Replacing Ange Postecoglou: Who Will Be Tottenham’s Next Manager?

After an abysmal league campaign for Ange Postecoglou with his side ending the season in 17th place, it looks very likely that the Australian will part ways with Tottenham before the start of next season. Despite winning the club’s first piece of silverware in 17 years when Spurs lifted the Europa League trophy, it doesn’t seem to be enough to warrant the manager extending his tenure at the London based club. Here are the four most likely candidates that could replace the 59-year-old.

4 – Carlos Corberan

The Spanish born manager is the current head coach of his hometown club Valencia after joining the side from West Brom in December 2024. In his short stint with the Spanish outfit, Corberan has taken charge of 24 games with an average of 1.67 points per match. He sets up his side in either a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation, which is also the same structure he implemented at his time with the Baggies. This allows him to execute his aggressive and energetic style of play in an effective manner.

After being promoted to first team coach at Leeds United in 2018, Corberan became the understudy of manager Marcelo Bielsa. This is where the 42-year-old picked up his style of play, with many of his tactics being centred around Bielsa’s aggressive and attacking approach. This aligns with Postecoglou’s managerial methods he uses at Spurs, with a demand for high pressing and fluidity integral to the Australian’s game. A sign that perhaps Corberan could slot into that Tottenham team with his tactical foundations already built for him.

🚨🦇 Official, confirmed. Carlos Corberan has been appointed as new Valencia head coach from WBA.

Compensation fee over €3m. pic.twitter.com/hMdUDZnoWr
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 24, 2024

3 – Oliver Glasner

The current Crystal Palace boss delivered the club’s first trophy in their 164-year history and has in turn attracted the attention of other clubs. The Austrian born manager joined the Eagles in February 2024, and since then has completed 64 games in charge with an average of 1.70 points per match. He has built his philosophy at Palace around the instrumental 3-4-2-1 formation, which has led to silverware success this season.

A large part of that has been because of the quick transitions between defence and attack. The explosiveness and work ethic of the team has enabled a tight defensive structure as well as a potent goal threat. The same system was used when the 50-year-old was the manager of Eintracht Frankfurt. He led the German based side to Europa League glory in 2022 when they overcame Rangers in the final to beat them 5-4 on penalties.

If Glasner was to move to the other side of London, it would be interesting to see if he would stick to his guns and play a 3-4-2-1 formation, or adapt his system to the players and set up with a 4-4-3 structure. I imagine he would implement his structure and style of play and see if the players could adapt their game to suit his methods.

Oliver Glasner is the first ever Austrian manager to win the FA Cup and the first ever manager to win a major trophy with Crystal Palace.

A place in the history books. 📖 pic.twitter.com/4vRZdhrFWY
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 17, 2025

2 – Marco Silva

Another London based club manager is being linked to the hotseat that looks to be available soon. Silva has undergone a four-year stint with Fulham, which started with the Portuguese manager winning the Championship in his first season. He has since kept the club in the Premier League for the three seasons following promotion, with a highest finishing position of 10th. The 47-year-old has managed 184 matches as the Cottagers boss with an average of 1.56 point per match.

Silva’s style of play is the opposite of his counterparts, with less of an emphasis on pressing high up the pitch. Instead he gets his teams to defend within their own half, blocking out passing lanes and space in behind the defence. The former Everton coach uses the 4-2-3-1 formation in a compact way to achieve this approach. When attacking the focus is on an overload in the wide positions, creating triangles between wingers, fullbacks and midfield players. This flexibility and fluidity in offensive positions enables his side to break free of their rigid defensive structure, showing the contrast between the two systems.

This is something Tottenham could benefit from as they need to tighten up defensively, with 65 goals conceded in the Premier League this season. That’s the fifth highest number of goals conceded, with only Wolves and the three relegated teams above them. Could Marco Silva’s rigid defensive structure be something that stops Spurs leaking goals?

🚨⚪️ Spurs chairman Daniel Levy set to decide Ange Postecoglou’s future in the next days, situation open.

Thomas Frank and Marco Silva are both appreciated, discussed internally as options for Spurs job if Ange gets fired.

No final decision on Postecoglou yet. pic.twitter.com/GNvtBcjiAD
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2025

1 – Thomas Frank

The current Brentford boss is the favourite to replace Postecoglou if he gets the sack. Thomas Frank has enjoyed a near seven-year spell as the Bees manager since he joined the club in October 2018. The first two full seasons of his tenure with Brentford saw the club achieve back-to-back third place finishes and play off finals. Frank won promotion to the Premier League in the 2020/21 season, and from there established his side within England’s highest division. His four seasons in the top flight have seen a finish as high as ninth place, with the club ending this season in 10th position.

The 51-year-old has adopted a style of play which is used amongst some of the highest teams in the league. Whilst on paper the formation is 4-2-3-1 we often see that change during games to a 3-5-2 depending on the situation of the game. When defending the Bees occup the 3-5-2 formation to overcrowd the midfield and suffocate their opponents attacks before they even start. They then break out with a high intensity and exploit the space in the wide areas. This can be reflected in Bryan Mbeumo’s 27 goals involvements in the league this season with 20 of those being goals.

With Thomas Frank proving he can thrive in the Premier League, it would be a smart move if Tottenham were to appoint the Dane manager. His ability to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league this season showcases his tactical brilliance and intelligence as a manager.

Thomas Frank is a leading candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou at Spurs should a change be made, as revealed on @talkSPORT in May. Multiple meetings between Frank and Spurs have already taken place. A decision on Postecoglou’s future is expected this week.⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ULlXsPn1VB
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 2, 2025