Thomas Frank can take revenge on old foe when Tottenham face FC Copenhagen
Thomas Frank faced FC Copenhagen several times during the early stages of his managerial career, while in charge of Brondby.
The Dane will be hoping to see his side return to winning ways when he faces Copenhagen once more on Tuesday, after Tottenham lost 1-0 to Chelsea on 1 November.
Joao Pedro scored the game’s only goal as the Lilywhites were beaten at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after a dismal performance.
Frank is expected to make several changes against Copenhagen, as the Tottenham boss looks to spur a response from his players.
Xavi Simons was slammed for his performance against Chelsea, and the midfielder could be among those on the bench.
Thomas Frank faces old foe in FC Copenhagen
Unlike many managers, Frank did not have much of a playing career above the amateur and semi-professional levels.
His journey in management started at the youth level with Denmark’s Under-17s and Under-19s, whom he spent coaching for around five years.
Frank’s first flourish into senior management would come with Brondby, an iconic Danish club based in Copenhagen.
| Thomas Frank | vs FC Copenhagen |
| Matches | 8 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Scored | 7 |
| Conceded | 10 |
There he would taste his first derby – the Copenhagen derby, of course, played against Copenhagen.
The Dane would win his first in 2013, his side emerging 3-2 winners from a back-and-forth contest, but he would win only one more from the next seven meetings between the sides before his departure to Brentford in 2016.
Frank would spend three seasons in charge of Brondby, but could never finish above rivals Copenhagen.
The 52-year-old, of course, has a new rivalry to focus on now, in charge of Tottenham. Revenge may well be on his mind on Tuesday night, however, and his former club will surely be cheering him on.
The bizarre story behind Frank’s Brondby exit
Frank’s time in Brondby had not gone as the Dane would have imagined. His side had not finished above third in his three seasons at the club, and had not won any silverware.
The circumstances surrounding his exit were ultimately unrelated to performance, however.
Frank resigned in 2016, after Brondby chairman Jan Bech Andersen was caught posting criticism about the manager in an online fan forum.
Andersen had been posting the criticism while using his son’s account, but had identified himself and eventually apologised.
Frank would resign just days later and make the move to Brentford later that year. The rest, as they say, is history.
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