🚨 Tottenham name starting XI to face Bodø/Glimt
🚨 Tottenham name starting XI to face Bodø/Glimt
Tottenham have named their starting XI to take on Bodø/Glimt in their Europa League semi-final first leg.
Here's how Ange Postecoglou's side will be lining up.
The Lilywhites can potentially set up an all-English final against Manchester United.
📸 Richard Heathcote - 2025 Getty Images
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New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Thomas Frank led Brentford to new heights. It's no surprise he is the leading contender for Tottenham job
Thomas Frank has been Brentford's figurehead for just under seven years but the 51-year-old is now the leading contender to replace Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham Hotspur's head coach. Frank has overseen one of the most successful periods in Brentford's history. The west London side were mid-table in the Championship when he replaced Dean Smith in October 2018. He guided them to successive play-off finals and they beat Swansea City 2-0 at Wembley in May 2021 to earn promotion to the Premier League at the second attempt. Advertisement Brentford have flourished in the top-flight despite having one of the lowest wage bills. Frank's side finished 13th in their first year and recorded memorable victories over Chelsea and Arsenal. Ivan Toney, David Raya and Bryan Mbeumo blossomed into superstars under Frank's guidance. After finishing ninth the following season, they placed 16th in 2023-24 as they struggled with injuries. But this season they bounced back to record a top-10 finish, coming close to qualifying for Europe for the first time in the club's history. Brentford's rise under Frank has been meteoric, and it is no surprise that Spurs have him in their sights. Spurs lifted their first piece of silverware in 17 years after beating Manchester United in the Europa League final on May 21, but their awful domestic form has been impossible for chairman Daniel Levy to ignore. They suffered 22 defeats and ended Postecoglou's second season 17th in the Premier League. The decision to sack Postecoglou was made on Friday. Frank would need to quickly win over any doubters among the fanbase, but he has endured slow starts in his last two jobs as a head coach. Brondby failed to win any of his opening eight games in charge, while he lost eight of his first 10 matches with Brentford. Frank initially joined Brentford in December 2016 as an assistant and the long-term plan was for him to replace Smith. Two years later, Smith moved to his boyhood club Aston Villa and Frank was promoted. Brentford finished 11th in the 2018-19 campaign and they came third in Frank's first full season. They won eight consecutive games and looked destined to be promoted automatically until they lost their final two matches, which allowed West Bromwich Albion to finish as runners-up behind Leeds United. Brentford lost the 2020 Championship play-off final to local rivals Fulham in extra time. Advertisement They finished third again the following season and lost 1-0 at Bournemouth in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final. Before the start of the second leg, Frank ran around Brentford's entire stadium in an attempt to whip the crowd up. When Arnaut Danjuma scored in the fifth minute to give Bournemouth a 2-0 lead on aggregate, Frank smashed a bin on the touchline with his foot. Brentford recovered to win 3-1 and then beat Swansea in the final. He is a much more animated head coach than Postecoglou. He barks out instructions from the technical area and often gestures to his players. He claps when his team cut through the opponent's press. He frequently talks to his assistants and, during breaks in play, will sometimes pull out a tactics board to visually show what he wants from the players. Frank plans his substitutions in advance for each game. He was sent off after Brentford lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2022 after confronting Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves. The referee Peter Bankes booked Frank, who responded, 'You may as well show me the second yellow (card).' Apart from that incident, he is calmer after a defeat than Postecoglou. Frank will say, 'My body is burning', but he tends to be measured and thoughtful with his responses. Postecoglou was guilty of being grumpy and created unnecessary drama at times. Frank celebrates victories with a glass of red wine and has a strict rule that, whether his team wins or loses, they are given 24 hours to process their emotions before focusing on the next task. He has a 'no d***heads policy', which means a potential new signing's personality is equally as important as their ability. Throughout his reign at Brentford, he repeatedly told the squad about the importance of being 'confident but humble.' Apart from a 3-2 defeat by Everton earlier this year when he experimented with a back three due to an injury crisis, Postecoglou always stuck with a 4-3-3 formation at Spurs. Brentford switched between a 3-5-2 system and 4-3-3 across their first two years in the top-flight under Frank. He would use a 3-5-2 with aggressive wing-backs, which would morph into a back five out of possession, against quality teams who were expected to dominate possession, including Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. Advertisement For example, left wing-back Rico Henry pushed forward and created multiple goalscoring opportunities in their famous 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad in November 2022. They had a lot of success with goalkeeper Raya pumping the ball long for Toney, who would flick it on for his strike partner Mbeumo. Frank would sometimes switch to a 3-4-3 if Brentford were losing but rarely uses this tactic now. Yoane Wissa moved to the left wing, Josh Dasilva pushed up on the right and Mbeumo operated as an offensive right wing-back. Frank used this system when Brentford were losing 2-0 to Leicester City on the opening day of the 2022-23 season. Toney scored midway through the second half and Dasilva equalised in the 86th minute. Frank prefers to use 4-3-3 but recognises when subtle tweaks need to be made to benefit everybody. Mikkel Damsgaard excelled and recorded 10 assists this season, operating as the advanced central midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Damsgaard thrived playing quick balls in behind to the rapid front three of Wissa, Mbeumo and Kevin Schade, who all reached double figures in the league. 'He is very methodical in the way he works, and the level of detail he goes into is the most I've been involved in,' Ben Mee told The Athletic's audio documentary Access All Areas: Brentford in July 2023. 'Technically, tactically, he wants players to know every part of their job and is good at getting his point across. 'He's approachable in ways that maybe others wouldn't be. He's open to ideas, which is great, he's always trying to take things on board from players but ultimately he's got a lot of knowledge about the game. 'I remember speaking to Thomas when we were either losing or drawing in a game. I looked over to him to say, 'Shall I go up for a throw-in?' He said, 'Yeah, always go every single time, no doubt about it.' That is refreshing for me.' Frank used to be a teacher and started his coaching career in Denmark's youth system. He worked for Frederiksvaerk, Hvidovre, B93 and Lyngby before being appointed head coach of Denmark's Under-16s. At Lyngby, Frank crossed paths with Johan Lange, who became Tottenham's technical director in November 2023 after holding a similar position at Aston Villa. While at Villa, Lange had been keen on hiring Frank to replace Steven Gerrard in October 2022. Nearly two decades after they first met, Lange and Frank could be reunited at Spurs. Advertisement Frank managed Denmark at the Under-17 European Championship in 2011, and his squad included future Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. They reached the semi-finals after beating England, who had Raheem Sterling and Jordan Pickford in their starting XI. He has a track record of developing talent, and if he joins Spurs his focus would turn to helping their young stars, including Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore, fulfill their vast potential. At Brentford, Frank converted Ollie Watkins from a winger into a centre-forward, helped Toney, Mbeumo and Wissa evolve into elite strikers and persisted with Damsgaard after he struggled with injuries during his first two years in Brentford. Frank has also improved experienced players, including Mee and Pontus Jansson. He even helped former Sweden international Jansson overcome superstitious rituals he followed before matches. The biggest question mark around Frank if he moved clubs would be how he handles the step up in attention and expectation in north London. Tottenham have a packed fixture schedule next season following their qualification for the Champions League. They played 17 more games than Brentford in the 2024-25 campaign, while Frank has no experience of coaching in a European competition apart from the preliminary qualifying rounds of the Europa League with Brondby. His coaching methods will be tested and might require further adaptation. Frank's job has never been under threat during his time at Brentford, even when they went on an eight-game winless run during their first year in the Premier League. He has an excellent relationship with owner Matthew Benham, director of football Phil Giles and technical director Lee Dykes, and admitted once that lots of managers could be a success at Brentford due to the infrastructure, environment and culture which has been led by Giles. Frank did give serious consideration to joining Villa three years ago, and last year he was interviewed by Chelsea and admired by Manchester United. Tottenham have burned through four permanent managers since Mauricio Pochettino was sacked in November 2019 — nobody has lasted more than two years — but Frank has always been ambitious.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tottenham Hotspur Pushing to Hijack Man United's Move for £60m Premier League Star
Tottenham Eye Mbeumo as Frank's Arrival Tilts Transfer Scales Key Details Emerge Around Spurs' Offer Tottenham Hotspur are moving swiftly to reshape their attack ahead of next season, with Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a prime target. As reported by The Mirror, 'Spurs would offer Mbeumo around £130,000-a-week,' a figure lower than what Manchester United have already proposed. Yet, money isn't the only factor at play in this increasingly intriguing transfer saga. Advertisement United, who have already tabled two bids, the most recent worth £60m, remain in pole position financially. But Mbeumo's long-standing relationship with Thomas Frank, who is expected to take over as Spurs' new manager imminently, may prove decisive. Frank has 'reportedly requested Spurs enter the bidding' for the 25-year-old forward, having helped mould him into one of the league's most productive attackers. Photo: IMAGO Numbers Speak for Themselves Last season, Mbeumo registered 20 Premier League goals, a tally only bettered by Salah (29), Isak (23) and Haaland (22). His output was nothing short of elite, especially in a Brentford side not always blessed with consistent supply lines. For Tottenham, a player of Mbeumo's profile brings pace, intelligence, and crucially, an eye for goal from wider areas. Advertisement United have responded with intent, willing to pay up to £200,000-a-week in wages, according to The Mirror. But Spurs believe they hold two critical advantages: the draw of Champions League football and Frank's direct involvement in Mbeumo's career trajectory. Frank's Influence Could Prove Pivotal While Mbeumo initially 'signalled his intention to sign for the Red Devils ahead of Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham,' the landscape has shifted. With Spurs set to hand Frank the reins, the connection between coach and player is undeniable. That relationship, coupled with a step up to Champions League competition, could tempt the French-Cameroonian into reconsidering. As The Mirror highlights, 'Frank is on course to replace Ange Postecoglou' and wants Mbeumo as one of his first signings. It's a move that signals both trust and tactical familiarity. Mbeumo flourished under Frank's system at Brentford, and that rapport could be pivotal in luring him to north London despite a lower salary. Photo: IMAGO Champions League Football Tips the Scales The other major card in Spurs' hand is European qualification. Manchester United's dismal end to the season culminated in a fourth consecutive defeat to Spurs, this time in the Europa League final, which saw them lose out on a Champions League spot. Fernandes and Casemiro failed to inspire, and United's flat performance only deepened the growing sense of transition. Advertisement In contrast, Tottenham are back in Europe's premier competition, a platform that Mbeumo has not yet graced. That experience, alongside the opportunity to reunite with Frank, may outweigh the financial shortfall in Spurs' proposal. United may still lead this race with the power of their offer, but as the finer details emerge, Spurs' pitch grows stronger. Our View – EPL Index Analysis The potential reunion between Bryan Mbeumo and Thomas Frank is a compelling narrative for Spurs fans. Mbeumo isn't just a numbers man. he's got positional versatility, a relentless work ethic, and has proven himself in the Premier League. The idea of him joining a Champions League campaign under a manager who knows how to get the best from him is hard to ignore. Advertisement Of course, the wage gap is worrying. Spurs have, for too long, allowed their rigid wage structure to cost them top-tier talent. If this truly is Frank's priority signing, fans will be hoping Daniel Levy backs it with a competitive package. For United, it's hard to ignore Mbeumo's output. He would provide width, pace, and goals, exactly what Amorim would want. But United need to avoid another saga where they lose out despite being first to the table. If the club believe he's the right fit, they should wrap it up now. Because letting Spurs swoop in, backed by Frank's influence and Champions League football, would be another miss in a summer where precision matters.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mauricio Pochettino Makes Statement After USMNT Loss
Mauricio Pochettino Makes Statement After USMNT Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Saturday, the United States Men's National Team lost its third straight match in all competitions under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Advertisement Seeking to bounce back from embarrassing defeats to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League, Pochettino's team threw away a 1-0 lead against Turkiye to lose 2-1. It was the first of two warm-up international friendly matches ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup — the last major tournament before United States co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a little more than a year remaining until the World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, Pochettino directly addressed a major rumor surrounding his future on the touchline. United States of America head coach Mauricio Pochettino walks off the field after the first half of a Concacaf Nations League semifinal match at SoFi A. Vasquez-Imagn Images The Argentinian rose to managerial stardom through his success at English Premier League club Tottenham from 2014-2019. He led Spurs to their highest Premier League points total in 2016-2017 before taking them all the way to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019. Advertisement Despite winning the UEFA Europa League, Tottenham finished 17th out of 20 teams in the Premier League in the 2024-2025 season. Manager Ange Postecoglou was fired immediately after the season, sparking rumors of a potential return to the club for Pochettino amid USA's international woes. "Since I left in 2019, my name has always been on the list," Pochettino said after USMNT's loss on Saturday. "I've seen the rumors." "Today, it's not realistic," he stated. "Look where I am, look where we are. The answer is so clear, but we are talking about it because it's my club." Pochettino's two-year contract with U.S. Soccer, reportedly worth $6 million per year, takes him through the 2026 World Cup. Advertisement With his focus solely on the USMNT, he still has plenty to figure out in the meantime. The Yanks will play Switzerland on Tuesday before beginning the Gold Cup on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago without star forward and captain Christian Pulisic. Related: Christian Pulisic's Admission About Girlfriend Alexa Melton is Turning Heads Related: Mauricio Pochettino's 'Intense' Training Sparks Reaction From U.S. Soccer Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
