Thomas Frank’s tenure at Tottenham has come to an end after their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle left them 16th in the Premier League, just five points above the relegation places
09:19, 11 Feb 2026Updated 10:08, 11 Feb 2026
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been relieved of his duties(Image: Getty)
Thomas Frank’s disastrous spell at Tottenham is over following Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. There are a handful of readily-available options to replace the Danish manager.
Frank arrived in June from Brentford, where he had established the club as a stable Premier League outfit. He took over from Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou and whilst the initial weeks showed promise, results have deteriorated dramatically since then.
Following their defeat to Eddie Howe’s side, Tottenham slumped to 16th place with only 29 points on the board. The club have already suffered 11 league defeats this campaign and find themselves precariously positioned just five points clear of the drop zone, with the crucial north London derby against Arsenal looming.
The club have decided to act after and several candidates could now step into the breach at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. football.london examines five managers who could take charge immediately.
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Xabi Alonso
Following a breakdown in relations with the dressing room at Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso departed the Bernabeu through mutual agreement in January, merely months after his May appointment. Prior to this setback, he had impressed significantly during his time in charge of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Spanish tactician masterminded an extraordinary 2023/24 campaign with Bayer Leverkusen, clinching the Bundesliga crown whilst remaining unbeaten throughout the entire season, alongside lifting both the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup trophies. His side also progressed to a Europa League final.
Currently without a club following his departure from the Spanish giants, the former midfielder would represent an ambitious appointment were Tottenham to think big. Prior to his Real Madrid move, Liverpool were understood to have shown interest and he remains amongst the most sought-after managerial talents across the continent.
Alonso left the Spanish capital in January(Image: Getty)
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Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi parted company with French outfit Marseille on Tuesday evening following a string of disappointing performances. A humiliating 5-0 thrashing at the hands of fierce rivals PSG on Sunday proved to be the decisive blow.
De Zerbi took the reins at Brighton in 2022, replacing Graham Potter, and seamlessly continued the momentum established by his predecessor. Throughout his tenure spanning almost two seasons, he guided the Seagulls to a historic sixth-placed finish in the Premier League whilst securing European football.
The 45-year-old moved on after a less impressive second year, though he played a pivotal role in developing talents including Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma during his time on the south coast. His proven ability to develop emerging players, something Spurs possess in abundance, combined with his English football credentials would make him an intriguing prospect.
De Zerbi only left Marseille on Tuesday night(Image: Getty)
Xavi
Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez launched his managerial journey in Qatar before returning to oversee the Catalan club in 2021. Throughout his tenure at the Camp Nou, he delivered their first La Liga title in four years whilst also securing the Spanish Super Cup.
Xavi became celebrated not only for his attractive football but also for his often-overlooked defensive solidity, with his side shipping merely 20 goals throughout the 2022/23 campaign. His departure came in May 2024 following disagreements with the club’s president and he currently remains without a position.
Bringing in the Spaniard would undoubtedly thrill supporters, as would his philosophy on the pitch. He has previously shown faith in emerging prospects, handing Lamine Yamal his first-team opportunity aged just 15. Additionally, one of Tottenham’s standout performers, Xavi Simons, would surely relish the prospect of working under the legendary figure he was named in honour of.
Xavi departed Barcelona in 2024(Image: Getty)
Edin Terzic
Whilst perhaps not the most glamorous candidate Spurs could pursue, ex-Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic delivered an encouraging two-year stint with the German outfit. Terzic started as a scout and youth team coach under Jurgen Klopp before climbing the ladder, taking charge on a caretaker basis in 2020 and serving two years as permanent boss between 2022 and 2024.
During his reign, Terzic steered Dortmund to DFB-Pokal glory and came agonisingly close to wrestling the Bundesliga crown from Bayern Munich in 2023. Most notably, Dortmund progressed to the Champions League final in 2024, ultimately falling short against Real Madrid.
Terzic’s side contested a Champions League final at Wembley(Image: Getty)
Terzic departed the club following that final defeat, prioritising the club’s interests and acknowledging that Dortmund needed fresh leadership after finishing fifth in the league.
Such selflessness would be appreciated in north London and the 43-year-old has demonstrated he possesses the tactical acumen to succeed at the highest level.
Enzo Maresca
Appointing former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca might not sit comfortably with Tottenham supporters, but the Italian did enhance his managerial reputation during his 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca left Chelsea at the start of January(Image: Getty)
The west London outfit brought in Maresca following his success in securing promotion with Leicester City. The ex-Manchester City reserve team manager steered Chelsea to UEFA Conference League glory in his debut campaign.
He followed that up by capturing the Club World Cup last summer. His departure came in January amid a spell of disappointing results and deteriorating relations with the club’s senior management.
Maresca has been linked as a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola at City. But should Spurs seek a new manager with Premier League pedigree, the Italian would be in familiar surroundings in the capital.
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