Where might Tottenham look if they did decide to place man-management at the top of their search priorities?
Former Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason previously stepped up as the club's interim head coach in both 2021 and 2023, overseeing 13 games in the Premier League, before being appointed as assistant coach to Ange Postecoglou.
Mason ended his seven-year coaching career at Spurs last summer to take over at West Brom, but he was sacked by the Championship club in January.
Meanwhile, former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, speaking on Sky Sports, external, said he could do a short-term stint as the club's head coach to help guide them out of trouble.
Another former Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, was said to be a candidate to permanently replace Thomas Frank, but his contract with the United States men's national team does not expire until after this summer's World Cup.
One former Spurs manager who appears to have ruled himself out of contention is 79-year-old Harry Redknapp.
"I won't [take the job] - I don't expect to get a call," Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live. "My focus this week is enjoying myself at Cheltenham."
Former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane was reported to be interested, external in the job before the club appointed Igor Tudor in February.
Spurs may choose to look further afield - but their current options, within the search parameters as they were a month ago, appear limited.
In addition to a track record of having an immediate impact, Spurs sought someone with top level managerial experience who plays attacking football.
When Spurs initially began their search to replace Thomas Frank, himself dismissed after less then eight months in charge, former Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi, former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic and ex-RB Leipzig boss Marco Rose were among the other potential short-term options.
Ex-Brighton boss De Zerbi left his role as manager of Marseille by mutual consent after just under two years in charge, three days before Spurs confirmed their appointment of Tudor.
Terzic has been out of work since asking Dortmund "to terminate his contract with immediate effect" in June 2024, after leading the club to the Champions League final.
Rose was sacked by Leipzig in March 2025, having won 72 of his 127 matches in charge and lifted the German Cup in 2023.
Within the Premier League, Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva are among the names who will be available this summer - but would any be prepared to leave their respective clubs earlier to help Spurs' cause?
FA Cup-winning manager Glasner has confirmed he will leave Crystal Palace this summer, but his immediate future was understood to be in doubt in February amid a poor run of results.
Bournemouth are reportedly set to, external open contract talks with Iraola in an effort to ward off interest from Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Fulham chief Tony Khan has said he is confident, external Silva will stay at the club "for a long time".