Thomas Frank Said The Right Things At Spurs. That Might Be The Problem

Forbes

7 hours ago

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Brentford manager Thomas Frank looks on during the Premier League ... More match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Brentford FC at Molineux on May 25, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by)
Nice guys do not have a reputation for succeeding in sports. Regarding soccer coaches, the idea that you can be charming and a winner is even rarer.
Of course, there are exceptions. For example, Hansi Flick's friendly approach at Bayern Munich and Barcelona has delivered glittering success.
But more often than not, having a reputation as a sensitive leader fuels criticism.
Take Gareth Southgate, a man who achieved the near impossible; he made players enjoy representing England.
His soft-spoken demeanor was constantly used against him, and it was hard not to feel that something was missing in crucial moments when he faced off against men with a killer edge, like Roberto Mancini.
For decades, Tottenham Hotspur has been desperately seeking a hard-nosed winner. Understandably, it believed this was the best way to bring silverware to North London.
They turned to two of the world's most uncompromising soccer managers in that quest for glory.
But neither Antonio Conte nor Jose Mourinho was able to win at Spurs.
Ultimately, Ange Postecoglou's positive, affable personality stood starkly in contrast to the leaders before him, who delivered the goods.
It wasn't all charm and warmth. During his two-year spell in North London, Postecoglou also reveals the decidedly spikier side to his character.
But there was little doubt that when it came to his players, he was a nice guy to work with.
You only have to look at the marked difference in the players' responses when Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho left the Spurs.
There were few celebrations of those two men's work. Yet, when the Australian coach was fired, the squad lined up to sing his plaudits.
Nothing was more rousing than the words came from club captain Son Heung-min.
'Gaffer. You've changed the trajectory of this club,' the South Korean posted on Instagram.
'You believed in yourself and us since day one and never wavered for a second, even when others did.
'You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it's had in decades. We will have those memories for life.
'You trusted me with the captaincy. One of the highest honors of my career. It's been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close. I am a better player and a better person because of you.
'Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.'
Of course, the decision to replace Postecoglou is because of the club's awful league form, which saw it finish 17th.
But his ending Tottenham Hotspur's long wait for a trophy creates a strange dynamic for his successor, Thomas Frank.
He inherits a squad that simultaneously plumbed new depths and achieved greatness.
Frank is also known for his friendly, charming demeanor, so it perhaps shouldn't have come as a surprise that he was very complimentary of the man he replaced.
'Huge congratulations to Ange,' Frank said at his unveiling.
'He will forever be a legend at Tottenham. It's very important to understand that we all stand on the shoulders of others so I am going in on the foundations that Ange has built. I'm very humble about that and I'll do my very best to continue the great work he put in.
'But the feeling and excitement, the joy and happiness you could see in the fans' faces [after the Europa League win], the pictures you saw were … wow.
'Hopefully, we can create more of those moments. That would be the ultimate dream to do that and build on that. Hey, no one can say they are not winners; the team and the players are winners.
'Now we need to do [our] best … to see whether we can be serial winners in the future.'
Will Thomas Frank Work At Spurs?
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - MARCH 08: Thomas Frank, Manager of Brentford, looks on prior to the Premier ... More League match between Brentford FC and Aston Villa FC at Brentford Community Stadium on March 08, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by)
Frank's personality complimented his previous club, Brentford, because the club is a perineal underdog.
His eccentric positivity matched a team punching above its weight. To put it in perspective, the roof of Tottenham Hotspur's new home costs the same as Brentford's entire stadium.
Frank's achievement in taking the club to the top flight for the first time half a century and establishing it there gave him considerable leeway.
He will get no such patience from Spurs fans, a sizeable section of whom were unpersuaded. Postecogclu should stay even with him delivering silverware.
It is little surprise, therefore, that Frank is already trying to woo them.
'First and foremost, I think it's a fantastic fan base,' he said after being announced as manager.
'Fans are the most important ones; it's the team, the staff, me - all of us - how can we make sure we create enough magic moments with the fans, make moments they remember and get excited about?
'We go on a journey together and on a journey, there'll be ups and downs. It's how we get through those ups and downs together, but, of course, the connection from the team to the fans, from me to the fans - it's going to be crucial.'
Part of the reason Spurs fans were less forgiving of his predecessor was the fact their relationship soured considerably in the second season.
Frank is astute in realising there is an an opportunity, especially with the positivity of the Europa League win still in the air.