Tottenham sack Thomas Frank after eight months amid poor league form

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked head coach Thomas Frank following Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle, leaving the team 16th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation zone.

The Spurs crowd had made their discontent clear, booing Frank and chanting for his dismissal even before the final whistle. Appointed on 12 June on a three-year contract to succeed Ange Postecoglou, Frank departs after eight league games without a win. Tottenham have won only two of their last 17 league matches and suffered early exits in both domestic cup competitions.

While the team secured a Champions League last-16 spot with a fourth-place finish in their group, Frank’s style of play alienated supporters. Tottenham often lacked creativity and cutting edge, relying on predictable crosses and struggling to exploit through-balls or get runners in behind. Richarlison scored seven league goals, while key attackers—including Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel, and Randal Kolo Muani—managed just six combined. Dominic Solanke, returning from an ankle injury, contributed two goals.

The Spurs board had initially resisted sacking Frank, aware of the challenges he faced: an injury-hit squad with 11 players sidelined, the demands of the Champions League, and a transitional season marked by multiple leadership changes.

Fan unrest had been brewing since November, when a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea highlighted the team’s struggles. Tensions peaked in January during a loss to West Ham, with supporters booing and chanting for Frank’s removal. The disconnect between players and fans was clear, exemplified when Pedro Porro cupped his ear toward the West Stand after assisting a goal.

Home form remained a major issue: Tottenham won just twice in the league at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with only Burnley and Wolves recording worse records at home.

Frank, who had never previously been sacked, accepted the Spurs job knowing the risks. “Only five?” he had said, referring to Spurs’ previous managerial dismissals. “I like to challenge myself. I have the privilege that 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.”

He now joins the long list of managers dismissed at Tottenham, becoming the latest in a club notorious for its high turnover at the helm.