The inevitable has finally occurred in North London, as Tottenham Hotspur officially parted ways with Thomas Frank. This decision was not a sudden impulse but rather the culmination of months of building anxiety as the club drifted dangerously close to the relegation conversation.
The final blow came on a cold Tuesday evening when a home defeat to Newcastle United shattered any remaining confidence in the Danish coach’s project. With seven losses in thirteen home games this season, the fortress that was once the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had become a place where opponents arrived with high expectations of taking all three points.
Frank arrived at the club with a glowing reputation carved out of his remarkable achievements with Brentford. He had proven he could build a resilient, overachieving side on a budget, but his first foray into the upper echelons of European football has sadly ended in failure.
While he is a respected tactical mind, his transition to a “big six” environment was marred by a lack of identity and a failure to inspire a squad that seemed increasingly disconnected from his vision. The board has now decided that the risk of staying the course was far greater than the chaos of a mid-season change.
One of the primary friction points during Frank’s tenure was the stylistic shift he imposed on the team. His predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, may have overseen a period of defensive instability, but his “Ange-ball” philosophy was at least vibrant and entertaining.
In contrast, Frank’s approach was often perceived as overly pragmatic, bordering on negative. For a fanbase that prides itself on the motto “To Dare Is To Do,” watching a team that struggled to show any creative spark was a difficult pill to swallow.
The results reflected this lack of inspiration. Frank leaves with a win percentage of just 26.9%, the lowest for any permanent Tottenham manager in the Premier League era who managed at least ten games.
As the search for a permanent successor begins, the rumor mill is spinning at full speed. Names like Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi have naturally surfaced, given their availability and history.
However, a new frontrunner has emerged in the form of Oliver Glasner. The current Crystal Palace boss has transformed the Eagles into a powerhouse since taking over, leading them to FA Cup glory and a Community Shield victory in 2025. Internal meetings between the club’s hierarchy, including the Lewis family and Vinai Venkatesham, suggest that Glasner is viewed as the man capable of leading a total cultural and tactical reset.
If Glasner is indeed the target, the club faces a logistical challenge. The Austrian remains under contract at Selhurst Park until the end of the season and has made it clear he intends to finish what he started there.
This implies that Spurs may need an interim solution for the coming months. John Heitinga, who served as Frank’s assistant, is a strong candidate to hold the fort until the summer, providing some continuity while the board finalizes a long-term deal.
The appeal of Glasner lies in his ability to craft “slick and stylish” teams out of squads that previously lacked direction. At Palace, he achieved a points-per-game rate of 1.61, with his side scoring 163 goals across 91 matches.
His preferred 3-4-2-1 formation is a departure from what Spurs have traditionally used, but given that the current setup has failed to fire on any cylinders, a radical change might be exactly what is required.
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of a Glasner appointment would be Xavi Simons. The young Dutchman arrived from RB Leipzig for a massive £51 million fee last summer but has looked like a shadow of the player who dominated in the Bundesliga. It is fair to say that Simons joined a club that was not in a healthy state for player development.
Finding your feet in the rigorous Premier League is hard enough without doing so in a struggling system. Despite the team’s creative bluntness, Simons has still managed to create 1.4 chances per game this season, suggesting that the raw talent is still very much there, waiting for the right coach to unlock it.
Glasner has a proven track record of turning talented individuals into superstars. Under his guidance, Eberechi Eze evolved into one of the most feared attackers in the league.
A similar transformation could be on the cards for Simons. In Glasner’s system, which utilizes two attacking midfielders behind a central striker, Simons could find the space and freedom he needs to become the team’s new talisman.
The statistics from Glasner’s time at Palace show that his key attackers thrive. Jean-Philippe Mateta, for example, recorded 48 goal involvements under the Austrian, while Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze also saw their productivity skyrocket.
If Simons can tap into that same developmental energy, he could finally become the centerpiece that the Tottenham board envisioned when they spent big to bring him to London.
The road ahead is undoubtedly difficult. With the team sitting just five points ahead of a resurgent West Ham on the edge of the relegation zone, there is no room for further errors. The decision to sack Thomas Frank was the first step in a long process of recovery.
Now, the focus must shift to ensuring the next appointment isn’t just a name on a piece of paper, but a leader capable of restoring pride to the white shirt. Whether it is Glasner or another elite candidate, the goal remains the same: making Tottenham Hotspur a club that people enjoy watching again.
