Tottenham dismissed Thomas Frank after a home defeat to Newcastle pushed the club into a precarious position near the bottom of the Premier League standings, placing the spotlight firmly on the players.
Steven Gerrard has aimed criticism at Tottenham’s squad following the club’s decision to sack head coach Thomas Frank.
Frank was removed from his role on Wednesday after Spurs were beaten at home by Newcastle. That result left the north London side sitting 16th in the Premier League table, only five points clear of the relegation zone.
He had taken charge in the summer after an impressive spell with Brentford, but the club confirmed in an official statement that it had chosen to part company with him. Former Liverpool assistant John Heitinga has since been linked with the role on a temporary basis until the end of the season, with an interim appointment now looking likely.
Liverpool icon Gerrard feels Frank lacked full backing from the Tottenham dressing room and insists the players must shoulder much of the responsibility.
Speaking on TNT Sports before Liverpool’s match against Sunderland, he said: “If I were a Tottenham player watching from home, I would feel guilty because, from the very start, I don’t think the squad truly gave Thomas Frank a proper chance, either collectively or consistently.
“We see this happen too often, where the manager takes the blame. It’s clear to me that several players in that dressing room have underperformed and need to take a long, honest look at themselves.
“Maybe he wasn’t a glamorous, headline-grabbing name, but he deserved the opportunity to manage Tottenham. As a group, they let him down. The players must take a huge share of responsibility for this decision.”
Even with Spurs struggling near the foot of the table, Gerrard does not believe Frank was the wrong choice and feels he earned the chance to manage one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
He added: “At the time, I thought it was a strong appointment. He did an outstanding job at Brentford and deserved the opportunity. But with all due respect, this role comes with a completely different level of pressure and expectation.
“At Brentford, the objective was simply to collect enough points to stay in the division. At Tottenham, you are expected to win. You are stepping into roles previously held by managers like Mourinho and Conte, so it is a totally different challenge.”
Tottenham acted swiftly, dismissing Frank within 24 hours of the defeat to Newcastle. A club statement said: “The Club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today.
“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we were determined to give him the time and support required to build for the future.
“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this stage of the season is necessary.
“Throughout his time at the club, Thomas has shown unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the club forward. We thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.”
