Tottenham: The big question mark hanging over Thomas Frank following Spurs appointment | OneFootball

Move from ‘perfect job’ at Brentford presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the Dane

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As Thomas Frank gets to work at Tottenham, neither party will need reminding of the risks.

Postecoglou was hugely popular among the players and the Europa League triumph remains fresh in the minds of supporters.

He has done a remarkable job across seven years in the Brentford dugout, operating with a wage bill that in most cases would have resulted in Premier League relegation.

At Spurs, Frank will have greater resources and a crack at the Champions League, but so too increased expectations and an immediate demand for results.

Frank enjoyed his best days at Brentford but now faces a new test

Adam Davy/PA Wire

Most crucial, perhaps, will be adapting to life outside the well-oiled Brentford machine.

“It’s in many ways the perfect job,” Frank said in January. “You can still be ambitious... you can build a club and have a chance to win something. And because the environment, the ownership and everything is so good, it means my day-to-day job is extremely good. That’s worth a lot.”

Recent Tottenham managers have not been queuing up to describe the Spurs job in the same way.

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte did not make it beyond 18 months, while even a European trophy was not enough for Postecoglou to survive.

At Brentford, Frank has enjoyed a strong relationship with owner Matthew Benham and works closely with director of football Phil Giles and technical director Lee Dykes.

The club are one of the best run in the country and have maximised every penny, with Frank developing the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo into key assets.

He was interviewed for the Chelsea job last summer and was also linked with Manchester United, but has been coy about taking the next step.

Frank pondered last summer: “Do I like to try something in the future? Maybe, but it’s not like I need to try something bigger or better because what is better? Who knows?”

He has earned the chance to find out, as Frank prepares to work outside the Brentford bubble for the first time since 2016.

Thomas Frank has reportedly requested the signing of Bryan Mbeumo

John Walton/PA Wire

The Bees provide the ideal structure, but Frank must now prove he can contend with increased responsibility and deliver away from that slick operation.

The scaffolding is very much up at Tottenham as the club undergoes a boardroom overhaul.

Levy’s closest ally Donna Cullen has departed after almost 20 years, while former Arsenal director Vinai Venkatesham is now in place as chief executive.

Chief football officer Scott Munn’s future is also in doubt, and there is talk of a return for Fabio Paratici when his ban for alleged financial irregularities is lifted this month.

The upheaval is significant and it will surely take some time for this new set-up to agree on a shared vision on recruitment, for example.

Technical director Johan Lange, though, is a keen admirer of Frank, having previously worked with him at Danish club Lyngby in 2013.

Frank will also bring some of his coaching staff with him to Spurs, along with set-piece expert Andreas Georgson, who was at Brentford in 2020.

Familiar faces will be crucial for a manager renowned for his tactical flexibility, particularly with training sessions minimised by a packed fixture list. Spurs played 17 more matches than Brentford last season.

It is a job that presents both an opportunity and a challenge for Frank, one that will elevate him as a manager or emphasise just how “perfect” the Brentford environment is.