Brentford manager Thomas Frank is interested in replacing Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, according to reports.
Spurs finally confirmed Postecoglou’s sacking on Friday evening in a statement which claimed that they could not keep the 59-year-old in place because of the ’emotions’ of winning the Europa League.
Postecoglou guided Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years last month with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao.
However, Postecoglou ultimately lost his job due to his side’s woeful Premier League campaign in which they finished 17th in the table with 22 defeats.
Tottenham are now in talks to secure Postecoglou’s replacement ahead of their pre-season campaign and an approach has been made to Frank.
According to The Telegraph, Frank is interested in becoming Tottenham’s next manager and the Brentford boss is regarded as ‘the leading candidate’.
The report adds that Frank still has a positive relationship with Spurs’ sporting director, Johan Lange, following their time together at Danish side Lyngby.
Postecoglou, who earned a £2 million bonus for winning the Europa League and was given a £4m compensation package by Tottenham, is also said to have received immediate interest from clubs following his dismissal.
Elsewhere, Portuguese newspaper Record reported on Friday night that Fulham manager, Marco Silva, is ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement with Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou reacts to Tottenham exit
‘When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride.
‘The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget.
‘That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream. There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible.
‘We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.
‘I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on. It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.
‘And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.
‘We are forever connected.’
Tottenham, meanwhile, described the call to sack Postecoglou as ‘one of the toughest decisions we have had to make’.
‘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,’ Tottenham’s statement read.
‘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.’
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