Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham following home defeat to Newcastle

Thomas Frank has been sacked by Tottenham after Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle.

The latest tumultuous result of Frank’s dismal reign resulted in Spurs falling to 16th in the Premier League and made it two wins in 17 league fixtures.

Not for the first time in 2026 Frank faced calls to be “sacked in the morning” by disgruntled Tottenham fans and there were also chants for old boss Mauricio Pochettino during the club’s eighth home loss in all competitions this season.

With 12 days until Spurs host rivals Arsenal on February 22, it left chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange and the Lewis family, which runs the club’s major shareholder ENIC, with a decision to make over Frank’s future and they have dismissed the 52-year-old.

Frank insisted after the defeat to Newcastle that he remained “1,000 per cent” certain he was the right man for the job and claimed to be “convinced” that he would be in charge of the visit of Arsenal.

However, a fifth loss in nine matches and the latest abject display booed by home supporters at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium forced the Spurs board into action with a recognition Frank’s position had become untenable.

“The club has taken the decision to make a change in the men’s head coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today,” a club statement read.

“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.”

The future of Frank was considered after last month’s 2-1 home defeat to West Ham, which sparked the first cries of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, but the ex-Brentford boss was given a stay of execution given the hectic fixture schedule and the lack of alternatives.

Yet, January’s FA Cup exit to Aston Villa has left Tottenham without a game this weekend and offered the chance of a reset with Frank’s tenure concluded after only 13 wins in 38 matches during his seven-month reign.

Spurs are on the lookout for their 15th permanent manager of the 21st century, but could turn to an interim, with recently-appointed first-team assistant coach John Heitinga a candidate and Stuart Lewis, previously in charge of the Under-18s, also an internal option.

Tottenham fans chanted for Pochettino during Tuesday’s loss and with the current United States head coach out of contract following this summer’s World Cup, a potential return to a club he this week described as “special” would appease big sections of the fanbase.

Ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is a newly-available option after he left Marseille this week.

However, the immediate aim for Tottenham will be to quickly move away from relegation trouble during the final 12 league fixtures of the season.

Frank was hired in June to replace Europa League-winning boss Ange Postecoglou after last season’s 17th-placed finish in the Premier League and declared his aim was to compete on four fronts this season.

An early reference to rivals Arsenal and a promise to “lose matches” by Frank raised eyebrows from a fanbase eager to build on Postecoglou’s achievement of winning Spurs a first trophy in 17 years despite an injury-hit 2024-25 season.

A positive start by Frank followed, but warning signs were there in September when only a stoppage-time equaliser prevented defeat at home to Wolves before abject displays in losses to rivals Chelsea and Arsenal heightened scrutiny.

When Frank criticised Spurs fans in late November after another home loss to Fulham, patience was already wearing thin and ‘boring, boring Tottenham’ chants during a drab stalemate at Brentford were the beginning of the end.

Players clashed with fans after a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth on January 7 where Frank inadvertently used a coffee cup with Arsenal’s badge on it and although he survived a 2-1 defeat to West Ham, Tottenham’s board acted after they slipped only five points off the relegation zone.