Tottenham have five options to replace Thomas Frank today amid crisis | Football | Sport
Thomas Frank’s spell with Spurs is reaching a breaking point (Image: Getty)
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham has reached a new low after their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday. And the club have options should they look to part ways with the Dane.
Former Brentford boss Frank was appointed in June having guided the Bees to consistency in the Premier League, replacing Europa League-winning manager Ange Postecoglou. Despite a relatively promising opening few games, things have since gone from bad to worse. With their loss to Eddie Howe’s men, Spurs have tumbled to 16th in the top-flight table with just 29 points. They have already lost 11 league matches this season and sit just five points above the relegation places, with a north London derby against Arsenal coming up.
Calls for Frank to be relieved of his duties have never been so loud and there are a handful of options Tottenham could turn to should enough be enough. Express Sport brings you five managers who could arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium immediately if Frank were sacked.
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Xabi Alonso
After losing the dressing room at Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso left the Bernabeu by mutual consent in January, having only been appointed in May. Before this, he wowed as Bayer Leverkusen boss.
In Germany, the former Liverpool man orchestrated an unthinkable 2023/24 season, in which he won the Bundesliga title without losing a game and secured the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup. Alonso’s men also reached a Europa League final.
He is currently unattached after leaving Los Blancos and if Tottenham wanted to pull off the ambitious, then the Spaniard should be their target. Before joining Real Madrid, he was reportedly eyed up by Liverpool and remains one of the premier managerial options available in Europe.
Alonso left the Bernabeu in January (Image: Getty)
Roberto De Zerbi
Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi was the manager of French side Marseille until Tuesday evening, when he departed after some lacklustre results. A 5-0 defeat to rivals PSG on Sunday was the final straw.
De Zerbi was appointed as Brighton boss in 2022, succeeding Graham Potter, and he began right where the Englishman left off. During his nearly two seasons in charge, he led them to an unprecedented sixth-place Premier League finish and secured Europa League qualification.
The Italian left after a not-so-successful second campaign, but helped the likes of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma at the Amex. He has a track record of nurturing young talent, of which Spurs have plenty, and his track record in England speaks for itself.
De Zerbi has only just left Marseille (Image: Getty)
Xavi
Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez began his coaching career in Qatar but was brought back by the Catalan giants as manager in 2021. During his time at the Camp Nou, he guided them to their first La Liga title in four years and claimed a Spanish Super Cup crown.
Xavi became renowned for his stylish play but also his lesser-heralded stellar defence, which conceded just 20 goals during the 2022/23 season. He left the club in May 2024 after clashing with their president and remains on the market.
Appointing the Spaniard would no doubt excite Tottenham fans, as would his brand of football. He is another who has thrown his weight behind young talent before, giving Lamine Yamal his debut at just 15. Not to mention, one of Tottenham’s few bright sparks, Xavi Simons, would no doubt be inspired playing under the icon he was named after.
Xavi has been out of a job since 2024 (Image: Getty)
Edin Terzic
While not the flashiest name Spurs could set their sights on, former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic enjoyed a promising two seasons as the German club’s head coach. Terzic began as a scout and youth coach under Jurgen Klopp but rose through the ranks, enjoying a spell as interim boss in 2020 and two years as their permanent manager from 2022 to 2024.
In his time at the helm, Terzic guided Dortmund to a DFB-Pokal title and was one win away from snatching the Bundesliga from Bayern Munich in 2023. Perhaps most impressively, Dortmund reached the Champions League final in 2024, where Real Madrid defeated them.
Terzic left the club after this final loss, putting his head over his heart and admitting Dortmund should hire a new leader after a fifth-place league finish. This kind of humility would be welcomed in north London, and the 43-year-old has proven he has the tactical nous to cut it at the top level.
Terzic’s side contested a Champions League final in London (Image: Getty)
Enzo Maresca
While hiring former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca would not go down well with the Spurs faithful, the Italian only bolstered his managerial credentials during his 18 months at Stamford Bridge. The west London side drafted in Maresca after gaining promotion with Leicester City.
The former Manchester City reserve coach guided Chelsea to a UEFA Conference League title in his first season and pulled off an almighty feat when lifting the Club World Cup last summer. He was sacked in January after some poor results and a breakdown in communication with the club’s hierarchy.
Maresca has been mooted as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at City, but if Spurs wanted a new boss with top-flight experience, he wouldn’t have to relocate far.
