Brentford's decision to appoint Thomas Frank as head coach in October 2018 will always be viewed as a key date in the club's history. Arriving at the club 22 months earlier to become assistant head coach under Dean Smith, the Dane stepped up to the main role in wake of the 54-year-old's switch to Aston Villa.
After a tricky start with one win in his first ten games, Brentford soon started to kick on and they would narrowly miss out on promotion in 2020 after losing the Championship play-off final to Fulham. They would achieve their Premier League dream the following year, beating Swansea City at Wembley to secure promotion to the top flight.
Under the guidance of Frank, the Bees have not looked back and continue to make big strides in the Premier League. Having a clear vision and aided by some very smart acquisitions in the transfer market, both in the Championship and Premier League, Frank and Brentford have wowed many over the past few years.
Frank's future is now at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as he is set to replace Ange Postecoglou at the helm. Spurs will be hoping that the Dane can replicate what he has done at Brentford and get the team back up the Premier League table and competing towards the top.
Given what he has achieved in west London, many want to know his management secrets. Speaking to Sky News in 2023, Frank opened up on Brentford's journey, the importance of having a clear strategy and alignment, good recruitment in the transfer market and what he asks of his players.
"First and foremost, I think it's about us achieving something, or over achieving, which I agree if the context is the budget, no doubt about that," said the ex-Brondby boss. "I think the clear strategy and alignment from Matthew Benham the owner, Phil Giles sports director, Lee Dykes technical director and me as the head coach, aligned with a good staff and good players, I think that strategy alignment is one thing. Two, and maybe even more important, is the culture we have created, and I am in charge of that.
"And it's all about good people, good characters. But what they create together, a bit of magic, the staff and the players, I think that is key because my staff can push the players to ninety per cent performance but the last ten per cent has to come from within the group. As I say to my players, they have to create that extra determination, willpower to always want to become better.
"And the last bit, but that's linked to the strategy, is good recruitment. We need good players in that can play but also fit into the culture. I think good players is the most important thing, I would say.
"I think have a good group of staff around you. I think that's key. So that's the two things that need to be very, very important.
"Then I think the ownership or the leadership above, because if that's not aligned, it's also an issue. And then, of course, I have to play a little bit of a role as well. And I think clear vision, consistent in messages, consistent behaviour every single day I think that's key."