(Credit: Imago)
(Credit: Imago)
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'Outstanding candidate' for Tottenham job tipped to join Big Six rival amid stunning form

Kyrenia Shipillis
Kyrenia Shipillis

Kyrenia is a lifelong Tottenham fan who has been writing for Tottenham News since she joined Breaking Media in 2025. She will graduate with a Master's in Sports Journalism from St Mary's University, Twickenham in 2025. She spent several months working for the Non-League Paper and has written for the Sports Gazette. Her earliest memory of the Lilywhites is sitting alone in her dad's room in front of the telly crying into her bowl of popcorn as she watched as her team were thrashed...yet again. She is happy to report that fonder memories have since blossomed.

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Tottenham had several candidates in the running to replace Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs' decision to dismiss Postecoglou came as a huge shock at the time. He had just guided Tottenham to UEFA Europa League victory and was loved by both the players and fans.

But finishing 17th in the Premier League with 22 games lost - the most defeats without relegation - was not good enough for the Lilywhites.

As a result, Thomas Frank succeeded Postecoglou who replaced former Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest.

Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou was sacked due to poor league performances (Credit: Imago)

Andoni Iraola tipped for a Big Six job

Tottenham identified Andoni Iraola as an ideal candidate to replace Postecoglou, but it was not meant to be.

However, 43-year-old's genius cannot be understated. Tottenham were defeated by Bournemouth in the Premier League after back-to-back wins, while the Cherries are currently fifth on the table with a game in hand.

  • Bournemouth created three big chances and had 20 shots vs Spurs
  • Tottenham created zero big chances and had five shots vs Bournemouth

Chief Sports Writer Dave Kid for The Sun via The Sun on Sunday (21 September, page 55), that he could be next in line for a Big Six job.

He states that when Spurs were looking for their next manager, "Iraola felt like the outstanding choice. The next time a Big Six club are in the market, he may well get his big break."

Andoni Iraola
Iraola is the only manager to have defeated Frank in the league so far (Credit: Imago)

Thomas Frank vs Andoni Iraola manager record

Iraola and Frank are two managers who have been consistently praised for making use of what they have in the Premier League. But how do their records compare in the top flight?

Brentford were promoted to the top division under the Dane in 2021 and have been competing amongst elite company ever since. Meanwhile, the Spanish manager was appointed Bournemouth coach in 2023 and has been leading the charge since.

Frank spent 2,449 days in charge at Brentford. In that time, he won 136 games, was defeated on 110 occasions and drew 71 matches. On the other hand, Iraola has managed Bournemouth for 813 days, winning 38 games, losing on 34 occasions and drawing 20 matches.

While the Dane has overseen just seven games for Spurs, winning four, losing two, and drawing once.

With both managers on top of the world at the moment, it will be interesting to see where the two finish in the league once the season wraps up.

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Thomas Frank
Andoni Iraola
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