Thomas Frank is facing an uncertain future at Tottenham after the recent Premier League struggles.
It certainly feels as though Thomas Frank has run his course at Tottenham. The Danish tactician appears increasingly monotonous in his press conferences, and there are clear signs that he is emotionally drained from managing the Lilywhites. The growing frustration among the fanbase has only compounded the situation, leaving the former Brentford boss under immense pressure.
The North Londoners have shown no real signs of improvement under Frank, continuing to hover in the bottom half of the Premier League table. Despite it still being January, Spurs have already been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions. The players appear to have lost belief in the manager, and it feels as though the club’s hierarchy may be waiting for the atmosphere to deteriorate further before finally relieving Frank of his duties at N17.
There are several names on the managerial market who could potentially replace Thomas Frank at Tottenham. The latest candidate to be linked with the role is Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard was recently sacked by Real Madrid after his side suffered a 3-2 defeat against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. That result proved to be the final blow for the young coach, who had struggled to win over Los Blancos supporters with his measured and patient approach.
Tottenham must act quick if they want to land Xabi Alonso
Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham could come to an end at any moment. It now feels like a case of when, not if. Under his guidance, the Lilywhites currently sit 14th in the Premier League, having won just seven of their 21 matches. Fans have run out of patience and are calling for change at the helm, with many believing Frank has yet to grasp what it truly takes to manage a club of Spurs’ stature.
Simon Jordan has now tipped Xabi Alonso as a potential candidate to take charge at Spurs and help the club build on last season’s Europa League success. Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan said, highlighting Levy being painted as a villain.
“I would like for him to go to Tottenham because I’d like these owners that are saying things about Daniel Levy that I think are unjust and unfair. Not just because I like Daniel, but because I think it’s unfair what they’ve said and the way they’ve painted the picture to get their comeuppance.”
The pundit added, backing Alonso for the job.
“Because if you stick Xabi Alonso in there, he won’t be having any of their nonsense about signing players like Conor Gallagher. He’ll want the best players. He’ll want the biggest name players. And you think (Antonio) Conte was a pain in the backside for Daniel Levy. Wait until Xabi Alonso gets in the door, based upon what we’ve seen at Real Madrid.”
Jordan believes Xabi Alonso’s arrival would immediately put pressure on the Lewis family to properly back the manager in future transfer windows. The recently dismissed Real Madrid boss would look to sign players suited to his system, rather than allowing the club’s footballing structure to dictate recruitment decisions. According to Jordan, Alonso would demand top-level players and full control over his squad.
An upgrade on Thomas Frank?
Thomas Frank has shown little sign of promise since taking charge of Tottenham in the summer. The Dane currently has the lowest points-per-game ratio of any Spurs manager in the last decade, highlighting just how poor results have been in the Premier League. Consistency has been lacking, and there appears to be no clear tactical blueprint for the players to follow.
Appointing Xabi Alonso could address many of these issues. The Spaniard demonstrated his managerial qualities during his time at Bayer Leverkusen, where he guided the club to a Bundesliga title after going the entire season unbeaten. That remarkable achievement played a key role in earning him the Real Madrid job. Despite his premature dismissal, Alonso still showed promise at the Bernabeu, losing only six of his 34 matches in charge of Los Blancos.
Managing Spurs would present a similar challenge to his spell at Bayer Leverkusen. The framework is comparable, with both clubs often regarded as sleeping giants within their respective leagues. Alonso’s progressive 3-4-3 system could suit the Lilywhites well, provided the squad has the right personnel to make it function effectively.
