The atmosphere surrounding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has shifted from frustration to a frantic race against time as the club’s hierarchy maneuvers to fill the void left by Thomas Frank. Following the Dane’s dismissal on Wednesday, the North London side finds itself in a precarious position, sitting just five points above the relegation zone.
While the immediate focus is on survival, the long-term vision of the Lewis family, Vinai Venkatesham, and Johan Lange has narrowed significantly on one man: Mauricio Pochettino. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Spurs boss is once again the focal point of the club’s ambitions, with reports suggesting that the board is working tirelessly to secure his signature for a second act in the capital.
The decision to sack Frank was apparently not a unanimous one within the executive offices. Insider reports suggest that both Venkatesham and Lange were initially in favor of keeping the manager to see if he could steer the ship through the storm.
However, they were reportedly overruled by the Lewis family, who decided that enough was enough after witnessing a string of performances that lacked both identity and results.
This internal friction highlights a deeper issue within the club’s structure, suggesting that the problems at Tottenham might not be solved simply by changing the man in the dugout. Frank leaves behind a statistical legacy that fans will want to forget quickly, as his win percentage plummeted below even the most maligned managers in the club’s Premier League history.
To understand the scale of the struggle Frank faced, one only needs to look at how he compares to other managers who failed to meet the high expectations of the Spurs faithful. The following data illustrates the decline in winning consistency that eventually forced the board’s hand:
| Manager | Win Percentage |
| Glenn Hoddle | 36.0% |
| George Graham | 33.7% |
| Juande Ramos | 27.8% |
| Jacques Santini | 27.3% |
| Thomas Frank | 26.9% |
With the North London derby against Arsenal scheduled for February 22, the club is under immense pressure to find stability. The initial strategy appears to be the appointment of an interim manager to guide the team through the remainder of the season. This path became more likely after representatives for Roberto De Zerbi distanced the Italian from the role.
Despite early rumors of interest, it seems the former Brighton manager is not prepared to jump into the current chaos at N17. Similarly, Robbie Keane was mentioned as a potential short-term savior, but the legendary striker is reportedly unwilling to leave his post at Ferencvaros unless he is offered the job on a permanent basis.
This brings the conversation back to the “Great Savior,” Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine is currently leading the United States Men’s National Team as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. His contractual obligations to the USMNT mean that an immediate reunion is virtually impossible.
Tottenham is effectively working against the clock to finalize an agreement that would see him return in the summer, but this leaves a dangerous gap in leadership for the next few months. The board is essentially gambling on the idea that an interim coach can keep the club in the Premier League long enough for Pochettino to arrive and rebuild the club’s fractured identity.
The emotional weight of this potential return cannot be overstated. During the recent defeat to Newcastle, the home crowd was heard chanting Pochettino’s name, a clear sign that the bond formed during his five-year stay between 2014 and 2019 remains unbroken.
During that era, he delivered consistent Champions League football and famously led the team to a European final. Even Pep Guardiola once described him as a “top” manager, praising his ability to build teams that play with bravery and intensity. Pochettino himself has never hidden his affection for the club, often speaking of unfinished business in North London.
As the board weighs options like Xavi or Gareth Southgate for the long-term or short-term, the shadow of Pochettino looms large over every decision. The risk of waiting until the summer is significant. If the interim appointment fails to spark a “new manager bounce,” Spurs could find themselves facing the unthinkable prospect of relegation while waiting for their dream candidate to become available.
However, for a club that has cycled through nine different managerial iterations since 2019, the allure of a romantic homecoming and a proven philosophy might be worth the wait. The coming days will be a true test of the board’s resolve as they try to balance the immediate need for points with the desire to restore the soul of the football club.
