Thomas Frank makes Spurs style promise amid message to Daniel Levy
Tottenham Hotspur's new head coach Thomas Frank is promising a team that will take risks in words that echo the sentiments shared by his predecessor Ange Postecoglou
Thomas Frank will urge Tottenham to gamble in attack because that is what the club demands.
New boss Frank last week replaced gung-ho Ange Postecoglou after he paid the price for a 17th-place league finish. But Postecoglou also won the club's first piece of silverware for 17 years by winning the Europa League – meaning Frank will not just inherit a squad full of players that excite him but have an immediate chance to impress in the Champions League.
And in his first interview since leaving Brentford, who received £10m in compensation, Frank made similar noises to his predecessor when it comes to describing his desired style.
'The intention is to play aggressive, front-footed football. I know the ethos and the history of the club is it's massive on attacking football,' he said.
'There's so much attacking talent in the squad. I'm very excited by that. They've clearly shown over the last two seasons that the ability to score goals is fantastic.
'I'm very, very in on that. I love a team that scores goals. We just want to build on that attacking football we already have.
'I'm a big believer in if you don't take risks, you also take a risk. It's important we take risks. If we play man-to-man in some situations, the risk is you need to play forward. If you don't risk, you can't create anything.
'The players need to be brave and trust themselves. I'll do my best to instil that trust. If they lose the ball by trying, that's never a problem. Of course I can react, that's natural, but they need to do that.
'If they don't work hard, I struggle more with that. That's my non-negotiable. If you don't take risks, it's impossible to achieve something big.'
Frank added that if the club is to realise his vision there needs to be joined-up thinking with the hierarchy - beginning with chairman Daniel Levy.
The Dane is Levy's 13th permanent managerial hire in 24 years as chairman and he added: 'I think alignment is key from top to bottom. It starts from Daniel, Vinai (Venkatesham, chief executive) and Johan (Lange, technical director).
'The more the four of us can be aligned, like an unbreakable unit, the stronger we'll be. There will be ups and downs but right now it's a fairytale. It's fantastic.'
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Scotsman
35 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Inside Hearts' EGM that approved Tony Bloom deal - where the optimists outnumbered brave dissenters
Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... On the day Hibs were drawn against FC Midtjylland in Europa League qualifying, Hearts saw their own match-up confirmed. It's now very nearly official: Tony Bloom owns a stake in the Tynecastle club, after shareholders overwhelmingly approved the Brighton & Hove Albion owner's proposed £9.86 million investment. Chairperson Ann Budge expects the deal to be completed within 'the next seven to ten days'. Unlike the Hibs v Midtjylland pairing, this isn't a temporary coming together. Rather, it's hoped, the financial contribution from Bloom, together with his and his associates' expertise, will help sustain the Tynecastle club for many years to come. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But perhaps underlining the way football is going, and how the tentacles of certain rich and increasingly tech-orientated owners are being wrapped around the game, the identity of Hibs' European opponents does seem relevant. They were until fairly recently owned by Matthew Benham, Bloom's old pal. They met when Bloom recruited Benham at the betting firm he set up in the early 2000s in London. Hearts fans have overwhelmingly approved a near £10m investment from Brighton owner Tony Bloom. (Photo by) | Getty Images They have since fallen out, going their own different ways to deliver success at two of Britain's most go-ahead football clubs - Brighton and, in Benham's case, Brentford. They have transferred their skills into the football arena, where data and statistics have become king. It's the ground on which Hearts have chosen to build an annex. Jamestown Analytics, an offshoot of a data firm started by Bloom, have signed an agreement with Hearts. They've already had a significant say in recent recruitment, with varying degrees of success it must be said. Nevertheless, money is money, investment is investment. However admirable is the largesse of Hearts' support, who continue to plough money into the club through monthly donations, it's not brought significant reward on the pitch. Another push is required, particularly given the absence of European football in the coming season. Significance of vote cannot be downplayed While not completely unanimous, Bloom's investment proposal breezed through at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders at Tynecastle. The entrepreneur will have a 29 per cent stake in the form of a new tranche of non-voting rights shares. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts will remain to all intents and purposes a fan-owned club but the ownership structure has changed as has the club's articles of association, so it's impossible to downplay the significance of the day, even if the club's own website took a minimal approach to reporting what had occurred in the Gorgie Suite. 'At the general meeting of the club, held this evening, we are delighted to report that all three resolutions have passed,' it reported shortly after the meeting had concluded at around 5.40pm, following a 5pm start. It hadn't even taken as long as a half of football for the Foundation of Hearts' (FoH) shareholding to be reduced by almost a third, regardless of voting rights. Admittedly, while newsworthy, it wasn't particularly sexy. It wasn't about a cup being hoisted towards the heavens. 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Hearts chairman Ann Budge, chairman of the Foundation of Hearts Gerry Mallon and chief executive Andrew McKinlay. | SNS Group Concerns aired over 'waffle' Following a short questions and answers session, Budge introduced the first of three resolutions: granting authority for the board to issue over 63 million non-voting rights shares to Bloom. Out of around 230 shareholders in attendance, just three hands went up when she asked who wasn't in favour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Anyone who doesn't vote in favour of this needs their head examined,' was one of the first comments beneath a video of FoH chairman Gerry Mallon outlining the pros of the proposed deal in May. The estimates that around 98 per cent would support the investment turned out to be pretty much spot on. No one likes to be out of step with their fellow supporters so it was brave of the three gentlemen in question to take such a public stance. They all seemed in possession of their faculties so their concerns are legitimate and were adeptly articulated in the case of a Mr Mackie, who stood up to enquire what the money would be spent on. He accused Hearts of 'waffle' in the investment proposal consultation document published on the club's website, where terms such as 'futureproofing' had been used. Budge agreed with his contention that £10m was not a lot of money in today's football world, and it won't all be splurged on high-profile players. Andrew McKinlay, the chief executive, sought to allay fears about multi-club ownership, given Bloom is also involved with Belgian club Royale Union-Saint Gilloise. 'We would never do a deal with any potential to prejudice us playing in Europe,' he said. 'That would be crazy.' One of those opposing had come all the way from Hamilton by train to do so. Ken Darling later stood on a pavement opposite the Tynecastle Arms and explained that he was worried about a continued drift away from using local talent. He made the point that Andy Irving and Josh Doig, who came on as substitutes in Scotland's win over Liechtenstein last week, had both started their careers in the youth ranks at Hearts before moving elsewhere. "Why are these guys not being developed?" he wondered. "We have signed several very poor foreign players recently." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Thomas Frank calls for unity at Tottenham after replacing Ange Postecoglou
Speaking for the first time since replacing Ange Postecoglou – who was sacked just weeks after delivering Spurs their first trophy in 17 years – the former Brentford boss said there would need to be 'alignment' among the club's hierarchy, including with chairman Daniel Levy, if the team is to build on their Europa League triumph. Spurs will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2022 courtesy of victory over Manchester United in Bilbao in May, despite recording their lowest finish of 17th in the Premier League. The Frank Philosophy 🧠 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 18, 2025 It was this fact, together with 22 league defeats, that persuaded Levy to dismiss Postecoglou and turn to Frank. 'I've only heard good stuff about all the people here, the training ground, the players,' Frank told the club's website. 'It's a good squad. It's an exciting, massive club with massive potential. So, it's just super, super exciting. 'I had very good conversations and meetings with Daniel Levy, (chief executive) Vinai Venkatesham and (technical director) Johan Lange where we discussed everything in depth, details about the club structure, processes, and of course I came with my views on things, how I saw it, my ideas, and the way I want to do things and how I try to build a team and a club.' There has been open hostility between Levy and supporters in recent seasons with fans largely directing their ire at the chairman rather than Postecoglou last season as the defeats mounted. Levy has at different times been accused of failing to invest in the team and has been blamed for the club's apparent drift since they reached the Champions League final in 2019. Frank is Spurs' fifth permanent appointment since Mauricio Pochettino, who led them to that final in Madrid, was sacked five months later. 'If you want to do something quick, you can go alone,' said Frank, who led Brentford to 10th place last season following finishes of 13th, ninth and 16th in their three previous Premier League seasons. He also brought them into the top flight via the play-offs in 2021. 'If you want to do something big or achieve something big, you go together. So, it's definitely about doing things together – me, the staff, the players. 'I think alignment is key, from top to bottom. Of course it starts from Daniel, Vinai, Johan, and me, and the more the four of us can be aligned, just like a unit, an unbreakable unit, the stronger we'll be. 'There'll be ups and downs. Right now, it's a fairytale. Everyone's happy, the sun is shining, it's fantastic.'
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Thomas Frank calls for unity at Tottenham after replacing Ange Postecoglou
Speaking for the first time since replacing Ange Postecoglou – who was sacked just weeks after delivering Spurs their first trophy in 17 years – the former Brentford boss said there would need to be 'alignment' among the club's hierarchy, including with chairman Daniel Levy, if the team is to build on their Europa League triumph. Spurs will play in the Champions League for the first time since 2022 courtesy of victory over Manchester United in Bilbao in May, despite recording their lowest finish of 17th in the Premier League. The Frank Philosophy 🧠 — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 18, 2025 It was this fact, together with 22 league defeats, that persuaded Levy to dismiss Postecoglou and turn to Frank. 'I've only heard good stuff about all the people here, the training ground, the players,' Frank told the club's website. 'It's a good squad. It's an exciting, massive club with massive potential. So, it's just super, super exciting. 'I had very good conversations and meetings with Daniel Levy, (chief executive) Vinai Venkatesham and (technical director) Johan Lange where we discussed everything in depth, details about the club structure, processes, and of course I came with my views on things, how I saw it, my ideas, and the way I want to do things and how I try to build a team and a club.' There has been open hostility between Levy and supporters in recent seasons with fans largely directing their ire at the chairman rather than Postecoglou last season as the defeats mounted. Levy has at different times been accused of failing to invest in the team and has been blamed for the club's apparent drift since they reached the Champions League final in 2019. Frank is Spurs' fifth permanent appointment since Mauricio Pochettino, who led them to that final in Madrid, was sacked five months later. 'If you want to do something quick, you can go alone,' said Frank, who led Brentford to 10th place last season following finishes of 13th, ninth and 16th in their three previous Premier League seasons. He also brought them into the top flight via the play-offs in 2021. 'If you want to do something big or achieve something big, you go together. So, it's definitely about doing things together – me, the staff, the players. 'I think alignment is key, from top to bottom. Of course it starts from Daniel, Vinai, Johan, and me, and the more the four of us can be aligned, just like a unit, an unbreakable unit, the stronger we'll be. 'There'll be ups and downs. Right now, it's a fairytale. Everyone's happy, the sun is shining, it's fantastic.'
