Thomas Frank calls for Tottenham Hotspur's players to be 'brave' and 'become serial winners' as he seeks more 'magic moments'

Published 18/06/2025 at 19:55 GMT+1

Thomas Frank has outlined how he intends to build on Tottenham's UEFA Europa League success. The Dane has given his first interview since replacing Ange Postecoglou as the club's manager. He says he has been left with some solid foundations courtesy of the Australian, and is now hoping to provide the fans with more "magic moments" as he looks to turn Spurs into "serial winners".

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Thomas Frank has vowed to provide Tottenham Hotspur fans with more "magic moments," as he looks to build on their UEFA Europa League success.

The Dane was confirmed as Ange Postecoglou's replacement in north London last week, when he put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal.

He is charged with improving a team who finished in 17th place in the Premier League last season, their lowest top-flight finish since they were relegated in 1976/77.

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But he says the club's success against Manchester United, when they ended a trophy drought that stretched back to 2008, shows how big they can be.

"The feeling of being new head coach is extraordinary," he told Tottenham in his first interview since taking the reins. "I'm really looking forward to this massive challenge, together with a lot of good people.

"I've only heard good stuff about all the people here, the training ground, the players, good squad, [it is] exciting.

"[It is a] massive club. I think [there is] massive potential. Just super, super excited."

Frank spent almost seven years in charge at Brentford, during which time he led the club into the Premier League.

Under his guidance, The Bees then consolidated their place in the top flight, with their boss winning plenty of plaudits in the process.

At Tottenham, expectations will be somewhat different.

Instead of looking to simply guide a team into European competitions, Spurs fans will have ambitions of pushing into the top four again, while also seeking further trophy glory.

Frank is only too aware of that but called his predecessor "a legend".

"Huge congratulations to the club, to the team. Huge congratulations to Ange. He will forever be a legend in Tottenham," said Frank.

"I think it's very important to understand that we all stand on the shoulders of others, so I'm going in on the foundations that Ange has built, and his coaching staff.

"I'm very humble about that and I will do my very best to continue the great work he's put in.

"But the feeling and the excitement and the joy and the happiness you could see in the fans' faces and the pictures you saw was... wow.

"Hopefully we can create more of those moments. That would be the ultimate dream, to do that and build on that.

"Nobody can say they're not winners. The team and the players are winners. Now we need to do our best to see if we can become serial winners in the future.

"I think the alignment is key, from top to bottom. It starts from [chair] Daniel [Levy] and [CEO] Vinai [Venkatesham] and [football executive] Johan [Lange] and me.

"The more the four of us can be aligned, just like a unit, an unbreakable unit, the stronger we will be.

"There will be ups and downs. Right now, it's a fairytale. Everyone is happy. The sun is shining, it's fantastic. But we haven't played one game yet.

"Hopefully we win a lot. We will work very hard, every single day, to make sure we create as many magic moments for the fans, put them together, and hopefully at the end of the season it will be a very good season.

"But the alignment in terms of structure, processes, transfers, squad, playing style, coaching, all that, is key."

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Frank also believes the club's fans will play a big part in any future success.

Tottenham supporters have been somewhat fragmented in recent years, with some calling for chairman Daniel Levy to step aside.

Frank hopes to unite the fanbase, as he continued: "I think the fans are the most important ones.

"It's the team, staff, me, all of us; how can we make sure we create enough magic moments with the fans, make moments they remember, that they can hopefully get excited about? It's about that.

"And also that we go on a journey together, and on a journey, there will be ups and downs. It's how we get through these ups and downs together.

"But of course the connection from the team to the fans, from me to the fans, is going to be crucial."

Frank also laid down the law to his new players, in terms of what he expects from them.

Risk-taking is something he believes in, as it could potentially lead to a more exciting and profitable brand of football.

And he will also insist on his squad giving 100% every game - or face the consequences.

"I'm a big believer that if you don't take risks, you also take risks," he said.

"A risk is, for example, if we play a man-to-man in some situations. A risk is you need to play forward. If you don't risk the ball, you can't create anything. I'm a big believer of that.

"We need to be brave. The players need to brave when we play, and they need to trust themselves.

"I will do my very best to instil that trust and the players need to be brave.

"For me, if they lose the ball by trying, that's never a problem for me. Of course, I can react, it's natural, but they need to do that.

"But if they don't work hard, I struggle more with that. If they do everything they can and they lose the ball and they try, no problem.

"But it's more if they don't work hard, that's my non-negotiable."

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