Bilbao already feels like a long time ago for Tottenham Hotspur. Three weeks ago, the North London club celebrated its first trophy in 17 years. Victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final culminated Ange Postecoglou’s project. After the Australians’ sacking, Spurs are starting all over again.

They could be starting all over again with Thomas Frank in charge. The Brentford boss is reportedly Tottenham’s pick to take over from Postecoglou, with the Europa League winners apparently prepared to pay the Dane’s £10m release clause. Frank would be well worth that sort of outlay.

Not only is Frank an exceptional coach and leader in his own right, but he would be the perfect man to build on Postecoglou’s foundations. The two managers have different views on how the game should be played, but Frank can use the remnants of ‘Ange-ball’ to point Spurs in the right direction again.

In its purest form, ‘Ange-ball’ was about speed. Out of possession, Tottenham under Postecoglou pressed high and hard. In possession, they moved the ball as quickly as possible, and this is something Frank likes his teams to do too. Indeed, Brentford are arguably the most frightening quick transition side in the Premier League.

Defensively, Frank prefers to keep a deeper line. This is a fundamental difference between what the Dane favours and the trademark philosophy of his would-be predecessor at Spurs. However, Postecoglou dropped his defensive line over the course of Tottenham’s Europa League run, proving his team’s ability to play a more pragmatic style.

Frank will need new signings, primarily in central midfield, to make his approach work for Spurs, but there would be some logic behind the North London club’s decision to hire the 51-year-old. If Postecoglou was ultimately too much of an idealist, Frank would bring a dose of pragmatism without slipping too close to conservatism.

When it comes to hiring managers, Tottenham have tried everything recently. Jose Mourinho they appointed a proven winner to get them over the line in a way Mauricio Pochettino had never been able to as a project manager. When Mourinho didn’t work, Spurs turned to Antonio Conte, another serial winner who has lifted trophies at every team he has coached.

After Conte flamed out, Spurs opted for another project manager in Postecoglou, who ironically delivered the club’s first piece of silverware in 17 years. Now that Postecoglou has been pushed to the sidelines, Spurs are looking for someone who can split the difference. Ideologically, Frank sits somewhere between Conte and Postecoglou.

Spurs need more than just a new manager to improve on last season’s disastrous 17th place finish. This summer’s transfer window will be an important one with Tottenham facing some difficult decisions on a number of key players including Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero. They must be ruthless and act decisively.

In terms of incoming signings, the midfield needs to be rebuilt. Lucas Bergvall has potential, while Rodrigo Bentancur is an elite-level performer on his day, but Frank needs players who can act as two-way valves in the centre of the pitch to get Tottenham moving forward at speed. This will be a priority.

Depending on who you ask, the Spurs’ 2024/25 season was either a glorious success or a catastrophic failure. The reality, however, is that their next manager will have the platform of Champions League football to build on. This is also a group of players that now has the taste for winning after lifting the Europa League. Frank could help them take the next step.

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