New boss Thomas Frank “here to stay”
Thomas Frank was appointed Tottenham manager on a deal until 2028.
Being a Tottenham Hotspur manager has not been synonymous with job security in recent years, but new boss Thomas Frank is not afraid of the recent history and says he is here “to stay”.
In his first press conference since being hired in June, Frank joked that, since he has never been sacked, he took the Spurs job to “get a little more excitement into his everyday life”.
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Although Frank had a cheerful tone, there is no doubt that the demands of the job have proven difficult over the past four years.
Spurs have had four managers since June 2021, with Nuno Espirito Santo lasting just four months, Antonio Conte for 16 months and Ange Postecoglou – despite ending the club’s 17-year trophy wait by winning the Europa League – for two years.
“Coming to a big club brings pressure,” said the Dane. “I like the ambition, and everything I do – every decision I make – is for long-term success. It’s not about surviving 18 months, it’s about a long-term perspective.”
The 51-year-old said it was “extremely positive” for the club to have won the Europa League last season, and while he wants to pick up more trophies, his biggest goal is to ensure Spurs can compete on all fronts.
“[Winning the Europa League] gave them the fantastic trophy that this club deserved and needed,” he said.
“My goal is to build on that. The first goal is that we have to be able to compete in all four tournaments and do it consistently.”
Frank was speaking ahead of Tottenham’s first pre-season game against League One side Reading at 15:00 BST on Saturday.
Leaving Brentford was “very difficult”, but the right decision
Frank was the Premier League’s second-longest-serving manager when he left Brentford in June, having led them in the top flight since promotion in 2021.
He said it was a difficult decision to leave the west London-based club, but becoming manager of Tottenham was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“In a way, it was very difficult, and in a way, it was very easy,” Frank said.
“It was very difficult because I am a person who gives myself “fully” in all relationships: work, friends, marriage, whatever it is. When you give yourself fully and work in a football club, you become attached to it. I really loved my time there.”
“I also felt that maybe it was time to challenge myself and get a new opportunity. When a club of Tottenham’s calibre knocks on the door, I couldn’t say no.”
Son and Romero “very important”
Two immediate questions Frank will have to deal with at Spurs are captain Son Heung-min’s future – he has interest from Saudi Arabia – and Cristian Romero, who has been linked with a transfer this summer.
However, Frank would not comment on what awaits the two, only saying that both Son and Romero are “very important” to the club.
“Two top players. Sonny has been here for 10 years and finally got his well-deserved trophy this summer. So important for the team and the club,” he said.
“Romero, World Cup winner, Europa League winner, Copa America winner, also very important for us. Both have trained well, and both will play on Saturday. I’m very happy.”
Frank was also silent on Tottenham’s approach to Morgan Gibbs-White, which has led Nottingham Forest to consider legal action because there could be a breach of a confidentiality agreement linked to a £60 million buyout clause in his contract.
Frank said he “doesn’t want to talk about players who aren’t mine.”
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