Thomas Frank is a Danish professional football manager born on October 9, 1973, in Frederiksværk, Zealand, Denmark. He is best known for his successful tenure at Brentford FC from 2018 to 2025, where he guided the club to Premier League promotion and established them as a top-flight mainstay. Frank was most recently head coach of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur until his dismissal in February 2026.
Thomas Frank Age
Thomas Frank is 52 years old as of February 2026. He was born on October 9, 1973.
Thomas Frank Early Life
Thomas Frank was born in Frederiksværk, a town in Zealand, Denmark, to a Danish family. Details about his parents and siblings are not publicly disclosed. After attending his local Sports School in Frederiksværk, Frank had a brief playing career as a midfielder in amateur football before transitioning to coaching.
Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from the Copenhagen Institute of Sports Medicine in 1999. Between 2002 and 2005, he studied sport psychology and coaching-based leadership at the same institution. Before becoming a full-time football manager, Frank worked at a kindergarten and later taught at Ishøj Business College in 2004.
Thomas Frank Family
Thomas Frank is married to Nanna Theil, who works in the United Kingdom. The couple has three children: Freja Frank (born in 2002), Bertram Frank (born in 2003), and Alba Frank (born in 2006). Prior to moving to London in December 2016, Frank and his family lived in Hvidovre, Denmark.
Frank is known for prioritizing family time despite his demanding coaching career. Friday evenings are typically reserved for family dinners, a tradition that reflects his commitment to his loved ones. After Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League in May 2021, Frank took a family break to Scotland with his wife, youngest daughter, and their dog.
Thomas Frank Early Coaching Career
Youth Development in Denmark
Thomas Frank began his coaching career in 1995 with the Under-8 team at his hometown club Frederiksværk BK. He spent two years with the Under-8s before progressing to the Under-12 team. Frank then moved through several Danish clubs, including Hvidovre in 1998, B93 in 2004, and Lyngby in 2006.
In July 2008, Frank was appointed manager of Denmark’s national U16 and U17 teams. He led the U17 team to the European U17 Championship finals for the first time in eight years in 2011, reaching the semi-finals before losing 2-0 to Germany. The team also qualified for its first U17 World Cup under his management, though they were eliminated in the group stage.
Denmark U19 Manager
Frank was promoted to Denmark U19 manager in July 2012 but failed to qualify for the 2013 European U19 Championship. During his time with the Danish Football Union (DBU), Frank also served as assistant for various youth teams and managed unofficial matches. His work with youth development would later prove instrumental to his coaching philosophy.
Thomas Frank Professional Managerial Career
Brøndby IF (2013-2016)
Frank was named manager of Danish Superliga club Brøndby on June 10, 2013, marking his first position in senior football. He replaced Auri Skarbalius, taking charge of a historically successful club that had recently struggled, finishing just five points above relegation the previous season.
Frank achieved fourth-place and third-place finishes in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons respectively, qualifying Brøndby for Europa League qualification stages both years. However, he was unable to guide the club into the group stage in either season. Frank resigned on March 9, 2016, following the “Oscar-Gate” scandal, in which Brøndby chairman Jan Bech Andersen used a pseudonym on an online supporters’ forum to criticize Frank and the sporting director.
Brentford FC (2016-2025)
Assistant Head Coach
On December 9, 2016, Frank moved to England to join Championship club Brentford as assistant head coach alongside Richard O’Kelly, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. When he signed for Brentford, he also had an offer to become head coach from an unnamed Danish club but chose the assistant role. Co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen stated that Frank would serve as a bridge between players and coaching staff while overseeing player development pathways.
Promotion to Head Coach
On October 16, 2018, Frank was promoted to head coach following Dean Smith’s departure to Aston Villa. He took over a club rocked by the recent death of technical director Robert Rowan and endured a difficult start, winning just one of his first 10 games. After switching to a 3-4-3 formation, Frank stabilized the team’s form and guided Brentford to the fifth round of the FA Cup and an eleventh-place Championship finish in 2018-19.
Path to Premier League Promotion
After switching back to a 4-3-3 formation during the 2019-20 season, Frank signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2020 with Brentford in the play-off places. An unbeaten June earned him the Championship Manager of the Month award, and he led Brentford to the 2020 Championship play-off final, which they lost 2-1 to Fulham.
In the 2020-21 season, Frank managed Brentford to a second successive third-place Championship finish and reached the club’s first-ever EFL Cup semi-final. The team won promotion to the Premier League after defeating Swansea City 2-0 in the 2021 Championship play-off final on May 29, 2021. This achievement made Frank only the second Brentford head coach to win promotion to the top tier, after Harry Curtis in 1934-35.
Premier League Success
Frank signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension in January 2022 with Brentford sitting 14th in the Premier League, nine points clear of relegation. He adjusted the team’s tactical approach to emphasize dead-ball situations and counter-attacks, overseeing a 13th-place finish in 2021-22. In October 2022, Frank achieved the distinction of winning more of his first 200 matches than any Brentford head coach or manager to reach that milestone.
On Christmas Eve 2022, Frank signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract. During the 2022-23 season, Brentford finished ninth in the Premier League, completing a season double over eventual champions Manchester City. Despite an injury-ravaged 2023-24 campaign that saw 21 player injuries and 11 surgeries, Frank kept Brentford in the Premier League, finishing 16th but 13 points above relegation.
In the 2024-25 season, Frank guided Brentford to a 10th-place finish and was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award. He departed Brentford in June 2025 after nearly seven years at the club.
Tottenham Hotspur (2025-2026)
On June 12, 2025, Thomas Frank was appointed head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, replacing Ange Postecoglou and signing a contract until 2028. Brentford received £10 million in compensation. The appointment was led by Tottenham’s director Johan Lange, a fellow Dane who had given Frank his first full-time coaching role at B93 in 2004.
Frank’s first official match was the 2025 UEFA Super Cup on August 13, 2025, where Tottenham lost to Paris Saint-Germain 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. He won his first league game, defeating Burnley 3-0 in Tottenham’s season opener. Frank led Spurs to a fourth-place finish in the Champions League group stage.
Thomas Frank Latest News
On February 11, 2026, Tottenham Hotspur sacked Thomas Frank as manager following a dismal run of eight games without a win. The decision came after a defeat to Newcastle United on February 10, 2026, which marked the club’s 11th loss in 26 Premier League fixtures. Tottenham had failed to secure a single Premier League win in 2026, leaving them 16th in the table and just five points above the relegation zone.
In an official statement, Tottenham said: “The club has made the decision to alter the men’s head coach position, and Thomas Frank will depart today. Appointed in June 2025, we aimed to provide him with the necessary time and support to build for the future. Nevertheless, the outcomes and performances have led the Board to determine that a change is essential at this juncture of the season”. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Tottenham’s management is now working on contingency plans following Frank’s dismissal.
Thomas Frank Managerial Statistics
As of February 11, 2026, Thomas Frank has managed 563 matches across all competitions in his senior managerial career. His overall record includes 249 wins, 135 draws, and 179 losses, giving him a win percentage of 44.23%. At Brentford, Frank managed 317 matches with 132 wins, 77 draws, and 108 losses, achieving a win percentage of 41.64%.
During his brief tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, Frank managed 38 matches with 13 wins, 11 draws, and 14 losses, resulting in a win percentage of 34.21%. He preferred the 4-3-3 formation throughout his managerial career.
Thomas Frank Honours and Recognition
Club Honours
Thomas Frank won the EFL Championship play-offs with Brentford in 2021, securing the club’s promotion to the Premier League. With Denmark’s U17 team, he won the Syrenka Cup in 2010.
Individual Awards
Frank was named London Football Awards Manager of the Year in 2020. He won the DBU Coach of the Year award twice, in 2020 and 2022. Frank received the EFL Championship Manager of the Month award in June 2020 and December 2020.
He was nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Month award multiple times during his tenure at Brentford and received two nominations for the Premier League Manager of the Season award in 2022 and 2025. Frank was also a member of the BBC Sport commentary team at Euro 2024.
Coaching Philosophy
Thomas Frank is recognized for his excellent communication skills and ability to develop young talent. He demonstrates tactical adaptability, adjusting formations and playing styles based on available resources and opposition. Pep Guardiola praised Frank in September 2022, stating: “It’s just a matter of time. I can recognize when a manager is exceptional. Thomas is among the best. His team’s tactics are always logical, and they pose a challenge at every corner”.
Frank’s success at Brentford came despite operating with one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League, showcasing his ability to maximize limited resources. His tactical adjustments emphasized scoring from set pieces and counter-attacks when necessary.