OPINION: Tottenham have had their ups and downs when it comes to the success of managers, but there is one big thing all those who have been successful there have in common
Thomas Frank stands every chance of being a great manager for Tottenham and before you start getting angry, take a beat, the numbers back this up.
The reason I'm right is simple, there’s one big thing Frank has that puts modern history on his side: like the best managers at White Hart Lane in the Premier League era, he has great hair.
Hair? HAIR?! I hear you screaming from the office toilet you’re hiding in. I bet you’re fighting the urge slam the door of that cubicle just thinking about Spurs managers’ barnet, aren't you? Go on, tip the watercooler over I dare you, but you might want to listen to this first.
The fact is, of the 19 managers (or management partnerships) the north Londoners have had since the beginning of the Premier League, only four have had a win record of over 50%.
Let that sink in. Barely a quarter of managers in the modern era with a positive league record. Appalling. But that’s where the genius of Thomas Frank comes in, here's why.
In North London there is an undeniable correlation between the fame and consideration given to one's barnet (transplanted or otherwise) and results on the pitch.
Take for instance André Villas-Boas - he's known for many things: Coming from Chelsea, sure. Entering the Dakar Rally, maybe a bit more niche, but yeah why not. Thick head of hair? Big time.
You say ‘André Villas-Boas’ I say ‘good lid’. And the second thing I think of? Having a win record over 50%.
It’s undeniable, the man’s locks were and still are thoughtful and manicured, exploring boundaries between formality and playful unkemptness. No surprise then, that he had a 54% league win record at the helm in N17.
Coincidence? Maybe. But wait, there's more. Next in the queue with a 56% win record is the club’s best manager of recent years, Mauricio Pochettino.
He’s still used as the benchmark for others who have follow since. In Harringey, there are two main eras: BM and AM. Since his departure in 2019, every matchday chat on the Tottenham High Road, every spittle-laced shout in the ear at the Beehive or small talk in the local barbers has been in the context of “since Poch”.
What did he have, when you really think about it, beyond a humble affability and steely underdog softness? A thick mop of dark brown hair with a neat quiff even Jan Vertonghen would be proud of, that's what. (As an aside, it’s no surprise the likes of 'Super Jan' and Michael Dawson are club legends based on this metric).
Antonio Conte’s on this list too. Sure, he wasn’t a fan favourite, but with the second highest league record in the club’s Prem history (57%) those floppy locks seem hard to argue with.
Conte has the air of a Roman general, leading some far flung-campaign into the dense forests of Britannia, spreading the rule of Italia '90 into these barbaric, hooligan lands.
There have been some articles online about a possible transplant, although he’s never spoken about it. But who cares? He won a lot of league games, and when he did it, his hair was dense, a straight mop of results-driven endeavour.
And then there was Tim Sherwood. He’s 56 now but you wouldn’t know it thanks to his lid. It’s the envy even of school kids yet to feel the breeze creeping through the tops of their scalps, all effortless quiffs and easy-going mess. His win record? 59%, the best in the era, the high watermark for Spurs managers in the league.
Think about all that, really let it soak in, you know it makes sense. Then think about what Thomas Frank looks like. He’ll be alright.