Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after a run of only 2 wins in 17 league games

Thomas Frank has been sacked by Tottenham after a run of only 2 wins in 17 Premier League games, following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle.

Defeat leaves them 16th – just five points above the bottom three. There were boos at half time and full time. Tottenham fans sang “Sacked in the morning!” to Frank, “He’s Magic… You Know!” about Mauricio Pochettino and told Frank down the tunnel that it was time to go.

“It’s not the right thing to do” was what Frank said in regards to sacking him, while speaking in his press conference. Newcastle’s Eddie Howe said Frank was an excellent manager.

Tom Allnutt reports that “Vinai recommended the decision to the Tottenham owners on Wednesday night, which was accepted. Even with mitigating factors, decided there just hasn’t been enough on the pitch. Heitinga taking training today.”

Alex Crook said “As recently as this week Thomas Frank believed he would be given time to turn #THFC form around. Mood in boardroom changed at half time last night according to well-placed sources. Players given five days’ off with no game this weekend and not told in person he had been axed.

“THFC have been making contingency plans for a change since the turn of the year, these are believed to have featured Michael Carrick before he took #MUFC role. Interim appointment likely but not 100 per cent decided yet. Poch would be keen on a return post World Cup.

“De Zerbi was a contender pre Postecoglou but not keen at this stage. Believed to be more open now following his Marseille exit. Ryan Mason not yet sounded out re third spell as caretaker. Heitinga remains on coaching staff as it stands.”

CLUB STATEMENT:

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.

FAVOURITES TO BECOME NEW TOTTENHAM MANAGER:

Sky Bet – 11th Feb
John Heitinga – 8/11
Roberto De Zerbi – 6/4
Marco Silva – 15/2
Mauricio Pochettino – 10/1
Robbie Keane – 10/1
Xavi Hernandez – 12/1
Ruben Amorim – 16/1

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Thomas Frank sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach. #THFC working through various possible contingency plans to replace 52yo Dane as club sit 16th in Premier League – 5 points above relegation zone after 2 wins from 17 matches @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/wy09K1KjjB

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 11, 2026

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… pic.twitter.com/mo82TaAXts

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 11, 2026

Chris Cowlin of the Spurs Chat podcast told the BBC: “When Thomas Frank was appointed, I thought he’d bring a calmness, defensive qualities and a tactical versatility.

“He played 17 different formations for Brentford last season. Spurs thought they were getting a flexible manager who would improve players.

“This is not all on Frank – the board need to deliver depth in transfer windows.

“And the players at the moment look beat before we start the game, the body language doesn’t look right.

“Frank as Spurs boss – it simply wasn’t working. Someone is going to come in and give these players confidence and put some energy back into Tottenham.

“Hopefully we can climb up that table.”

How do you feel when you hear the crowd’s reaction towards you?

Thomas: “I understand the fans’ frustration. We are in a position we don’t want to be in and we are working very hard day and night to change. I also think it is a situation now the club has been in, it’s fair to say, for almost two years and at the end of last season as well – clearly a pattern that we struggle to manage Europe and the Premier League. It’s something me, the team, the club, the players we need to learn to do even better physically and mentally to deal with that. Part of that of course is the 11 injuries or 10 plus a suspension plus another one today which of course doesn’t help in a situation like that. Then we face a Newcastle team which is struggling a little bit lately, look at what they put out on the pitch, compared to what they have done in the last three years. I think it’s fair to say it’s quite different to us. I think Newcastle were more on top first half. We came back in it very well. Then I think it was a little bit symbolic of our season that we had a transition going one way, then we misplaced a pass and defended badly for the 2-1 goal.”

Will you still be in charge for the game against Arsenal?

Thomas: “Yeah, I’m convinced I will be. I understand the question and I understand it’s easy to point on me, but I also think it’s never only the head coach or the ownership or the directors or the players or the staff. It’s everyone. If you do something right, you build something that can last. Of course, we are not in a top position now. Everyone knows – directors, ownership, myself – what position we are in, what we need to improve and what we need to do better. That is what we are working very hard on.”

They can hear the boos as well…

Thomas: “I guess so, yeah.”

Eddie Howe’s just been here, he knows what it’s like to have gone down with Bournemouth and you talked about how the injuries can play a massive role – how much do the hierarchy understand?

Thomas: “Of course they understand that. I think everyone can see that you can just put the 11 players that are out in a line-up and then you can compare the two teams and then you guys can judge which player is out. So, of course that affects things, but it’s my job to do everything we can to find solutions with the players available.”

He also said about needing players in these difficult times who give you everything – do you feel your players are giving you everything?

Thomas: “Yeah, if you see them out there, I think they’re running very, very hard. It’s tough for them. It is tough. Football and life is tough at times, it’s just the way it is and when you have things going against you, you need to show resilience, you need to show your true colour. We are definitely tested to show that.”

Do you have an update on the injury to Wilson Odobert?

Thomas: “No, not yet. I hope it’s nothing too serious, but I don’t know what it can be. I hope it’s not a serious injury to a 20-year-old young player.”

It feels like it’s a theme that clubs come here on a poor run, low in confidence, and then turn it around here. Why do you think that is?

Thomas: “I think maybe there’s a theme. I think we’ve lost definitely too many games at home. There’s no doubt about that. This is a Newcastle team, a very experienced Newcastle team. They’ve been in various situations. They also know how to get out of situations like this, or whatever the situation they were in. Again, I think they were more on top in the first half. After, we’re coming back, equalising, 1-1. At that stage it’s an open game and that’s where we need to understand, yes, we need to do everything we can to win, but we can’t concede a goal like we conceded a goal.”

How disappointed are you with the attacking play and the lack of patterns of play?

Thomas: “I think the injuries need to be massively taken into consideration. I haven’t really said it too much, but everyone can see the impact of things.”

What was the reasoning behind Palhinha not starting?

Thomas: “I think you take decisions sometimes. but he did very well when he came on.”

How convinced are you that you are the right man for this job? Do you still have that belief?

Thomas: “1,000 per cent sure. I am also 1,000 per cent sure that I never expected us to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries on the back end of this and what we’ve been facing, but I know when you need to build something and need to get through things, you need to show unbelievable strong resilience. I think it is fair to say there are a few before me up here not only for Tottenham but in many other clubs that have lost their head many times and I think you need to have a calm head, carry on, keep fighting and keep doing the right thing, make sure we stick together because we can only do this if we stick together. That is the board, that is the leaders, that is the players, that is the staff, that is me and that is the fans. We only get through this together.”

Do you accept that if the club continue to get closer to the relegation zone, the manager is the only thing that can change at this stage…

Thomas: “I understand the mechanism in football, no doubt about that but there are a lot of studies that it is not the right thing to do. I know it’s the only movement they have, but there’s also plenty of situations where it’s not the right thing to do. The only thing I’ll focus on is fighting, doing the right thing together with everyone else.”

Is there panic around the club and the team around relegation?

Thomas: “Of course we understand we’re not in a good situation, but with everything in life you need to stay calm, keep doing it and keep going.”

Here’s how fans reacted to Thomas Frank being sacked by Tottenham after a run of only 2 wins in 17 league games…

@Lilywhite_Rose: It’s been an absolute disaster and waste of everyone’s time and money. Serious scrutiny should also follow those that have enabled this to go on for so long.

@ToonPolls: Keep changing the manager all you like lads. They aren’t the full extent of the problem and your great fanbase knows this. Maybe also look at Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham 👍

@IanRidley1: Feel for him. #ThomasFrank latest fall guy for years of misguided recruitment and injury list the length of Tottenham High Road, which must be due to issues with medical dept/training regime. #Spurs mailed season ticket renewal notices (mine up) last week. For ENIC read panic.

@GaryRWard: It was something that had to be done, but after West Ham, trying to & even admitting the persistence over something that was clearly not working is a red flag on the leadership right now. I like millions, love this club dearly, but the ownership has to understand its fan base better. We will, in our thousands, follow the club anywhere it goes, but just give us something to believe in, & be transparent in the process. Together, Come On You Spurs !!!

@TalkingTHFC: About 6 months too late lads, but great stuff.

@chrisTHFC13: Should’ve been sacked MONTHS ago but we’ll take it

@mackyd78: Months too late, but l guess better late than never… Even this comms is just pure wet lettuce… Now, sack those 2 clowns running the football side, Lange and Vinai, then we will start to think maybe you are wanting to be serious… Oh, and I hope all his coaches have left.

@Wazza1882: The fucker doesn’t even get a corner flag or stadium front! Twat! His whole team needs to go! Not just him!

@89Drix: About 4 months too late! Sure that was the excuse for not spending that £100+mill you promised fans too! Time for more change now! Get Poch back and get rid of the rest #VINAIOUT #LANGEOUT #LEWISOUT #ENICOUT