The Premier League is the Roman Colosseum as far as proving ground goes for managers, and several who thrive in the English top flight go on to make a name for themselves on the continental and international stages.
Vincent Kompany, who managed just one season in the Premier League, is now in charge of Bayern Munich, while the likes of Eddie Howe continue to be linked with the Manchester United hot seat. With Thomas Tuchel taking over England, the current market is sparse when it comes to proven reliable managers.
One man who continues to go under the radar is Thomas Frank, who has transformed Brentford into Premier League regulars and employs a brand of football that will see him fit in at some of Europe’s top clubs. He was, in fact, touted as a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, a job that eventually went to the brilliant Arne Slot.
Former Premier League star Darren Bent, however, believes Frank should explore his options if a top-eight club comes in for him. Speaking on talkSPORT via YouTube, here is what Bent had to say on the matter:
“He has been incredible and the fact he gets linked to certain jobs here and there, but I mean, he has been loyal to them… I’m a big fan of his, and I don’t think it’s disrespectful for him to come out and say, ‘We don’t know the future, but at some point, I’d like to go to the next level.’… If one of the top eight clubs come in for him, I think he should explore it.”
Bent is right in his assessment that Frank has taken Brentford as far as he can given the club’s pull and resources. He led the Bees to a 13th-placed finish in their maiden 2021/22 Premier League campaign under his leadership before breaching the top ten in 2022/23. However, they fell to 16th in 2023/24 and had the unwelcome experience of sparring it out to stave off relegation.
To Frank’s credit, his side did not abandon the style of football that saw them stand out and continue to add more dimensions. However, the chances of Frank winning silverware or securing a European spot with Brentford are remote at best. He has taken them as far as he can, and a step up into the bigger leagues will truly test his mettle as a top-tier manager.
As things stand, the Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester City hot seats appear unlikely to become vacant anytime soon while Tottenham Hotspur too appear invested in the Ange Postecoglou project. The usually fickle Chelsea are impressing under Enzo Maresca as well, more or less securing his spot at the Stamford Bridge helm.
It is possible that the Manchester United job might be on the market should Erik ten Hag fail to turn things around. With Eddie Howe also linked to the Old Trafford hot seat, it could potentially set off a chain of events that could see Newcastle scout Frank to fill the void. Either way, it represents a significant step up from the expectations and resources afforded to the Danish tactician.
At 51, Frank is poised to take the next step in his career. He remains a proven yet underrated manager in the Premier League and has the ability to build a competitive squad within constraints. Whether he continues to stay loyal to Brentford or opts to take his talents elsewhere remains to be seen.
