Tottenham Hotspur has initiated the search for a new manager following the dismissal of head coach Thomas Frank on Wednesday morning, a decision that came swiftly after a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle the previous night. Frank’s tenure at the North London club lasted just eight months, having been appointed in June 2025. The club finds itself in a precarious 16th position in the Premier League, merely five points above the relegation zone, prompting the hierarchy to take drastic action to avert a potential battle for survival.

The club's immediate priority is to appoint an interim coach to guide the team until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, with a view to bringing in a more established manager for the following season. Despite their dismal league form, Spurs have a season to salvage, notably progressing to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after finishing fourth in their league phase with five wins from eight matches – a positive note amidst the domestic struggles.

Thomas Frank's time at Tottenham was marked by an inability to adapt to the intense scrutiny and exposure inherent in managing a major Premier League club. While he made a promising start by stabilizing the backline – achieving five clean sheets in his first eight games, including a 2-0 win at Manchester City – this tactical flexibility soon devolved into a desperate search for answers. The relentless schedule of playing three games in seven days exposed cracks across the team, Frank himself, and the club's infrastructure. Players reportedly grew surprised by the heavy focus on nullifying opponents in training rather than developing their own style of play.

Discipline became a significant issue, with concerns over Frank's handling of incidents like Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven ignoring his request to acknowledge home support, and his perceived failure to publicly condemn Cristian Romero's social media criticisms. Romero's second red card of the season in a 2-0 loss to Manchester United further highlighted the team's disciplinary woes. Frank's authority was also undermined by questionable public statements, such as declaring, "One thing is 100% sure, we will lose football matches," and a gaffe involving an Arsenal-branded coffee cup, which further alienated a fanbase that had never fully warmed to him. Dissent grew louder as the team's performance declined, culminating in chants for former manager Mauricio Pochettino during the Newcastle defeat.

Frank's departure, however, is not seen as a panacea for Tottenham's deep-seated issues. The club has reportedly felt rudderless since Daniel Levy's departure in September 2025 after 24 years as chairman. The ownership structure, with Enic Sports & Developments Holdings Ltd (owned by billionaire Joe Lewis) holding a significant stake, has seen Lewis's daughter Vivienne, son Charles, and grandson-in-law Nick Beucher take on more hands-on roles. However, staff members reportedly miss Levy's engagement and believe the restructured ownership has yet to present a compelling vision for the club's future direction. This dissonance extended to the transfer market, where the club struggled to back Frank, leading to failed moves for players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, and exacerbating long-standing recruitment issues. A major injury crisis, sidelining key players like Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski, further complicated matters, with Frank reportedly believing the medical department required significant improvement.

Recognizing there is no quick fix, the club hierarchy was initially reluctant to part with Frank. However, the stark prospect of relegation forced their hand. Tottenham is now exploring various options for both interim and long-term managerial roles.

Leading candidates include **Mauricio Pochettino**, who is reportedly keen on a return to club management after his USMNT contract concludes this summer. Pochettino, who previously led Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final, remains highly regarded by the club and its fanbase. **Roberto De Zerbi**, recently unemployed after leaving Marseille, is also a strong contender, having garnered success with Brighton and being previously sought after by Spurs' former sporting director Fabio Paratici. Fulham manager **Marco Silva**, whose contract expires this summer, and Crystal Palace manager **Oliver Glasner**, who is set to leave Palace due to frustrations over transfer activity, are also expected to be in the frame.

Other possibilities include **Andoni Iraola**, who previously turned down Tottenham last summer, and internal options such as current assistant coach **John Heitinga**, who has interim experience with Ajax, and former Spurs interim manager **Ryan Mason**, who is currently a free agent. Former Spurs striker **Robbie Keane**, currently managing Ferencváros, is also being considered, though his experience is more limited.