Tottenham Hotspur are in a difficult place right now after a string of poor results, and manager Thomas Frank is beginning to feel the pressure.
The Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer, coming in from Brentford after Spurs‘ Europa League victory, and started the season positively, before recently falling into a tricky place which has seen fan uproar grow, especially following toothless defeats against London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.
The enormity of those defeats has seen speculation emerge around the future of the manager, and GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the top candidates with Sports Casting to see who could come in to replace him should the board decide a change is necessary in the near future.
Erik Ten Hag and Michael Carrick Among Outsiders
While Frank’s position is believed to be in any immediate danger, there are some managers being linked with the job already.
According to Sports Casting, there are some big names who could be outsiders for the role too. Former Juventus boss Thiago Motta is priced at 20/1, alongside Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris and former Spurs star Michael Carrick. Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann and former England coach Sir Gareth Southgate are also 20/1 outsiders.
Premier League experience could be something they look for again, and former top-flight bosses Roberto Di Zerbi, currently at Marseille, and Erik Ten Hag, formerly of Manchester United, are priced at 16/1, as is former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic.
Brendan Rodgers, who recently left Celtic, is considered to be a 14/1 contender for the role, having previously won the FA Cup with Leicester City, while it’s 12/1 for Spurs to make an ambitious move to bring in Unai Emery from Aston Villa. Another Spaniard, free agent and Barcelona legend Xavi, is priced at 10/1 to take the role.
5Kieran McKenna – 9/1
Currently at Ipswich Town, McKenna made a name for himself in the coaching world at Manchester United, before claiming back-to-back promotions at Portman Road.
Despite being relegated last season, McKenna is still with the Tractor Boys and is still considered to be a top young coach. Spurs are always looking to be ahead of the curve with their appointments recently, and McKenna would certainly fall into that category.
The 39-year-old still has plenty to learn, and recently claimed he wanted to stay at Ipswich rather than head north to Glasgow to take over at Celtic, so a move to north London may not be on the cards either, but he is considered to be among the favourites for the job.
4Marco Silva – 8/1
Silva has been linked with a move away from Fulham over the last 12 months on a regular basis, but the Portuguese coach remains at Craven Cottage despite that.
So far this season Fulham have struggled to find their best form, and with the former Everton and Watford man out of contract at the end of the season, there is a suggestion that he may be coming to the end of his time with the club.
Spurs have previously been interested, and they’re likely to be keen again if they choose to cut ties with Frank, especially considering the fact that he may be available for a cut-price fee. He has Premier League experience, is ready to step up and it would not be a surprise if Spurs took a close look.
3Andoni Iraola – 6/1
Before Tottenham settled on making a move for Frank in the summer, many people believed that Andoni Iraola was going to be the top contender for the job, but it never materialised that way.
But while Frank has struggled since taking over, Iraola has continued to go from strength to strength at Bournemouth, despite losing several key first-team players during the summer transfer window.
His expansive style of play would suit what Spurs fans want to see and would also surely aid them in their pursuit of more silverware. He is also set to see his contract expire at the end of the current campaign, which could give Tottenham an edge in any interest.
2Oliver Glasner – 5/1
If Tottenham want to bring in someone with great knowledge of the Premier League, there is arguably nobody better than Oliver Glasner right now.
The Crystal Palace boss has turned the Eagles into a sensational outfit with his 3-4-3 system and won them their first-ever major trophy, claiming the FA Cup in May, before also winning the Community Shield this season.
The Austrian is yet to commit his long-term future to the club, with his current deal set to come to an end at the end of the season, and like other candidates, it could open the door for Spurs to make a move early and bring in a manager who is right at the top of plenty of wishlists.
1Mauricio Pochettino – 3/1
While there are several new names to consider, one option for Tottenham could be to bring back one of their best managers in recent memory in Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine reached the Champions League final and finished third in the Premier League before being sacked by Daniel Levy, and he now currently finds himself as the manager of the USMNT heading into next summer’s World Cup.
Any move for him to return to north London before then would seem highly unlikely, but Pochettino has always been open about his love for the club and has admitted he wants to return to the Premier League at some point, so it could well be a match made in heaven for everyone involved.
