Levy Admits Sacking Postecoglou Was “Emotionally Difficult” as Spurs Begin New Era with Thomas Frank
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has described the decision to sack manager Ange Postecoglou just 16 days after winning the Europa League as “emotionally difficult” — but ultimately necessary for the club’s future.
The Australian manager led Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao. Despite that historic achievement, Postecoglou was dismissed following a dismal Premier League campaign in which the North London side finished 17th, narrowly avoiding relegation.
Speaking to the club’s media team, Levy expressed his appreciation for Postecoglou’s contributions during his two seasons at the helm.
“I don’t regret appointing Ange. I’m very grateful to him,” Levy said. “In his first season we finished fifth, and in his second we were over the moon to win a trophy. But we need to compete in all competitions, and we felt that we needed a change. Emotionally, it was difficult, but we feel that we’ve made the right decision for the club.”
Postecoglou’s departure paved the way for the appointment of Thomas Frank, the former Brentford boss, who has signed a contract to lead Spurs until 2028. The 51-year-old Dane brings a reputation for tactical innovation and developing young talent after a successful seven-year spell with the Bees.
Vinai Venkatesham, newly appointed as Spurs’ chief executive, played a central role alongside Levy in the recruitment process.
“We ran a really, really thorough process — at speed,” Venkatesham explained. “We defined 10 characteristics that we believe are essential to succeed at Tottenham, and our technical team conducted an in-depth analysis of more than 30 candidates. Thomas Frank was clearly our number one choice. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him.”
Venkatesham also highlighted Frank’s track record with young players as a key reason behind the decision, saying, “One of the things I’m most excited about is his ability to develop young talent. I look forward to seeing what he can do with the squad we have here.”
For Levy, who has led the club for over 25 years and seen 13 permanent managers come and go, the desire to succeed remains as strong as ever.
“I’ve got very broad shoulders,” Levy said. “Failure is not an option. The desire to succeed, especially when it’s this difficult, only grows stronger.”
Levy expressed optimism about the club’s future under Frank, emphasizing that his intelligence, communication skills, and human qualities made a strong impression in addition to his technical credentials.
“With every new coach comes a fresh start,” Levy added. “Thomas is highly intelligent, a great communicator, and a super human being. We want to build on last season’s success and continue pushing forward.”
With a new era now underway, Spurs fans will be hoping Frank can maintain the momentum from their recent European triumph while restoring consistency in the Premier League.
