Football FanCast

A "phenomenal" manager is now keen on replacing Thomas Frank as Tottenham Hotspur manager.

Spurs identify multiple targets as search for Frank replacement continues

Speaking on The Overlap, Ange Postecoglou stated the decision to sack Frank was correct, but also suggested there are deeper issues at boardroom level, saying: "At the start of the year they sort of said, compete on all fronts. Well, the club hasn't competed on all fronts for a very long time. And you also, you know, the most influential person at the club [Daniel Levy] for the last 20 years is also going.

"Now, did Thomas know he was walking into that? I don't know. And it's a fair departure from me."

As such, if Tottenham are going to be successful, ENIC may have to make major changes, but getting the next managerial appointment right is also of key significance, and a number of targets have already been identified.

However, with the north Londoners potentially in a relegation battle, bringing in an interim manager until the end of the season is also an option, and Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane was named as a target yesterday.

According to a more recent report from Sky Sports, Keane is keen on returning to Tottenham, but he would only be interested in taking the job permanently, rather than on a temporary basis.

With the Irishman pushing to win the league title with Ferencvaros for the second time, it would be strange to leave to take an interim role, and former defender Michael Dawson has suggested he should be given the job permanently.

Dawson said: "I can't see him leaving Ferencvaros in the middle of the season but why not give it to him on a permanent basis.

"They've tried Jose Mourinho, they've tried Antonio Conte and Thomas Frank. There's a disconnect between the players and the fans and that can't be the case. The situation Spurs are in, they have to be together from top to bottom."

As a player Keane is one of the greatest goalscorers in men's international football history, ranking in the top 30 with 68 goals - ahead of players like Mohamed Salah and Didier Drogba.

Keane could be "phenomenal" appointment for Spurs

The 45-year-old is still in the early stages of his managerial career, but he is certainly showing encouraging signs, averaging a 65% win rate across spells with Ferencvaros and Maccabi Tel Aviv, having won 77, drawn 22 and lost 19 of the 115 matches he has contested.

Ferencvaros won the Hungarian league title under the helm of the former Spurs striker last season, and they are on course to become champions again, with his side currently top of the table.

CBS Sports analyst Charlie Davies is also an admirer of the Ferencvaros boss, and praised him for the "phenomenal" job he's done in Hungary.

Of course, moving to Tottenham would be a big step-up, but Keane has earned the opportunity to prove himself at a top club.

A former Chelsea boss has privately told people that he'd love to join Tottenham and succeed Thomas Frank as head coach, according to a new report.

Tottenham sack Thomas Frank after dire eight-month reign

Spurs pulled the trigger on Frank's nightmare reign Wednesday morning after the Dane's catastrophic eight-month spell left the club staring down the barrel of relegation.

Frank's sacking came barely 12 hours after Tuesday's shocking 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle, a result which sparked furious supporter protests including relentless "sacked in the morning" chants echoing around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The decision wasn't remotely surprising given Spurs languish 16th, just five measly points above the Championship drop with 12 games left.

Frank's reign never recovered from disastrous early setbacks.

His underwhelming first press conference set negative tones immediately, whilst subsequent embarrassments, photographed drinking from an Arsenal-branded coffee cup before the Bournemouth defeat, became symbolic of his tenure's farcical nature.

Supporters never warmed to tactics, replacing entertainment with dull pragmatism and producing neither results nor excitement.

Home form proved catastrophically poor too.

Just one victory from 13 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium games transformed what should be a fortress into a guaranteed points graveyard.

The 2-1 Newcastle humiliation marked their eighth home defeat across all competitions this campaign, triggering volcanic supporter fury which made Frank's position completely untenable.

CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange resisted sacking calls, desperately hoping Frank could reverse the slide.

However, Tuesday's toxic atmosphere, including Mauricio Pochettino chants alongside sack demands, forced their hands.

Now, a host of managers are being linked with the Lilywhites hot seat, none more so than the aforementioned Argentine.

Pochettino, who guided the club to a shock Champions League final and top four finishes over his near-300 match spell in charge of Tottenham, has been repeatedly mooted as a top contender.

The 53-year-old is being championed as a main managerial candidate by members of the Lewis family (Ben Jacobs), but one caveat is that Pochettino won't come until after this year's World Cup.

Pochettino has privately made clear he'd love to re-join Tottenham

However, that appears to be the only roadblock right now, with the ex-Espanyol man making his stance on a reunion crystal clear behind-the-scenes.

According to Football Insider journalist Wayne Veysey, Pochettino has made it clear that he'd jump at the chance to manage Tottenham again.

The former PSG and Chelsea manager indeed won't be available until after this summer's WC, which is the consensus everywhere, but other reports claim a return to N17 is definitely on the cards afterwards.

Pochettino's tenure at Spurs has been described as 'underrated' following his influential reign, where he often overperformed with limited transfer backing compared to big-spending rivals.

He understands the club's DNA completely, knows which players possess genuine quality and commands dressing room respect that Frank never achieved.

Pochettino's high-intensity football mirrors exactly what Tottenham fans crave after months of sterile pragmatism.

His emotional connection remains unbreakable, with supporters still chanting his name as they yearn for a reunion.

Most importantly, Pochettino's track record of developing young talent whilst competing against oil-rich rivals offers exactly what Spurs desperately need: sustained success without unlimited resources.

Tottenham Hotspur have done anything but flourish this season, and Thomas Frank's negative tactics and failure to connect with the fanbase cost him his job.

In truth, though, even the most persuasive of personalities would have struggled to stay afloat after a terrible run of results that has pulled Spurs into a Premier League relegation battle.

It's almost unthinkable, but with the Londoners only five points above 18th-place West Ham United, who have seven points from nine, it's a grim reality that needs facing.

How ENIC Group move forward remains to be seen. However, if Spurs choose against appointing an interim manager, Roberto De Zerbi looks to be among the frontrunners.

Why Spurs are interested in De Zerbi

Tottenham have fallen by the wayside, alright, and in hindsight, Frank wasn't the right man for the job. Too passive, he didn't have the gumption on the ball.

De Zerbi's got gumption in bucketloads, though, and a flowing passing game that could steer Spurs back into the ascendancy.

However, whether De Zerbi, 46, would be the best pick given the current circumstances in north London is another matter. After all, the Italian was sacked by Marseille earlier this week following a string of poor results.

A somewhat abrasive personality that led to several player-coach fallouts at the Stade Velodrome should serve as a cautionary tale for Tottenham as they look to embed a winning culture at N17.

It's not what the Lilywhites need, hence why sporting director Johan Lange is considering appointing a current Premier League boss whose football has drawn plenty of plaudits this season.

Spurs should wait for Premier League manager

De Zerbi's volatile nature should see the Tottenham board steer clear, especially when considering that Heitinga could step in for the remainder of the campaign.

That's a risk in itself, but considering the calibre of coaches on who are supposedly available, such as Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, it may be the long game that ENIC Group should play.

According to The Times, Iraola is alongside De Zerbi is a top target on Spurs' managerial shortlist, with his Bournemouth contract up for expiry at the end of the season.

While the chances of bringing him over to the capital at the campaign's midpoint are negligible, Iraola is expected to attract a wealth of interest from England and Spain this summer, and with this in mind, Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham is leading the search.

Iraola, 43, has been Bournemouth boss for two-and-a-half years now, taking the Vitality Stadium from Premier League survivors to thrivers, inculcating them with an attractive, front-footed style of football that has led Mikel Arteta to hail him for doing an "extraordinary job".

There certainly are parallels between Iraola's project and De Zerbi's while at Brighton, taking established Premier League outfits on the south coast and fashioning them into contenders in the top half of the standings, but Iraola's man-management skills and personable attitude seem to align more closely with the culture the Londoners are trying to embed.

Last season, Iraola's Bournemouth recorded the fifth-highest xG total in the Premier League. This year, they have remained one of the most creative teams in the country.

Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.

Iraola, moreover, is nothing if not resourceful, having effectively lost his entire backline last summer and Antoine Semenyo during the recently shut winter transfer window. Even so, his south coast side remain outsiders in the race for European qualification, ninth in the standings and having avoided defeat for five matches.

While some would point toward Frank having fallen by the wayside after taking the step up to a bigger club at Tottenham, Iraola's brand is more suitable for Spurs' daring identity.

Oh Thomas Frank, where did it all go so wrong at Tottenham Hotspur?

Arriving from Brentford having overachieved for so long, Spurs fans were hopeful that he'd be able to transfer his skillset across town. That, however, was far from the case.

Things started well, too. The Lilywhites were 2-0 up against European champions PSG during his first official match in charge and they looked far more resolute defensively.

Indeed, Frank's team kept five clean sheets in their next seven matches after that Super Cup defeat. Yet, it's all unravelled in spectacular fashion over recent months.

The Dane leaves north London behind with the worst win percentage (36%) of any permanent Spurs manager. He also departs with the club sat just five points clear of the relegation zone after failing to win a Premier League game in 2026. Change simply had to happen.

The latest on Spurs' hunt for a new manager

A number of head coaches around Europe have already been touted with the vacancy but the first decision Spurs need to take is whether they opt for a longer-term appointment now or appoint an interim, as Manchester United have done with Michael Carrick.

If they go down that route, then John Heitinga, who remains on the coaching staff, is one option, while former striker Robbie Keane has also been touted with a romantic return to Tottenham.

If they go down the permanent route, then Roberto De Zerbi is now a free agent after leaving Ligue 1 side Marseille, behind earlier this week. He has been on Spurs' radar for a while now.

Yet, the name on everybody's lips, understandably so, is Mauricio Pochettino. As Frank oversaw his last game in the Spurs hotseat against Newcastle on Tuesday evening, the supporters were singing the Argentine's name. They all want him back at Spurs.

Well, that could well happen, but they will have to bide their time. Reports emerged on Wednesday that the club have already made 'informal contact' with Pochettino about returning but it's unlikely he will arrive immediately.

That's because the 53-year-old is currently in charge of the United States of America and is due to lead out the nation at their home World Cup this summer.

However, after that, The Telegraph reports that 'Pochettino has made it clear that he would jump at the chance to manage Tottenham again'.

Indeed, their sources even state that the former PSG boss would "walk back to the club" once the World Cup has finished. Exciting times, but might that be too late? Relegation is a distinct possibility right now.

Why Pochettino could be Spurs' own Mikel Arteta

It feels like the entire Premier League have attempted to replicate Arsenal's success in recent years.

While Mikel Arteta may only have one trophy - The FA Cup - to show for his efforts in six years with the Gunners so far, he is a prime example of giving a young manager patience. Man United tried that with Ruben Amorim, but look how it went.

Like Amorim, it didn't go swimmingly during the Spaniard's first full campaign in charge at the Emirates. They finished eighth in the Premier League. It would have been easy to pull the trigger and sack him but what he has achieved since is rather remarkable really.

The hierarchy at the Emirates Stadium stuck with him and the 43-year-old has taken them to heights not seen at Arsenal for over 20 years now. Arteta's side look poised to become the first Arsenal team to win the Premier League title since the Invincibles in 2003/04. They could win another few pieces of silverware along the way too.

The point we're trying to make here is that Arteta has achieved progression, something no manager has managed to achieve at Spurs for a number of years now.

They've got the swanky training centre and the impeccable new stadium but the football played on the pitch has been horrendous for a number of years now. In Pochettino, they'd hire their very own Arteta, a manager capable of taking Spurs to new heights, much like the Spaniard has done across north London.

The Argentine tactician, who is a "genius" in the words of Sky Sports' Joe Thomlinson, succeeded where very few Spurs managers have done before during his initial stint in charge.

Like Arteta, he arrived in the English capital with very little experience but was a revelation, guiding them to four top-four finishes in a row, largely through employing a 4-2-3-1 system.

While Spurs are competing in the Champions League this term, courtesy of winning the Europa League, the only manager to have sealed a top-four finish since Pochettino is Antonio Conte back in 2021/22.

What was even more impressive, however, was just how they performed at Europe's top table. They reached a Champions League final under Pochettino's wing and while Ange Postecoglou may have actually won a European trophy, no Spurs side has come even remotely close to doing as well as they have done under Poch.

Similar to Arteta, he used his principles to guide the Lilywhites to heights not seen in several decades. Perhaps it's time to roll back the clock? The hope will just be that Spurs are not relegated before they've had a chance to bring their fan favourite back to English football.

Tottenham are reportedly attempting to agree a deal with a former PSG boss to replace Thomas Frank.

Spurs moving to appoint Thomas Frank successor

As the north London derby on February 22 looms, the Lewis family, Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange have their hands full as they work to replace Frank behind-the-scenes.

According to insider Paul O'Keefe today, Venkatesham and Lange actually wanted to keep the Dane on board, but the two officials were told to sack Frank, presumably by the Lewis family, who'd seen enough.

Make of that what you will, but it is perhaps a clear indication that Tottenham's problems stretch far beyond who sits in the dugout on a weekly basis.

Nevertheless, Spurs are now back in a very familiar process as the club look to make their ninth managerial appointment, interim or permanent, since Mauricio Pochettino left in 2019.

Early indications are that the Lilywhites will look to make an interim appointment, according to Sky's Lyall Thomas, and this could be seen as a much more likely option now that Roberto De Zerbi's camp have distanced the Italian from the hot seat.

De Zerbi was reported to be interested in the Spurs job, but it appears that the former Brighton and Sassuolo boss has had a change of heart as his representatives now brief the media.

In another setback for the north Londoners, former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane was earmarked as a frontrunner for the interim post, though it is believed the Irishman doesn't fancy leaving Ferencavos unless it is for the permanent role.

Other managers are being considered, with ex-Barcelona boss Xavi apparently under real consideration by Tottenham, alongside former England head coach Gareth Southgate (TEAMtalk).

However, the one man on everybody's lips is in fact Pochettino, with reports from Spain suggesting that Spurs are desperate for their ex-hero to return.

Tottenham 'working against the clock' to re-appoint Mauricio Pochettino

As per one Spanish media source, Tottenham are 'working against the clock' to 'finalise the agreement' with Pochettino, but it won't be until after he's done with the USA at this year's World Cup.

Spurs have apparently identified Poch as their dream candidate to step into Frank's shoes, but the Argentine's USA commitments mean they face an agonising wait until the summer.

The Londoners desperately want to secure Pochettino immediately following Frank's brutal Wednesday sacking, yet contractual obligations tying the 53-year-old to the USMNT complicate any instant reunion.

Spurs supporters serenaded Pochettino's name during Tuesday's Newcastle loss, underlining the emotional connection remaining from his glorious 2014-2019 tenure which delivered a Champions League final and consistent top-four finishes.

Tottenham's board also believe Pochettino represents the "great saviour" capable of restoring identity and unity after Frank's disastrous eight-month reign.

The 53-year-old, who Pep Guardiola called a 'top' Premier League manager back in the day, is also rumoured to be very keen on a return to N17 and has made no secret of his love for the club either.

Pochettino's return feels inevitable and romantic, but gambling on survival through an interim appointment could be dangerous when relegation looms just five points away.

Tottenham have been given a managerial boost after news that a trophy-winning boss is interested in replacing Thomas Frank.

Spurs begin manager hunt after Thomas Frank sacking

Spurs' desperate managerial hunt has accelerated in the last 24 hours following Frank's brutal sacking, with Roberto De Zerbi emerging as a potential frontrunner ahead of beloved former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

The north London outfit pulled the trigger on Frank's disastrous eight-month reign after Wednesday morning crisis talks, leaving Spurs scrambling to identify a successor capable of dragging them clear of relegation catastrophe.

Currently languishing in sixteenth, just five points above the Championship trapdoor, Tottenham face their biggest crisis in decades with a crucial north London derby clash against Arsenal looming on February 22.

De Zerbi has reportedly catapulted into pole position after leaving Marseille by mutual consent on Wednesday, timing which has sparked immediate speculation.

The Italian, who dazzled during his Brighton tenure with swashbuckling attacking football, is now a free agent and readily available for hire.

However, Pochettino remains supporters' dream candidate following emotional chants during Tuesday's Newcastle humiliation.

Media sources reveal the Argentine "would walk back" if approached, but complications surround his USA national team commitments extending through summer's World Cup.

The Telegraph confirms senior Tottenham figures harbour genuine belief Pochettino could restore desperately-needed identity, energy and unity, yet acquiring him before the tournament's conclusion appears impossible.

Members of the Lewis family are also championing a return to Tottenham for Pochetttino, but as things stand, they'll be made to wait until deep into the summer.

Tottenham's powerbrokers face agonising decisions with players granted another four days off until Monday training resumes next week.

If they go down the permanent route, De Zerbi is the most freely available, leaving little wonder reports are heavily tipping him for the role.

De Zerbi ready to join Tottenham over Man United

Now, a report by the ipaper says that De Zerbi is ready to join Tottenham over Man United, and he's interested in the now-vacant N17 role.

What's more, the 46-year-old, who won the Ukranian Super Cup during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk, sees Spurs as the 'next logical step' in his career — further fueling suggestions that a move for De Zerbi could be on the cards.

If Tottenham do opt for the ex-Brighton and Sassuolo boss, insider Paul O'Keefe has also reported that the club will likely offer De Zerbi a three-plus year contract.

De Zerbi's volatile personality represents Tottenham's biggest concern despite his undeniable tactical credentials.

His Marseille departure reportedly followed explosive dressing room confrontations, most notably ordering Leonardo Balerdi out whilst cameras captured the humiliating incident.

His demand for absolute control over transfers and ruthless man-management style could clash catastrophically with Tottenham's already fractious squad battling a confidence crisis.

Throwing such a combustible character into relegation warfare feels dangerously chaotic when stability desperately needs restoring.

Brighton thrived under De Zerbi's intensity, but Spurs' fragile dressing room, featuring 11 injury casualties and plummeting morale, might buckle rather than flourish under his uncompromising methods.

Now that Thomas Frank has been sacked, Tottenham Hotspur are currently without a manager.

However, hopes of seeing Mauricio Pochettino back in the Spurs dugout for the remainder of the campaign have been dashed as he prepares for USMNT's World Cup campaign in North America.

In hindsight, it seems ludicrous that the Danish tactician lasted for as long as he did. Tottenham have been an eye sore to watch this season and, moreover, are embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle.

While the more pragmatic option would be to appoint John Heitinga on an interim basis, Spurs fans may well have had enough pragmatism for a while.

After all, there are several interesting options out there.

How Spurs plan to upgrade on Thomas Frank

Tottenham cannot afford any mistakes over the business months of the campaign. Fears of relegation have been heightened after a miserable run of two wins in 17 Premier League fixtures.

A number of candidates have been earmarked, with Spurs chairman Vinai Venkatesham said to be leading the charge.

Pochettino would be a fantastic addition, but he's not the only one on the radar.

According to talkSPORT, the board are discussing whether to launch a move for Roberto De Zerbi, who this week was fired from his post at Marseille in France.

De Zerbi was a target last summer before Frank was welcomed, but Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici led that bid and neither is still at the club.

It is claimed that the inventive Italian tactician is expected in London this week, so face-to-face talks can hardly be ruled out, especially with Manchester City and Manchester United both considered potential suitors for the end of the season.

What Roberto De Zerbi would bring to Spurs

Many managers have tried and failed to make it work at Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou won silverware, but the instability of his reign led to his dismissal.

Jose Mourinho might have ended the Londoners' drought, had he been allowed to take charge for the Carabao Cup final in 2021. He was within one game of glory, but Mourinho had not adopted the 'To Dare Is To Do' moniker into his tactics, and he was dismissed.

De Zerbi is an outspoken manager, a big personality, and he could emerge as Tottenham's new version of the Portuguese in that regard, something that may well go down a treat with the fanbase.

Mourinho's Tottenham tenure was a forgettable one, but the club were hardly in a good place when he assumed charge, getting more out of Tanguy Ndombele than

He was not out of his depth, whereas Frank was. While De Zerbi would find a mountainous task in front of him in north London, he has the character and resilience to succeed where his predecessor did not, having withstood one of the most vociferous fanbases in Europe in Marseille.

Moreover, he has experience in the Premier League as the chief of a ball-playing system that led Statman Dave to call him a "genius".

Possession-based football is all well and good, but Tottenham fans will want to see their side put paid to opponents through slick and creative attacking play. In this, De Zerbi would have his work cut out, but he does boast the skills to make it happen.

The 46-year-old typically fields a 4-2-3-1 formation, nestling a central playmaker at the heart of his system. Moreover, he tends to enforce microscopic changes on the regular, always crafting new dimensions to his set-up.

Perhaps such flexibility is what Tottenham need, landing a Mourinho-esque profile who has an array of tactical ideas that puts him in better standing than both the Benfica boss and the recently sacked Frank.

He is passionate and he cares. De Zerbi might be somewhat irascible at times, but perhaps this Spurs side need a manager with fire in their belly to right the many wrongs of recent years.

In this, De Zerbi could excel as the club's new Mourinho, one with a more progressive tactical mindset. Maybe that is the combination that is needed to finally establish consistency on the right end of the scales.

Following Thomas Frank's recent departure, Tottenham Hotspur are now considering a move for a "fantastic" manager, who's won two league titles.

Tottenham searching for new manager after Frank dismissal

Tottenham made the decision to sack Frank on Wednesday morning, with the 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle United proving to be the final straw, but while bringing in a top replacement is important, Jamie O'Hara believes the club needs to make wholesale changes.

With Spurs potentially in a relegation battle, given that they are just five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, there needs to be an immediate improvement in results, and work is underway to appoint a new manager.

The likes of Xavi, Roberto De Zerbi, and Gareth Southgate have all emerged as potential targets, while it is also possible ENIC will choose to bring in an interim manager until the end of the season, with Ryan Mason being considered.

However, Mason is not the only option, with a report from The Telegraph revealing Tottenham are considering replacing Frank with Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane, as they are likely to appoint an external candidate, if they decide to bring in an interim boss.

However, ENIC would have to pay compensation if they were to move for Keane, as he recently penned a contract extension with the Hungarian club.

Appointing a former player as an interim manager has certainly served Manchester United well, with Michael Carrick taking 13 points from his opening five Premier League games, and there are signs the former striker could have a similar impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"Fantastic" Keane on course to become top manager

The Irishman has received high praise for the work he's done in Eastern Europe with Ferencvaros, with Nigel Reo-Coker recently saying he's done a "fantastic" job.

The Green Eagles are indisputably the biggest club in Hungary and so the young coach can certainly say he knows how to deal with the weight of managing a big team.

Not only that, but the 45-year-old has also already won two titles, winning the Hungarian league last season, and the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2023-24 campaign, so he certainly knows how to win.

The former Tottenham striker is taking a slightly unusual path, but he has an excellent record as a manager up to this point.

With Keane now experienced in management, he could be a solid appointment on an interim basis between now and the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are no longer managed by Thomas Frank, and those of a Spurs persuasion are bound to have breathed a great sigh of relief.

Frank felt aggrieved. His side have been dismal for much of the campaign, yes, but the cracks run deeper than the dugout, something he has made clear in recent weeks as the pressure mounted.

However, Frank's press comments frustrated and bewildered fans, routinely speaking out against Tottenham's plight last season, as this is a continuation of last year's woes. His negative football has been more confusing still.

The numbers behind Frank's Spurs tenure

Beating that drum, over and over and over, did not sit well with the Lilywhite faithful, especially when considering the home defeat to Newcastle on Tuesday was devoid of inspiration or intent during the first half, a familiar theme. Content creator Seb Martin even said, "Frank is the worst coach I've seen here."

It's harsh, but the proof is in the pudding. Tottenham care not a jot for Frank's successes with Brentford, how he fashioned Ivan Toney and then Bryan Mbeumo into superstars.

Their football has been slow and laboured, the players have been uncertain of their duties. Movement and off-the-ball work rate has been negligible.

Indeed, Frank has endured one of the most miserable stints of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League, winning only 27% of his matches in charge.

It doesn't feel like things could get any worse for the Londoners, but they do need to choose wisely and make the right call in identifying a success plan.

Spurs could appoint huge Frank upgrade

Frank's day is done, and while Roberto De Zerbi has emerged onto the managerial market after his recent sacking at Marseille, interim options in John Heitinga or Ryan Mason might be more prudent moves for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham need to steady the ship and bide their time before moving for the perfect new coach, and when considering that Mauricio Pochettino would be interested in taking the job, that avenue becomes all the more attractive.

The USMNT manager is primed to lead the United States out for the forthcoming World Cup in North America, but the thought of returning to north London may well have enticed him, having spoken in the past about his desire to reunite with Spurs.

It will come as no surprise that Pochettino, 53, ranks highly on ENIC Group's shortlist of managers,

Interviewed about his abiding love for the Londoners, with whom he took charge 293 times, Pochettino said: “I would like one day to come back. Not because of my ego, it’s because I would like one day to win with Tottenham."

The South American's high-energy, attack-focused style bore such dividends during his heyday in N17. Take the 2016/17 season, for example. Spurs finished 2nd in the Premier League with 86 points. With 86 goals scored and just 27 conceded at the other end, they were the top scorers and boasted the steeliest defence besides.

Tottenham have had any number of problems in Frank's system, but at the heart of it, they ship too many goals and don't create enough.

It goes without saying, then, that he would prove an upgrade on Frank, whose principles simply didn't align with the way Tottenham want to play.

Here is a tactician who knows how to get a tune out of his attacking players. At Tottenham, he created one of the Premier League's slickest frontlines, and it was the Argentine who oversaw the rise of Cole Palmer at Chelsea, the England star's maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge his best by a long shot.

Poch would clearly prove an upgrade on Frank. For starters, he understands what Spurs fans want. To Dare Is To Do, after all.

In this, he could be exactly what this club is crying out for, and while they will have to wait until next season, Pochettino might just be worth waiting for.

Tottenham are expected to make an approach for one 'elite' Premier League manager as his club brace for contact from Spurs, according to a new report.

Thomas Frank leaves Tottenham as Spurs begin new manager search

The Lilywhites at long last pulled the plug on Thomas Frank's dismal reign on Wednesday morning after the club's powerbrokers concluded his position had become utterly untenable.

Tuesday evening's humiliating Newcastle capitulation sparked fury among supporters, and not for the first time this season, with the 52-year-old's nightmarish eight-month tenure reaching its inevitable conclusion.

The Lewis family, with encouragement from Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, rubber-stamped Frank's termination to end the worst managerial appointment in Tottenham's modern Premier League history.

Frank's statistics make for horrifying reading for a club desperate to escape relegation warfare.

Just 13 victories from 38 matches represent a catastrophic underachievement, even with Tottenham's plethora of injury woes, with Frank's 26.9 per cent win percentage standing out as the worst ever from a Spurs boss in the Premier League.

Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat sparked volcanic scenes inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as supporters demanded Frank's immediate removal.

"Sacked in the morning" chants echoed relentlessly around N17 whilst sections of the crowd called desperately for Mauricio Pochettino's return during another dismal display.

Tottenham currently languish just five points above the relegation zone, winning just twice in their last 17 league encounters.

It is quite simply unacceptable, and even with all the injuries (Wilson Odobert being the latest long-term casualty), Spurs have fielded strong-enough sides to be in a far better position.

Frank had to take a lot of the blame, and club chiefs simply can't afford to get another appointment wrong.

In the aftermath of the Dane's dismissal, a host of big-name managers, including Pochettino, Xavi, Gareth Southgate and many more, have been linked with moves to north London.

A familiar name, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, remains in the frame as well after being tipped for the job last year, with the Spaniard still yet to agree a new deal and poised to leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

Bournemouth expecting Tottenham approach for Andoni Iraola

The 43-year-old is believed to be on Spurs' shortlist to replace Frank, and GiveMeSport claim that Bournemouth are expecting Tottenham to make an approach for Iraola.

However, according to their information, the north Londoners are set to be disappointed.

Indeed, it is also reported by the outlet that Iraola has no desire to leave the Cherries and join Tottenham, and would prefer a return back to Spain with Athletic Bilbao, or even another side on an upward trajectory.

Make no mistake, missing out on Iraola could be seen as a blow, even if Pochettino is widely regarded as their ideal top target.

Iraola's tactical identity - aggressive man-marking, explosive counter-attacks, and structured 4-2-3-1 formations - would immediately inject entertainment into a Spurs side starved of attacking philosophy under Frank's sterile approach.

Despite losing defensive stalwarts Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez last summer, Bournemouth haven't regressed too much, and you could even say they've improved through data-driven recruitment identifying replacements with identical profiles.

The south coast side have found their best form again, making a fine start to 2026 with just one league defeat this calendar year — not to mention winning four out of their last six top flight matches.

His sides combine defensive intensity with attacking directness, consistently punching above their weight.