Following Thomas Frank's move to Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford are now in the process of finding a new manager to lead the club. Frank's departure marks the end of a successful era for Brentford, as he guided them from the Championship to a stable Premier League team. Several candidates have emerged as potential replacements, each bringing a unique set of skills and experiences.
One of the frontrunners is Kieran McKenna. Despite Ipswich Town's relegation from the Premier League, McKenna's reputation as a promising British coach remains intact. His achievement of leading Ipswich to the top flight from League One in a short period highlights his talent. McKenna's ability to blend attacking football with tactical flexibility makes him a potentially good fit for Brentford.
Another candidate is Kjetil Knutsen, the current manager of Bodo/Glimt. Knutsen has gained recognition for his work in transforming the Norwegian club from a minor team to a Europa League semi-finalist. His success includes winning four Eliteserien titles in his seven-year tenure. Knutsen has been linked with various roles at clubs like Rangers, Celtic, and Leeds. The opportunity to manage in the Premier League could be a compelling factor for him to leave Bodo.
Kasper Hjulmand is also being considered. If Brentford aims to maintain some Danish continuity, Hjulmand could be a suitable option. He is familiar with several key players in the Brentford squad, including Christian Norgaard, Mathias Jensen, and Mikkel Damsgaard, all of whom were regulars under him during his time as the Denmark national team coach. Hjulmand led Denmark to the Euro 2020 semi-finals under difficult circumstances, following Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest.
Danny Rohl is a more unconventional choice, given his limited Premier League experience. However, he has demonstrated his managerial capabilities in his first role.
Whoever Brentford chooses will have big shoes to fill, following Frank's successful tenure. Frank's move to Tottenham is seen as a risky but earned opportunity, given his track record of identifying problems and implementing solutions. He will be joined by Justin Cochrane (First Team Assistant Coach), Chris Haslam (Head of Performance & First Team Assistant Coach) and Joe Newton (First Team Coach Analyst), with Andreas Georgson (First Team Assistant Coach) arriving from Manchester United. The task ahead for Frank at Tottenham includes integrating into a club known for its instability and high expectations, and also potentially bringing in familiar faces like Bryan Mbeumo.