struggles in north London.

Frank’s tenure began with promise. Spurs defeated Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham in their opening four league matches and beat Villarreal in the Champions League. However, heavy defeats soon followed, including a 4-1 loss to Arsenal and a damaging 3-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

Before joining Tottenham, Frank spent seven years at Brentford, guiding them from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021. His reputation as a builder and long-term planner made him an appealing appointment. Yet at Spurs, the gamble did not pay off.

In their farewell message, the club thanked Frank for his unwavering commitment and wished him success in the future. For Tottenham, attention now turns to survival and the search for a manager capable of restoring stability to a club once aiming for silverware but now fighting to steady the ship.