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Thomas Frank Sacking Highlights Tottenham’s Deep-Rooted Problems

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Feb 11, 2026 11:40 AM ET

Tottenham sacked under-pressure head coach Thomas Frank on Wednesday following eight months of poor results.

No one will be surprised by the decision, as 16th-place Spurs are currently five points above the relegation zone. The football was poor, there was little possession and supporters grew outraged with Frank’s tame, defensive style of play.

Frank was showered with boos and chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" throughout Tottenham’s 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle on Tuesday.

Yet, you have to feel some level of sympathy for Frank. His tactics may have been as ill-fitting as a cheap suit, and the results were appalling, but Frank was in a no-win situation because the problems at Tottenham go far deeper than the manager.

Frank Doesn’t Deserve All the Blame for Spurs’ Disastrous Season

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank reacts on the touchline during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 01, 2026, in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The club botched the seemingly wrapped-up transfers of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. Particularly as Eze slipped through Tottenham’s fingers and directly into the welcoming arms of North London derby rivals Arsenal.

Key injuries also increased the difficulty level of Frank’s task. Devastating knee injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski played havoc with Spurs’ season.

Spurs have had no luck with injuries, with Wilson Odobert now set to miss weeks to months after suffering an ACL injury on Tuesday against Newcastle.

It will now be up to someone else to lead Spurs out of the relegation fight, and it will likely be an interim head coach until the end of the season.

The best available managerial candidates will be prepared to wait to see how the situation plays out. No top manager will be eager to take over a club that’s in a relegation dogfight and having to persist with an injury-hit, confidence-drained squad.

Tottenham will be hoping to attract a big-name head coach in the summer should the club achieve Premier League survival.

From now until season’s end, it’s going to be a nervous final 12 league fixtures for Spurs supporters.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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