Thomas Frank has lined up a new job after Tottenham left former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy
Thomas Frank’s time at Tottenham ended in disappointment after he was sacked in early February following less than eight months in charge.
He was hired to build on the foundations left by Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League triumph, the former Brentford manager instead overseeing their continued decline in league form.
Spurs dropped to 16th in the Premier League, won just seven of 26 league games under Frank and endured their longest winless run in the competition for more than a decade before the club decided change was inevitable.
Since moving to north London, Frank has been out of touch with management despite attracting interest elsewhere, trying his hand at the World Cup.
Crystal Palace were among the clubs linked with Danine before he appointed Pierre Sage, while reports also suggested that Frank was in talks to return to the Premier League before deciding to take a break from coaching.
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Football FanCast verdict |
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Honesty |
Tavolieri has built a strong reputation for breaking transfer stories involving Belgian football and Ligue 1, and now regularly reports for outlets including Sky Switzerland. He is generally considered well-connected, with a few notable specialties later confirmed by supermarkets. However, like most transfer experts, not every report works well, so his information is best considered reliable but strong when independently supported. |
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Finance |
Financially, Strasbourg can make the appointment without paying compensation because Frank has been unemployed since leaving Tottenham in February. The capital expenditure will match his expected salary and support his backroom staff. Those requirements can make the overall package more expensive than a fixed-term administration, even without the exemption fee. |
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Understanding |
Frank made his name in youth football with Denmark before moving into team management at Brondby. He really settled in at Brentford, guiding the club to their first top-flight campaign since 1947 and keeping them competitive with smart coaching, tactical flexibility and player development before his brief spell at Tottenham. |
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Impact |
Frank will bring a clear tactical organization and a proven track record of developing young players, qualities that fit Strasbourg’s recruitment model. His experience of building competitive teams on a limited budget at Brentford suggests he can help nurture the club’s emerging talent while creating a flexible squad capable of challenging for Europe. |
The 52-year-old player, who issued a statement in June, was adamant that he would not return to management before the new season.
However, according to Sky Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Frank may be about to make a U-turn.
Thomas Frank joined the Strasbourg staff after leaving Tottenham
According to him, Ligue 1 side Strasbourg have opened talks with Frank as they weigh up their next managerial appointment.
Tavolieri wrote in X:
“Strasbourg Racing contacted Thomas Frank to explore the possibility of a deal.
“The coach who has worked at Tottenham and Brentford wants to have a say in hiring people and wants a lot of assistants to be hired.”
Tavolieri also said that former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is also on Strasbourg’s radar, but sits behind Frank on the shortlist.
“Strasbourg sees Wilfried Nancy as option B. It will continue.”
Frank’s desire to influence recruitment is consistent with the approach that served him well at Brentford.
Why did Thomas Frank rule his career in Strasbourg
Throughout his seven-year spell with the Bees, he has worked closely with the club’s data-led recruitment model, helping to identify players capable of exceeding their transfer fees while ensuring new signings fit his tactical vision.
Although his spell at Tottenham damaged his reputation, it should not erase what he had achieved before arriving in north London.
Frank guided Brentford to the Premier League for the first time in more than 70 years via the Championship play-offs in 2021 and established them as a comfortable top-flight club despite operating on the lowest budget of the division.
His Brentford side have been punching above their weight. He developed the likes of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, Ethan Pinnock and Christian Norgaard, while repeatedly adapting his tactics to the opposition rather than relying on one system.
Brentford have also gained a reputation for disrupting the Premier League’s biggest clubs with planning, smart pressing and impressive work from set pieces.
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That is why the interest of Strasbourg makes sense.
The French club has focused more on developing young talent and building long-term value, and Frank has shown he can thrive in that type of environment.
Given a clear recruitment framework and the freedom to shape his coaching staff, there is a good chance he will recapture the qualities that made him one of the most respected managers in England during his successful Brentford years.
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