THOMAS FRANK was interviewed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe for the Manchester United manager’s job the day before their 2024 FA Cup final triumph.
While Erik ten Hag was preparing for the make-or-break showpiece against Manchester City at Wembley, United co-ower Ratcliffe held discussions with prospective coach Frank in his London garage.
United spoke to several managers towards the end of the 2023-24 season amid the expectation that Ten Hag would be sacked.
Thomas Tuchel, Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna were among the other managers sounded out by United.
United had come eighth in the Premier League – their worst finish since 1990 – and finished bottom of their Champions League group in 2023-24.
Yet they progressed to the FA Cup final and, against all odds, defeated champions City 2-1 to spare Ten Hag of the sack at the end of that campaign.
Then Brentford coach Frank moved to Tottenham in the summer and in his new book, Thomas Frank – Diary from the Premier League: The Story of Denmark’s Greatest Coach, the Dane reveals that he interviewed for the United and Chelsea jobs on the same day.
“Sitting down to talk to two of the ten biggest clubs in the world – two hours apart – is quite unique,” Frank said to TV2.
“I know I didn’t get either job, but it was still huge.
“I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews and thinking, ‘Thomas Frank from f*****g Frederiksværk – am I really experiencing this?’”
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It is understood that even after United stuck by Ten Hag – who was eventually dismissed five months later – that Frank still spoke glowingly about the club on the off-chance he could be hired in the future.
After an end-of-season review, United decided to keep Ten Hag and triggered the one-year extension in his contract in July 2024.
However, he was finally sacked after four defeats from the first nine Premier League games last term.
Ironically, Ten Hag’s last win and final home game in charge of United was against Frank’s Brentford in October 2024.