Tottenham Hotspur has decided to part ways with manager Ange Postecoglou. Despite leading the club to Europa League success and ending a 17-year trophy drought with a notable victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, his position became untenable after Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League last season, having lost 22 matches. Chairman Daniel Levy is now looking for a new direction for the club.
With Tottenham set to compete in the Champions League next season and possessing a squad full of talented players, the managerial vacancy has quickly become one of the most sought-after roles in European football. Attention has turned to several potential successors. Here are some of the main contenders:
Thomas Frank
As it stands, Brentford boss Thomas Frank is widely considered the leading candidate to take over from Postecoglou. Reports suggest that Daniel Levy has already sounded him out as a potential replacement as speculation about the Australian`s departure intensified.
Frank has received significant praise for his work with Brentford since joining them in the Championship in 2018. He successfully guided the club to the Premier League and has since solidified their place in the top flight – a considerable achievement in an era where promoted teams often struggle to stay up. Brentford finished the recent season in 10th place, a remarkable 18 points ahead of Tottenham. Securing Frank`s services will likely be challenging for Spurs, as he still has two years remaining on his contract, requiring a compensation fee.
Marco Silva
Fulham manager Marco Silva is another strong contender being linked with the Spurs job. Known as a capable Premier League manager with solid experience in England, the Portuguese coach has successfully rebuilt his reputation at Craven Cottage following a difficult spell at Everton.
Silva led Fulham back to the Premier League in 2022 and has since established them as a competitive side, even pushing for European qualification during the last campaign after previous attempts to stay in the top flight had failed. While Silva has not publicly stated a desire to leave Fulham, a move could be tempting if he feels he isn`t receiving sufficient backing in the transfer market.
Oliver Glasner
Appointing Oliver Glasner would represent a major statement for Tottenham. He is currently one of the most highly-regarded managers in the Premier League, having significantly transformed Crystal Palace in his season and a half in charge. Glasner not only guided Palace to their first major trophy but has also put them in a strong position for potential European qualification next season.
His attacking and exciting style of football has earned him widespread admiration from both Palace fans and neutral observers, contributing to the Eagles achieving their best ever Premier League points total. Convincing Glasner to leave a vibrant project at Crystal Palace for the potential challenges at Tottenham would undoubtedly require significant effort from Spurs.
Xavi
One of the most prominent names currently available is Barcelona legend Xavi. Following an illustrious playing career that included numerous titles with Barcelona and Spain, the iconic midfielder moved into management in 2019. After spending over two years managing Al Sadd in Qatar, Barcelona brought him back to replace Ronald Koeman.
He successfully led Barcelona to the LaLiga title in the 2022/23 season. However, his title defense proved challenging, and he was sacked towards the end of the most recent season, with the team finishing 12 points behind their rivals Real Madrid. Xavi remains without a club and might view a move to Tottenham as a bold step to revitalise his coaching career.
Michael Carrick
A move for Michael Carrick, a former Tottenham player, might be met with caution by some sections of the Spurs fanbase. Carrick recently left his position at Middlesbrough after failing to secure a playoff spot in the Championship for a second consecutive season. However, his initial season at Boro was promising, achieving a top-six finish and suggesting potential as a developing manager.
Middlesbrough was Carrick`s first full-time managerial role, following a brief period as caretaker manager at Manchester United in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer`s dismissal. With his history at Tottenham and extensive playing career largely spent in the Premier League, Daniel Levy might see the former midfielder as a suitable choice to succeed Postecoglou.
Gary O’Neil
Gary O’Neil is another name that could be considered a potential candidate, though perhaps less likely than others. He has been out of management since being sacked by Wolves in December 2024. O`Neil, a former player with clubs like Portsmouth and West Ham, began his coaching journey as an assistant with Liverpool`s U23s. He has experience managing teams battling in the mid-to-lower half of the Premier League.
O`Neil was part of the coaching staff that helped Bournemouth achieve promotion in 2021/22, later taking over as head coach. After successfully keeping Bournemouth in the league in his first season (15th), he was surprisingly dismissed in the summer of 2023. He then took charge at Wolves for the 2023/24 season. Although his team was in a relatively safe mid-table position, a poor run of results led to his sacking in December with the club near the relegation zone.
