Although possibly later than many fans' expectations, Thomas Frank's reign as head coach of Tottenham Hotspur has officially ended. Spurs are currently falling into a dangerous zone and approaching the relegation zone.
Frank was appointed to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2025, after an impressive time working at Brentford, where he helped the team get promoted and stand firm in the Premier League. However, the Danish strategist could not create a similar impact at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He left when Spurs were only 5 points ahead of West Ham United who were recovering. Tottenham under Frank only averaged 1.12 points per match in the Premier League, the worst statistic in the history of Spurs coaches in the league.
So who will be the next person to sit in the hot seat of "The Rooster"?
Mauricio Pochettino
Many people believe that he should not return, but Pochettino is still the dream of many Tottenham fans. They even chanted his name in the defeat to Newcastle, which is definitely not pleasant for Frank.
The Argentine coach had 5 impressive years at Tottenham in the 2014-2019 period, finishing in the top 4 in 4/5 complete seasons. Previously, Spurs only reached the top 4 twice in 22 Premier League seasons. Pochettino left the club with an average of 1.89 points per game.
He also brought Tottenham to the first UEFA Champions League final in history in 2019, before being sacked in November 2019 after a poor start.
After that, Pochettino's time at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea was not complete. Currently, Pochettino is leading the US team towards the goal at the 2026 World Cup. Therefore, the possibility of him returning right now is very low. However, if Tottenham agrees to appoint a temporary coach and wait until the summer to solve the long-term problem, the prospect of reunion may become more realistic.
Xabi Alonso
Things may not go smoothly for Alonso at Real Madrid, but that is one of the most difficult seats in the world. Failure in Madrid is rarely confined to results, because behind-the-scenes factors and the star ego often have no less weight.
In terms of achievements, Alonso still leaves a remarkable number, with a win rate of 71% and 24 wins in 34 matches in all competitions. This rate ranks sixth in the group of Real Madrid coaches who have led 25 or more matches.
Alonso is said to have difficulty managing the dressing room, especially related to Vinicius Junior. Tottenham will be a different environment, less internal pressure and may be suitable for his method.
In terms of tactics, Alonso brings systematics, clear roles and tight positional principles. He also shows flexibility, ready to adjust the structure to suit the ball control context. Not to mention, the achievement of helping Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga unbeaten in the 2023-2024 season is still proof of class, once making him linked with the hot seat at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp left.
However, Alonso may still wait for a bigger opportunity. Tottenham has the right to dream, but that will be a true dream.
Oliver Glasner
It is true that in the past two months everything at Crystal Palace has been somewhat chaotic, but overall, Oliver Glasner's reign still has many positive colors.
Taking over the team in February 2024, Glasner helped Palace equalize the Premier League point record with 49 points in the 2023-2024 season. In the 2024-2025 season, they did even better when breaking the record with 53 points. More importantly, Glasner brought Palace to touch the first major title in club history, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final in 2025.
This season, Palace also started like a dream with the FA Community Shield championship and impressive form in the Premier League. Before round 16, they were fourth and looked like a serious candidate for the European Cup race.
However, the thin squad made Palace lose momentum when the dense schedule combined with injuries. As a result, their form dropped sharply. The 1-0 victory over Brighton recently ended their 12-match winless streak in all competitions.
However, overall, Glasner is still doing very well at Palace. He helps the team exceed expectations with dynamic football, based on quick transitions. And although he often deploys a 3-center-back system at Palace, this is not the formation that Glasner has framed throughout his career.
