Tottenham sack Thomas Frank after just eight months in charge as relegation looms

Thomas Frank has been sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach.

The decision was made after Frank watched his side slip to their 11th league defeat of the season in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle.

Getty

Spurs were undone by Jacob Ramsey’s 68th minute winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, just four minutes after Archie Gray had cancelled out Malick Thiaw’s opener for the Magpies.

“The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today,” a statement read.

“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.

“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.

“Throughout his time at the Club, Thomas has conducted himself with unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the Club forward. We would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.”

It’s understood Spurs prepared for a change of manager since the beginning of 2026, and will now decide on whether to make a permanent or temporary appointment now.

Their last top-flight success came in the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on December 28.

Tuesday’s defeat leaves Tottenham in 16th place and only five points above the relegation zone.

And despite Spurs being in the last 16 of the Champions League, the decision has been made to axe the former Brentford boss.

Frank departs Tottenham despite having only been appointed in the summer on a contract until 2028 and managed just 38 matches – 13 wins, ten draws and 15 defeats.

Getty

He leaves with their worst win rate percentage [26.9 per cent] in Premier League history of managers that have overseen at least ten games – winning just seven of 26.

Frank, who became their fourth permanent manager since June 2021, averaged 1.12 points per game in the league, the lowest of any Spurs boss to have managed at least five matches.

Who should be the next Spurs manager?

Roberto De Zerbi would be open to the Spurs job having left Marseille on Tuesday night.

Inside Spurs on talkSPORT

talkSPORT does Tottenham like nobody else.

Stay ahead of every tactical shift, manager sacking and transfer rumour by making talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs show your weekly go to for all things Tottenham related.

Subscribe now to ensure you never miss a beat of the action one episode at a time, sponsored by BetMGM.

Download the app or visit BetMGM.co.uk. 18+gambleaware.org

And talkSPORT’s Jamie O’Hara wants to see the former Brighton boss take the reins.

“If I’m the Spurs board right now, I am phoning him up and getting him in at Tottenham tomorrow,” he said on Drive.

Former manager Mauricio Pochettino is also keen to return to the club after the World Cup.

AFP

talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs YouTube show discussed last month whether Pochettino should return to the north London club.

talkSPORT’s Sonny Snelling said: “Never go back to an ex. I feel like the ship has maybe sailed on him, which is a shame. 

“I feel like when you do look at his time at PSG and Chelsea, like there were good moments there. 

“I just feel like now with the World Cup, it depends how that goes for the US. They’ve not had great prep.

“I am lost for words who we have next because my idea would be to pick a young coach because I feel like these last two project managers have been a bit set in their ways.

“I feel like these younger coaches who are out there are more open for some transfers to come in that they can improve on.

“I’d go for, personally, Sebastian Hoeneß at Stuttgart, who has gone out there and he’s won them their first trophy in a long time.

“He’s improved players. They’ve got a guy over there called Angelo Stiller, who’s been linked with Real Madrid and is proper good play-making midfielder.”

AFP

Romero sums up Spurs issues

Frank was without key man Romero for the defeat to Newcastle, after another red card.

He started his four game ban, which also includes the north London derby.

It had been suggested he should be stripped of the captaincy and will be a big decision for the new manager.

The panel on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs podcast have also discussed their thoughts on Romero.

Alongside host Majestic, Sonny Snelling said: “He’s said all the right things, but should the club captain be saying it?

“It’s getting a bit telling that he’s called out the board, calling out the injury situation and transfer window.

“He’s well in his right, but this statement and rumours of him leaving, it’s not wanted at the moment and it adds more fuel to the fire.”

Getty

But Abbi Summers strongly disagreed with that take, saying: “I think that it’s fine for him to call out the board.

“What’s he saying that we don’t say? If a manager does it, they probably get sacked. But I have no issue with the captain of Tottenham calling out the board and their shortcomings.”

“Romero is a World Cup winner,” Summers added. “Do I think that he’s within his rights to call out the ambitions of the club? Yeah I do, because we call it out at fans.”