Thomas Frank: Replacing Erik ten Hag at Man Utd will NOT improve my life

Carlo Garganese

• 23 Oct 2024 10:26 BST
• 4 min read

Thomas Frank has responded lukewarmly to the prospect of moving to a big club such as Manchester United.

The Danish manager has been one of the best and most admired coaches in the Premier League in recent years at Brentford.

His exploits have led him to become one of Man Utd’s top options to replace Erik ten Hag as manager, if and when the Dutchman is sacked.

READ MORE: Which football managers have been sacked this season?

Indeed, there have been growing reports in some sections of the media in recent weeks that Frank will be offered the job if Ten Hag is dismissed.

But when asked of the prospect of taking over a big club like Man Utd, Frank was not massively enthused - even if he didn’t rule out accepting the job.

What did Frank say?

“For sure if I ever got the offer to go to a big club and I decided to go there, it would probably not make my life better,” Frank told the Sports Agent podcast.

“I think we all know that. Maybe it is a challenge you need to try. I don’t know. It is not something I am thinking about. I have sacrificed a lot throughout my life to reach where I am now. In terms of sacrificing, I missed my children’s birthdays for five years in a row because I was with the national team.

“I have been working 60, 70 hours a week for the last 30 years. I have sacrificed a lot of things. You don’t know how it would be if you walked into another job.

“Maybe [a job at a bigger club] will be even better than it is here. I don’t know that. I am just looking at the exposure on certain managers. I don’t think that is part of the football they love.

“I am happy here. What will happen in the future will happen and we will take it from there. I am probably at one of the best clubs in the world, end of discussion, in terms of alignment, leadership, culture, everything. Why should ever leave this place?

“But things can happen. You can want new inspiration, maybe you find another inspiration at your club and you stay, you never know.”

It has been widely reported that Ten Hag has until the next international break in November to improve Man Utd's fortunes or be sacked.

READ MORE: Premier League top scorers 2024/25

Ten Hag survived the October international break and the much-anticipated executive summit held in London by United chiefs a fortnight ago.

The United board held a six-hour meeting at INEOS’ offices in London where it was decided that no action would be taken to sack Ten Hag.

The meeting was chaired by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos owner and United’s largest single minority shareholder. Also present were Ineos head of sport, Sir Dave Brailsford, United CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, the sporting director, and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Man United currently find themselves languishing down in 11th position in the Premier League with a minus-two goal difference after eight games.

United have failed to win either of their Europa League games, drawing with Twente and Porto.

However, Ten Hag remains very much at risk of the sack if results do not improve between now and the next international break in November.

A number of other top names have been waiting in the wings to replace Ten Hag, including former Gareth Southgate, Max Allegri, Eddie Howe, Edin Terzic, Lucien Favre and Graham Potter.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is an internal choice after impressing the club since arriving as assistant manager.