The pressure on Thomas Frank has reached a fever pitch following a disappointing weekend in the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur’s recent 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor was meant to be a straightforward opportunity to climb the table, but instead, it served as another piece of evidence for a fanbase that has largely lost patience.
Frank, who was tasked with rebuilding the club after the difficult tenure of Ange Postecoglou, currently finds himself overseeing a squad languishing in the bottom half of the standings. With only one win in his last five league outings, the Danish coach is effectively living on borrowed time.
The atmosphere following the final whistle in Lancashire was telling. Boos rang out from the traveling supporters, many of whom feel that the club has stagnated under Frank’s leadership.
While he has attempted to stabilize a defense that conceded far too many goals in previous seasons, the lack of a clear attacking identity and the inability to put away teams in the relegation zone has become a recurring theme.
Consequently, the conversation in North London has shifted away from how Frank can fix the problem and toward who will be his inevitable successor.
One of the most exciting names to emerge in recent days is former Barcelona maestro Xavi Hernandez. Since leaving the Catalan giants in the summer of 2024, Xavi has been waiting for the right project to mark his return to the dugout.
Reports suggest that the 45-year-old is highly intrigued by the prospect of managing in the Premier League and views Tottenham as a club with the infrastructure and talent to match his lofty ambitions.
For a board that is increasingly desperate to find a manager capable of instilling a winning mentality, Xavi’s resume makes for compelling reading.
The comparison between Xavi and Mauricio Pochettino is already being made by those close to the club. Pochettino’s era in North London is remembered as a golden period where a clear philosophy, a focus on youth, and a high-pressing style took the club to a Champions League final.
While many fans have called for a “fairytale” return for the Argentine, his current commitment to the USA national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup makes an immediate reunion almost impossible. Xavi, however, offers a similar profile: a tactically astute, modern manager who demands excellence and possesses a natural aura of authority.
| Xavi Hernandez: Managerial Record at Barcelona (La Liga) | Statistics |
| Games Managed | 102 |
| Wins | 71 |
| Draws | 16 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Total Points Gained | 229 |
| Points Per Game | 2.3 |
| Win Percentage | 70% |
| Goals Scored | 198 |
| Goals Against | 87 |
Xavi’s statistics during his time at Barcelona are nothing short of elite. Maintaining a 70% win rate while managing one of the most scrutinized clubs in the world is a feat few can claim. Perhaps most impressive for Tottenham fans is his defensive record.
During his tenure, his Barcelona side conceded only 87 goals in over 100 matches, averaging less than a goal per game. For a Spurs side that has looked defensively frail and tactically disorganized under Frank, Xavi’s ability to build a well-drilled, disciplined unit would be a breath of fresh air.
Furthermore, Xavi understands what it takes to actually lift trophies. His La Liga title win in the 2022/23 campaign proved that he could navigate a grueling domestic season and come out on top against world-class opposition.
This “winning DNA” is something the Spurs hierarchy has desperately chased through various appointments, from Jose Mourinho to Antonio Conte, but Xavi represents a more modern, progressive version of that ambition.
He is a manager who has been dubbed “incredible” by legends like Andres Iniesta, and his tactical flexibility would likely rejuvenate stars who have looked lost in recent weeks.
While other names like Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner have been discussed, the momentum behind a move for Xavi seems to be growing. Glasner recently announced he would be leaving the Eagles at the end of the season, making him a viable candidate, but he lacks the global pedigree and trophy-winning experience that Xavi brings to the table.
The Spurs board now faces a critical crossroads: do they stick with Frank through a difficult winter, or do they act now to secure a manager who could become their “Pochettino 2.0”?
The reality is that Thomas Frank is currently a man under a shadow. Every draw or loss further erodes his authority, and with elite options like Xavi signaling their interest, the board may find the temptation to make a change impossible to resist.
Whether it happens this week or at the end of the month, a fresh start feels inevitable for a club that is currently falling far short of its potential.
