The real Thomas Frank: The new Spurs boss by those who know him in Denmark - The Athletic

The Athletic details Thomas Frank's deep connection to his hometown of Frederiksvaerk, Denmark, located about 50km north of Copenhagen. The journey involves trains and a bus, passing forests, fields, and the Roskilde Fjord, before reaching the Frederiksvaerk (FFK) clubhouse via a small tunnel.

Frank maintains strong ties to the town and FFK. When visiting, he runs past the club's pitches. A senior FFK figure recounted Frank stopping by the clubhouse in March 2023 to look at the pitch and say hello. Frank hasn't forgotten old friends; for his 50th birthday in October 2023, he took 35 friends, some since childhood, to Mallorca to celebrate, play padel, drink cocktails, and reminisce about their roles in his coaching beginnings. Friends emphasize that Frank actively maintains relationships and remains grounded despite his success, making a point to arrange meetups yearly.

Frank, who spent the last seven years managing Brentford, has now accepted the challenge of managing Tottenham Hotspur. He signed a three-year contract in June to replace Ange Postecoglou. This marks a significant step up, moving from Brentford to a club with a 60,000-seat stadium and Champions League football, commanding a multi-million-pound salary – a stark contrast to his first coaching job where he earned just £100.

Frederiksvaerk is described as a small harbour town with few jobs, leading many to leave for the city. FFK, formed in 2004 by merging two clubs, plays in Denmark's seventh tier. Frank came through the youth ranks of one of the predecessor clubs (FB), played midfield for their first team in the 1990s, and was encouraged to start coaching at age 20 by Jesper Olsen (unrelated to the former Man Utd player). He was given a tracksuit and 1,000 Danish kroner (approx. £100). Jesper Olsen's son explained his father recruited Frank, who volunteered because he wanted to help young people and give back.