Thomas Frank reveals how he is turning up the risk factor by joining Tottenham Hotspur
Thomas Frank has wasted no time embracing the chaos at Tottenham, pointing out how the club axed five managers during his relatively stable reign at Brentford, and insisting he is not afraid to walk into the pressure cooker at Hotspur Way.
For most of the summer following Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League triumph, there was plenty of talk about whether the Australian would remain in the Tottenham dugout for the upcoming season.
Those rumours were quickly put to bed when Spurs confirmed the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, citing performance-related issues as the main reason behind their decision, as Postecoglou managed 78 points from his last 66 PL games.
Put simply, winning a single trophy – no matter how significant – is not enough to keep your job at a club of Tottenham’s stature if the overall body of work does not meet expectations.
Thomas Frank on Tottenham sacking five managers during his Brentford spell
Receiving the sack is nothing new at Hotspur Way, with Daniel Levy swinging the axe on 15 different managers during his 24-year spell as chairman of Tottenham.
In fact, during the seven seasons Thomas Frank spent at Brentford, Tottenham have parted ways with five separate head coaches.
When asked about the club’s reputation for being ruthless in such a short period, Thomas Frank was quick to embrace the challenge, stating that he enjoys taking risks and sees the move to Spurs as a step up with long-term potential.
He did, however, stress that he would be taking it one game at a time, as he looks to establish something more sustainable in North London.
He told football.london: “Only five? I like to challenge myself. I have the privilege of I have never been sacked before. That is one of the reasons why I took the job. I get a little bit more risk in my daily life.
“Coming to a big club, there are pressures. We need to perform because it is we. It is me, it is the staff, the players, the staff and everyone – we need to do that together.
“I like the ambitions. Everything I do, every decision I have made so far, is for the long term. It is not about surviving one game or one year or 18 months or whatever the average is. It is for the long run.”
Spurs pre-season schedule offers early insight into Frank era
Frank’s tenure is set to begin with a pre-season clash against Reading on Saturday at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The 51-year-old will then take his squad up against Luton Town, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Bayern Munich in four additional pre-season fixtures.
Of course, his time at Spurs will not be judged by the outcomes of these friendlies; however, the UEFA Super Cup tie against Paris Saint-Germain will mark his first competitive match, and given the magnitude of the occasion and the expectations around Spurs, the result could set the tone for what lies ahead.
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