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Tottenham Hotspur hold Son Heung-min advantage to sign Min-Jae Kim. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

South Korean international is the man for Tottenham to start their defensive restructure under Thomas Frank – Opinion

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Jainil Shah | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 6:00 PM ET

Tottenham Hotspur saw the departure of Ange Postecoglou from the helm, and now we are seeing that the Lilywhites are in talks to bring Brentford coach Thomas Frank to Hotspur Way. And with the Dane set to take over the North Londoners, we are expecting to see a shift from the high-octane, positional-dominant system that Ange Postecoglou implemented at Hotspur Way, with Spurs expected to adopt a more structured approach given how pragmatic Frank is and how he likes to blend defensive security with intelligent transition play.

With the introduction of Frank at Tottenham, we have also seen the links of the Premier League heavyweights grow for Bayern Munich centre-back Min-Jae Kim, and this could be no coincidence given how he is quite a fit into how the 51-year-old likes to play.

But before we get into it, let’s understand how Brentford used a variety of 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 structures under his tutelage. Thomas Frank plays with a compact mid/low block hybrid which is more concentrated on a compact framework with a mid/low block implemented. He has structured pressing triggers while having a good emphasis on verticality in transition and dominating the dead ball situations.

Moreover, when it comes to the backline, he likes aerial and physical superiority across the backline, and if we are talking about such a defensive setup, someone like Min-Jae Kim becomes not just useful but more integral (in a way).

Let’s speak a bit tactically…

How will Min-Jae Kim do in Thomas Frank’s system at Tottenham?

You can play the South Korean international as a central leader in a back three (3-5-2 / 3-4-2-1), and given how Thomas Frank often builds a narrow and defensively rigid back three, the centre-back in the middle is tasked with a few responsibilities, like commanding the aerial presence while ensuring the height of the defensive lines is complemented by long cleaners and second balls. He (in a way) acts as the “launch pad” for wide defenders to either step forward or invert. And if we are to look back, Min-Jae Kim has performed similar roles at Napoli and Bayern.

If we are speaking about his use in the back three, his recovery pace will be important for covering behind wingbacks, while his physical presence can be used in Brentford-style set-piece duels. Then the fact that he is good at carrying the ball helps step into midfield when pressing triggers fail. And then he is an intelligent player and can hold the line or drop depending on the state of play.

Strengths

Kim comes good when he is playing in structured defensive lines and where the space and structure matter, and in playing under Thomas Frank, he gets exactly that. And the fact that he can drop quickly to absorb vertical counters and clear second balls or end up engaging on the halfway line, you can use him well in the transitional situations. You also get some sort of leadership that Tottenham could lose if Levy ends up selling Romero.

Weaknesses

If we think of Brentford and their pressing style, it’s a bit different, and Frank will bring exactly that to Tottenham, which means that Kim needs to understand mid-block pressing triggers, which is a bit different from the chaotic man-markings with more consideration of spaces.

TTLB Opinion

If you’re going to build a defence-focused, counter-attacking team that is capable of shining at set-piece situations as well as slamming the brakes on opposition transitions, then Min-Jae Kim is the player to start with, and he gives you a safe bed, a physical roof, and that needed personality to cope with the pressure that comes with playing in European competitions.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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