Thomas Frank was spotted in London hours before Tottenham Hotspur lock horns with Brighton in a clash that could decide their fate in the Premier League relegation battle.
Thomas Frank was spotted in attendance at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, watching Brentford's clash against Fulham. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss was sitting next to the Bees' owner, Matthew Benham, and sporting director, Phil Giles, in a box.
Last summer Frank left Brentford, where he had spent seven years as head coach, to join the Lilywhites and replace Ange Postecoglou in the dugout. The Dane enjoyed a promising start, winning three of his first five Premier League games in charge.
Before Arsenal ran riot in the North London Derby on matchday 12, Spurs were fifth in the English top-flight. Tottenham fell apart at the Emirates Stadium, and they went on to win just two of their next 14 games.
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Igor Tudor was appointed on an interim basis, but he was later replaced by Roberto De Zerbi. Frank went into hiding and hadn't been seen in public until this weekend.
When the Dane parted ways with Spurs, his agent claimed he's 'decided to pull the plug and relax'. Speaking to Ekstra Bladet, as quoted by Sport Witness, Allan Bak said: "He is going to relax a bit and visit friends and family. Still a little too early for interviews. He is enjoying himself with family and friends right now. Has decided to pull the plug and relax."
Sitting beside Benham and Giles, who he once reported to, Frank watched on from the stands as Fulham held Brentford to a goalless draw. The Bees squandered the opportunity to leapfrog Chelsea in sixth; meanwhile, the Cottagers missed out on the chance to climb into the top half of the table.
Tottenham still languish in the bottom three of the Premier League, but they can climb out of the relegation zone with a win over Brighton on Saturday evening. Nevertheless, Frank certainly left Brentford on good terms.
Upon his departure from the Bees, Giles said: "It has been a pleasure working alongside Thomas. From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build, and his wisdom, coaching ability, and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club.
"There have been so many special moments with Thomas, and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal.
"But it’s not just what you see on the pitch. He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength.
"However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact. We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential."