Xavi Simons will be ecstatic with new managerial frontrunner at Tottenham – ‘Top combination’
Marco Rose has emerged as the new frontrunner to take over at Tottenham following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.
Frank was sacked by Tottenham just hours after his side were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United, a result that leaves the North London outfit 16th in the Premier League and only five points clear of the relegation zone.
According to one bookmaker, Rose is now the favourite to replace Frank at Tottenham, moving ahead of previous favourite Roberto De Zerbi on Friday morning.
If Tottenham do opt to bring in the former RB Leipzig manager, it will be great news for Xavi Simons, who has already confessed his admiration for the 49-year-old.
Xavi Simons had great relationship with Marco Rose
Simons joined Tottenham from RB Leipzig last summer for a fee of around £52million, but he has underwhelmed slightly in North London since his arrival.
The 22-year-old had made 32 appearances for Spurs across all competitions, but has only managed two goals and five assists in that time.
However, Simons‘ fortunes in North London could be about to change, especially if the Lilywhites do decide to appoint Rose.
The pair worked together at Leipzig for almost two seasons, between 2023 and 2025, with the winger clearly a big fan of his former boss.
Speaking to Bundesliga about his relationship with Rose, Simons insisted that the duo were a ‘top combination’, and praised the German manager for his honesty.
He said:“[We are a] top combination, I would say. I heard from him before I came here and, yeah, really honest coach, if things go well and things don’t go too well, he would tell you, for sure.
“He really wants you to improve and, at the end of the day, being successful with the team, that’s the most important thing for him.”
Marco Rose got the best out of Xavi Simons
Simons has long been touted as a wonderkid, and Rose helped develop him from a potential star to a player worth over £50m
Paris Saint-Germain loaned the Dutchman to RB Leipzig at the start of the 2023-24 season, and he managed Bundesliga 21 goal contributions from just 33 appearances.
Simons returned to Leipzig on loan the following summer, with the move being made permanent in January 2025.
In his final campaign in the Bundesliga, the attacker scored 10 goals and picked up seven assists, despite missing two months through injury.
Rose was sacked by Leipzig two months before the end of the season, with the German side missing out on European football entirely.
Even with the rest of his side struggling, though, Rose had still managed to get the best out of Simons.