'A gamble for Frank - but Dane has earned Spurs chance'

Thomas Frank has a estimation wrong shot arsenic a head who detects problems and finds solutions. Now he must lick nan seemingly never-ending puzzle that is Tottenham Hotspur.

The dysfunctional quality of Spurs was graphically illustrated by president Daniel Levy's determination to travel his semipermanent wont of sacking managers who do not triumph trophies by sacking nan 1 who yet did.

Ange Postecoglou whitethorn person ended nan club's 17-year hold for occurrence by winning nan Europa League, but that was still not capable for Levy aft a 17th-place decorativeness successful nan Premier League.

Into this conundrum walks 51-year-old Frank - nan charismatic and lukewarm Dane who will switch nan building and stableness of Brentford for nan precarious, unwieldy beast that is Spurs.

It is simply a move laced pinch consequence for Frank, because this is Spurs and his president will beryllium Levy, but it is 1 his people assured quality will clasp and is simply a measurement up successful floor plan his awesome activity astatine Brentford has earned.

Frank has been hugely successful successful establishing nan Bees successful nan Premier League while playing high-intensity, entertaining shot - catching nan oculus of hard-to-please Levy.

Other managers regularly speak successful admiring tones astir Frank's work, pinch nan belief being that yet he would time off Brentford to return connected a high-pressure, high-profile job. Even six-time Premier League victor Pep Guardiola said it was "just a mobility of time".

The clip is now.

The Champions League awaits, and truthful does a ngo to revive Spurs arsenic a Premier League force.

What is clear is they person turned to a man whose profession remains connected an upwards curve.

Frank's playing profession whitethorn person only taken successful nan Danish amateur crippled - he moreover spent clip moving successful a kindergarten - but he progressed successfully arsenic a coach done nan Denmark nationalist younker teams to Brondby, earlier joining Brentford arsenic an adjunct successful 2016, past succeeding Dean Smith arsenic caput coach 2 years later erstwhile Smith moved to Aston Villa.

That enabled Frank to build nan assemblage of activity that attracted admiring glances earlier Spurs and Levy were yet successful nan position to lure him from Brentford, wherever he was specified a beloved fig and wherever supporters will beryllium heartbroken, moreover if they had guessed this time would yet come.

In each of Frank's 4 seasons starring Brentford successful nan Premier League, doubts were expressed astir their expertise to survive. They person not only defied those grim predictions, but person astir ever done it pinch comfort.

In 2021-22 Brentford vanished 13th, earlier climbing to ninth nan pursuing year.

The play that brought astir interest was 2023-24, erstwhile nan Bees vanished 16th. In mitigation, that was nan run during which main striker Ivan Toney served an eight-month ban for breaching Football Association betting rules, not returning to action until precocious January.

In a further objection of Frank's talents, moreover erstwhile Toney signed for Al-Ahli successful nan Saudi Pro League aft playing for England astatine Euro 2024, Brentford were capable to regroup and decorativeness 10th pinch a progressive attacking style centred connected attacking duo Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.

Frank's Brentford deed a rich | attacking seam arsenic Mbeumo, who looks group to travel nan coach retired of nan exit door, scored 20 goals and had 7 assists successful nan Premier League, and Wissa had 19 goals and 4 assists.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby knows his countryman well, watching Brentford regularly successful his domiciled arsenic a main Premier League shot expert successful Denmark.

Molby told BBC Sport: "He sees problems and solves problems. It's a awesome spot for immoderate head to have.

"There person been a mates of seasons erstwhile group person thought Brentford would struggle that year, but they didn't. He kept uncovering caller solutions.

"Who would person thought aft losing Ivan Toney he would beryllium capable to nutrient a brace for illustration he has done this season, pinch Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa?

"Thomas has earned nan correct and he's sewage what it takes. I deliberation it's a really breathtaking assignment for Spurs."

Molby besides believes Frank's characteristic and man-management style will thief him flooded immoderate early obstacles pinch players wounded by Postecoglou's sacking, and pinch fans looking for signs of really he measures up to nan task.

"I conscionable person this emotion that for each those things group mightiness beryllium worried astir - his profession successful Denmark, ne'er having managed a nine for illustration this - nan players will for illustration him," Molby said.

"They will for illustration nan clarity. They will for illustration his personality, his honesty. He is simply a very bully man-manager. I deliberation he'll beryllium perfectly fine. In nan end, it boils down to what he does connected nan pitch, but I deliberation he's sewage each nan devices to do nan job.

"His large spot is he's very clear pinch nan players. He will say: 'This is what I expect and if we each get that we'll beryllium OK.'

"Thomas is very open. He's a awesome communicator, which is very important. He's sewage clip for everybody. He doesn't consciousness nan request to propulsion nan wool complete anyone's eyes. He's clear successful what he wants."

There is simply a peculiar logic Molby believes Frank will beryllium nan perfect fresh for Spurs.

"I spot a squad fresh to play Thomas Frank football," Molby said.

"It is astir putting nan guidance nether unit astatine each fixed opportunity. The 1 point you don't want to do arsenic a squad is defend. He likes to put nan guidance nether pressure.

"That is successful unfastened play, set-pieces. He makes nary bones astir his usage of agelong throw-ins. Put teams nether pressure. Play long. Play quick. He is adaptable tactically arsenic well."

Frank has tailored Brentford's style truthful they are not rather arsenic reliant connected set-pieces. Excluding penalties, 33.3% of their goals came from group plays successful 2021-22, followed by 31%, 19.6% and 21.2% successful nan consequent 3 seasons.

Frank's thigh of honour pinch his players astir Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, often erstwhile 1 of nan Premier League's elite names had been defeated, became a acquainted show - his communal touch often starring him to admit faces successful nan crowd pinch whom he became familiar.

He besides strikes nan equilibrium betwixt nan pressures of nan apical formation and enjoying his victories, often talking astir his "few glasses of red" erstwhile basking successful nan afterglow of a win.

It mightiness beryllium harder to employment nan individual touch astatine 1 of nan game's aspiring superpowers successful a magnificent 60,000-capacity stadium, but anyone who has been successful adjacent proximity to Frank would spot a genuine group personification arsenic good arsenic a shrewd shot strategist.

There is unquestionably an constituent of a bet successful leaving nan comfortableness area and sound building of Brentford nether proprietor Matthew Benham and head of shot Phil Giles. Levy-led Spurs are a very different specimen.

When Postecoglou was sacked, nan Australian near arsenic nan man who delivered long-awaited silverware, pinch galore players upset and a ample information of support torn complete whether he should person been fixed a 3rd season.

"No uncertainty location is risk," said Molby. "As overmuch arsenic group look astatine nan play Spurs person had, they person conscionable picked up a trophy aft 17 years. Players person travel retired and spoken astir their respect for Ange Postecoglou.

"Often, you return complete astatine a nine wherever nan erstwhile head has been tally retired of town, but that's not rather been nan lawsuit astatine Spurs. Even though they had a mediocre Premier League season, it was still possibly 50/50 whether Spurs wanted to support Ange, truthful he needs to deed nan crushed running.

"I deliberation Thomas is pragmatic capable to do what he feels is needed, whereas Ange was possibly a small spot stubborn.

"The large mobility is whether that is enough. What is capable for Spurs? Ange won a European trophy but it didn't prevention him. I would propose apical 5 - but that is simply a large inquire aft wherever they vanished past season."

Frank has, however, has served his apprenticeship, moving done nan managerial gears successful Denmark past England.

He has earned, and deserves, nan elite shape Spurs will springiness him.