Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has disclosed the remarkable story of being interviewed for both the Manchester United and Chelsea managerial positions on the same day during his final season with Brentford.
A Day of High-Stakes Meetings
The Danish coach experienced one of the most unusual days of his career on May 24, 2024, when he held discussions with two of football's biggest clubs within hours of each other. Frank began his extraordinary day with a conversation inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe's garage regarding the Manchester United position, before travelling across London for further talks with Chelsea representatives.
Reflecting on the experience, Frank told Danish outlet TV2: 'Sitting down to talk to two of the ten biggest clubs in the world, two hours apart, is quite unique.' The 52-year-old acknowledged how rare such an opportunity felt for a coach who had built his reputation away from Europe's traditional football powerhouses.
From Brentford to the Big Time
By that point in May 2024, Frank had already spent six years with Brentford, having guided them into the Premier League in 2021 and established them as a stable top-flight side across his seven-season tenure. His impressive work at the West London club had placed him on the shortlist during both clubs' managerial searches that summer.
The meeting with Ratcliffe occurred on the eve of Manchester United's FA Cup final against Manchester City, with Frank's representatives holding talks while the United squad travelled to Wembley. United went on to beat City 2-1 on May 25, a result that proved decisive in securing Erik ten Hag's future at the time.
Reflections and Subsequent Move
Though unsuccessful in both interviews - Chelsea appointed Enzo Maresca, while United initially kept faith with Ten Hag before moving for Ruben Amorim six months later - Frank recognised the significance of the experience.
'I know I didn't get either job, but it was still huge,' he recalled. 'I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews and thinking, "Thomas Frank from f****** Frederiksvark, am I really experiencing this?"'
Frank's account of that pivotal day features in his forthcoming book, Thomas Frank – Diary from the Premier League: The Story of Denmark's Greatest Coach Name, which charts his journey from Danish football to the Premier League and includes previously unseen material from his time at Brentford.
Twelve months after those interviews, Tottenham appointed Frank as their manager in the summer of 2025 after parting company with Ange Postecoglou. Spurs triggered his release clause at Brentford to complete the move.
Frank has delivered five wins and three defeats in the league, leaving Tottenham fifth after 11 games. Though it's been a steady start, some moments have drawn unwanted attention, particularly when defenders Djed Spence and Micky Van de Ven ignored him after the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
Frank will face his first north London derby when his players return from international duty this week. Spurs will bid to claim their first win at the Emirates since a 2-0 League Cup victory in 2018, and their first Premier League success there since 2010.
