Topics: Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Football, Roberto De Zerbi, Mauricio Pochettino
A shock manager has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Thomas Frank as Tottenham Hotspur head coach after the Dane’s sacking on Wednesday (February 11).
Frank was finally relieved of his duties as Spurs boss earlier this week after a run of two wins and 12 points from his last 17 Premier League games in charge, which has left the north London side 16th in the English top-flight, just five points above the relegation zone, with 12 games remaining this season.
Tuesday (February 10) proved the final straw for Frank as he watched Newcastle beat Spurs 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to strikes from Malick Thiaw and Jacob Ramsey.
So who could replace the departed Frank?
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Initial reports suggested that former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi was being lined up after he mutually agreed to leave Marseille on Wednesday.
The Italian guided the Seagulls to a record-high sixth-place finish in the 2022/23 campaign, which secured Europa League football.
The following season, Brighton finished 13th before De Zerbi left for Ligue 1 giants Marseille. The 46-year-old finished second in his first season, but the side struggled this term, which resulted in his exit.
However, another European manager has emerged as the favourite to take the reins as Spurs head coach.
According to William Hill, former Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig head coach Marco Rose has emerged as the favourite at odds of 5/4, while De Zerbi is second in the running at 3/1. Former Spurs boss and current USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino makes up the top three at odds of 9/2.
Rose was sacked by Leipzig in March 2025 and has since been without a managerial role. The 49-year-old German also coached RB Salzburg between 2017 and 2019, winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup with the club.
He also guided RB Leipzig to the 2022/23 DFB-Pokal with a win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the final.
Speaking to Kicker in October, the German made it clear that he wants to return to the dugout after several months out of the game.
Rose explained: “I definitely want to get back on the bench, but it doesn’t have to be today, tomorrow, or the day after… I believe the day will come. You’ll certainly see me back on a training ground and in the stadium… It just has to be right, and maybe this time it’s going to be abroad.”
Marco Rose – 5/4
Roberto De Zerbi – 3/1
Mauricio Pochettino – 9/2
John Heitinga – 5/1
Robbie Keane – 7/1
Oliver Glasner – 16/1
