Thomas Frank is on the brink of a sack as Tottenham could plunder the market for an immediate top-tier appointment; we look at three realistic options to replace the Dane.
Tottenham Hotspur look to be approaching the point of no return with Thomas Frank, and the early groundwork for a succession plan already seems to be forming behind the scenes. BBC Sport recently reported that Spurs are actively discussing whether to end Frank’s seven-month reign, with at least one executive figure internally raising the prospect of pulling the plug.
Spurs’ problem is that the issues are no longer just about results, but about mood and direction. Sky Sports described “toxic scenes” after a late defeat and highlighted a run of eight defeats in 14 matches, with reports the hierarchy are weighing up a change.
If Tottenham do move now and sack Thomas Frank, they need a replacement who can steady a wobbling season quickly, but also carry enough authority to lead the next phase rather than simply firefight
What Tottenham need after Thomas Frank?
This job demands two skills at once: winning quickly enough to calm the stadium, while building a structure that survives the next downturn. That matters even more now because Spurs have changed shape at the top, appointing Vinai Venkatesham as CEO and moving into what the club itself has framed as a bigger executive build for “success.”
The ambition has not been hidden either, with ESPN reporting a £100 million capital injection and a boardroom reshuffle following Daniel Levy’s exit. In that context, Tottenham’s next coach cannot be a short-term vibe merchant.
The brief is to install a clear playing identity, develop young talent, and make recruitment make sense over multiple windows; spending helps, but only if it is tied to a plan. We now take a look at three options to replace Thomas Frank if Tottenham pull the trigger in the coming weeks.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso’s availability is the headline hook, and it is real: ESPN detailed how Real Madrid ended his brief tenure “by mutual agreement” after less than a year in charge. The attraction for Tottenham is obvious. Alonso carries elite-level dressing-room credibility and would immediately change the tone around the club. But the doubts are just as loud.
Would Alonso see Tottenham as the right step right now, with bigger clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United circling and his reputation still salvageable at the highest level? Even if he said yes, success at Spurs would likely hinge on how much control he is given over the build, because this is not a job that rewards half-measures or split authority.
Oliver Glasner
Glasner is being linked again, but timing is the complication: Sky Sports reported he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season after deciding against renewing his deal. That makes him feel more like a summer play than an immediate fix, unless Spurs are willing to negotiate an early release.
There is also a stylistic debate. Glasner can absolutely coach, as his teams are organised, intense and difficult to play through. However, Tottenham are a club that sell emotion as much as points, and fans will demand front-foot football even when the table says “be careful.”
The risk is that Glasner is perceived as another version of Frank: smart, structured, but not always built for a club that lives under a microscope. Meanwhile, like Tottenham, Glasner is a target for several bigwigs, including Liverpool and Manchester United. So, a deal may not be straightforward.
Roberto De Zerbi
If the priority is reconnecting the football with the crowd, De Zerbi looks the cleanest match. The Italian tactician has Premier League experience, his teams play proactively, and he tends to improve players rather than simply manage them, qualities Spurs desperately need if this squad is to grow into something coherent.
The complication is prising him away mid-season. De Zerbi is currently Marseille’s head coach, and he has spoken publicly about wanting a long-term spell there and making real history at the Ligue 1 club. That does not make a move impossible, but it likely makes it expensive, messy, and politically awkward unless Marseille’s season turns.
Conclusion
In the immediate term, Roberto De Zerbi feels like the best “fit” if Tottenham Hotspur want an instant identity and a coach whose ideas can lift both performance and belief, but the practical challenge is whether a mid-season extraction from Marseille is achievable.
Xabi Alonso is the most glamorous option and is now available after his Real Madrid exit. Yet, the bigger question is whether Tottenham can offer the level of control, patience and platform he would want after such a bruising spell.
Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, may be the most realistic to secure in principle, but Sky Sports reporting suggests his Crystal Palace situation points to end-of-season availability, which pulls Spurs towards a short-term bridge rather than an immediate appointment.
That is why an interim route should not be treated as failure. If Tottenham believe the best candidates are more attainable in the summer, buying time could be the smartest move, especially with the club trying to define a new era under its reshaped leadership.
As for Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann, both look like summer-only fantasies at best: Pochettino is currently the United States men’s national team coach, while Nagelsmann is contracted to lead Germany through the 2026 World Cup cycle. Spurs need clarity fast, either commit to a bold mid-season hire, or appoint an interim and set up a proper, ruthless summer process.
