Tottenham Hotspur have sacked head coach Thomas Frank after less than eight months in charge after a disastrous 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United left the club languishing in 16th place in the Premier League.
The 52-year-old Dane leaves Spurs just five points above the relegation zone but remains winless in his last eight games, the longest such run without a win since October 2008.
The decision was confirmed in an official club statement on Wednesday.
“The club has made the decision to make changes to the men’s head coaching position, with Thomas Frank retiring today,” Spurs said in a statement.
“Mr Thomas was appointed in June 2025 and we are determined to give him the time and support he needs to build our future together.”
“However, given the results and performance, the board has come to the conclusion that changes are necessary at this point in the season.”
“Throughout his time at the club, Thomas has acted with unwavering commitment and done everything he can to move the club forward.”
“We would like to thank him for his contributions and wish him continued success.”
Chief executive Vinay Venkatesham is expected to address the situation later on Wednesday, but sources said the club had not yet named a permanent replacement.
An interim appointment appears to be the most likely immediate solution.
Why was Thomas Frank fired?
Tuesday’s loss to Newcastle was a turning point.
Frank faced chants from Tottenham fans saying he would be sacked in the morning as Spurs suffered their 11th league defeat of the season, while others chanted the name of former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Spurs have won just two of their last 17 Premier League games, picking up just 12 points in that period and have been drawn into a relegation battle that few expected at the start of the season.
Frank was loudly booed after recent home defeats to Newcastle and West Ham, and Frank was mocked with the same sack chants during the West Ham loss and later in the 2-2 draw with Burnley.
Thomas Frank’s performance record at Tottenham
Frank’s tenure began in June 2025, after Ange Postecoglou was fired. He signed a contract until 2028 and initially appeared to be playing a role in steadying the ship.
Tottenham defeated Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham in three of their opening four league games, and also won the Champions League against Villarreal.
Despite a mixed domestic record with seven wins, eight draws and 11 losses in the league, Spurs made a good impression in Europe.
Out of eight Champions League group stage matches, they won five, drew two and lost just one, with the only loss to holders Paris Saint-Germain, who finished fourth in the group and automatically qualified for the last 16.
However, domestic strife ultimately determined his reign.
Spurs were eliminated by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup in October, and were eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup by Aston Villa last month.
Things in the Premier League have deteriorated rapidly since November, with a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal and a 0-3 defeat to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
Fire at board meeting and chaos in dressing room
After a 2-2 draw with Manchester City, Spurs were booed at half-time while leading 2-0, with captain Cristian Romero publicly criticizing the club’s hierarchy.
He described it as “disgraceful” The club only had 11 healthy senior players available for this match.
Romero’s turmoil continued on February 7, when he received his second straight red card of the season in Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
The Argentine defender will miss the next three Premier League matches, including the North London derby against Arsenal on February 22nd.
Injury crisis and mounting pressure
Frank’s mission was complicated by the threat of serious injury.
Tottenham are without several key players through long-term injuries, including Lukas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Rodrygo Bentancur, Mohamed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.
Spurs only took 10 points at home under Frank, but their away form was slightly better, collecting 19 points from 13 away games.
Last month, Frank insisted he felt the board trusted him. But he is already under intense scrutiny within the company, with at least one senior official raising the possibility of ending his term, according to reports.
From Brentford’s success to Spurs’ struggles
Before arriving in north London, Frank spent seven years at Brentford, leading the club from the Championship to the 2021 Premier League and winning widespread praise for his progressive style.
However, his tenure at Tottenham did not completely convince supporters.
It started with a penalty shoot-out loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, which Spurs had qualified for after winning the Europa League the previous season under Postecoglou.
Although there were signs of promise, his style of play failed to win over the fan base, and a long period of poor performance ultimately sealed his fate.
What happens next?
With Tottenham dangerously close to the relegation zone and facing important games, including the North London derby, the board opted to act decisively.
It remains to be seen whether the interim administrator will be able to steady the ship.
For Thomas Frank, a situation that started optimistically in June came to an abrupt end in February, the latest managerial casualty of Tottenham’s turbulent modern era.
