Tottenham sack Thomas Frank after Newcastle defeat

Tottenham have sacked Thomas Frank following Tuesday night’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle, with the club now beginning the search for a new manager ahead of the north London derby against Arsenal.

The loss to Newcastle, Spurs’ seventh home defeat in 13 league games, proved decisive. Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table, just five points above the relegation zone, and have gone eight league matches without a win.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange recommended to the board late on Tuesday that Frank be relieved of his duties, with the decision confirmed on Wednesday morning.

A club statement read: “The club has taken the decision to make a change in the men’s head coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.

“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.”

Frank signed a contract until 2028 when he replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer but departs after just eight months in charge.

Tottenham’s slide down the table has intensified scrutiny in recent weeks. Tuesday’s defeat came after relegation rivals Leeds recovered from 2-0 down to draw with Chelsea, while only a late Benjamin Šeško equaliser for Manchester United at West Ham prevented Spurs from slipping closer to the bottom three.

Having followed Spurs’ trajectory this season, the downturn has felt gradual rather than sudden. Defensive instability, inconsistent attacking output and a lack of momentum at home have combined to create mounting pressure.

Frank had insisted after the Newcastle game that he believed he would not be dismissed, urging the board to “not lose their heads”. However, with a 12-day gap before facing Arsenal, the hierarchy opted to act swiftly.

Spurs are also out of both domestic cup competitions, removing potential distractions but increasing focus on league survival.

Attention now turns to who will replace Frank. Early market indications list Roberto De Zerbi as the leading candidate, followed by Mauricio Pochettino, Marco Silva, Xavi Hernández and Andoni Iraola.

No official approach has yet been confirmed, but Tottenham are expected to move quickly given the scale of the upcoming fixture against Arsenal.

Tottenham will appoint an interim manager while the search for a permanent successor begins. The timing of the change gives the club a short window to reset before the Arsenal clash.

With relegation concerns mounting, the immediate priority will be stabilising results and restoring confidence within the squad. Whether the managerial change delivers that bounce remains to be seen.

Have Spurs acted at the right time, or was Thomas Frank not given long enough?