Tottenham eyeing Iraola alternative who Guardiola called “one of the best”

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are continuing to conduct their due-diligence on potential replacements for Ange Postecoglou with the tactician’s future in serious doubt, and chairman Daniel Levy has more interesting names on his shortlist beyond rumoured top target Andoni Iraola.

Tottenham identify Andoni Iraola as leading manager candidate

According to credible reports recently, Postecoglou’s long-term future is now in “serious doubt”, following a dismal 2024/2025 campaign for Spurs.

The Lilywhites sit 14th in the Premier League table and have lost a disastrous 15 matches in the top flight, grim numbers for a ‘big six’ side, and while their plethora of injuries have played a major role in this, criticism has still surrounded Postecoglou.

“When you’ve had your best team available to you and you’ve lost at home to Ipswich, your best team’s been available to you,” said talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan.

“When you had your best team available, you’ve been 2-0 up against Brighton, you’ve lost. When you’ve had your best team available to you away at Selhurst Park to Crystal Palace, who at the time were stinking the place out, you lose.

“You don’t get those passes. I think you get some of them. So I think that Ange has to be accountable for some of the poor performances.”

Postecoglou made the best-ever start to a Premier League season by any new manager in the competition’s history last season, but the 59-year-old has suffered a serious crash back down to earth after what was a promising debut campaign in the Spurs dugout.

So much so, that Tottenham are reportedly considering a new manager to replace Postecoglou

It is widely reported that Bournemouth’s Iraola is Tottenham’s leading managerial candidate, with Rayo Vallecano’s former boss having guided the Cherries to a very impressive campaign.

The south coast side are undergoing a damp patch of form right now, losing three out of their last four league games, but they remain surprise contenders to seal European qualification despite suffering their fair share of injury problems.

This has impressed Spurs enough for them to make the 42-year-old their top target to succeed Postecoglou, as per The Athletic and other sources. However, the same outlet reports that Levy has alternative options.

Tottenham eyeing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Andoni Iraola alternative

Indeed, it is believed that fellow top-flight boss Thomas Frank is among the other names in their thinking.

The Dane is out of contract in 2027 and previous reports have suggested that Frank is expected to pursue a new challenge at the end of the season, following seven successful years as Brentford’s head coach.

In that time, the 51-year-old has transformed Brentford from a Championship side to solid Premier League mainstays, and there is still an outside chance they qualify for Europe themselves this term.

The Athletic claims Tottenham are considering a move for Frank alongside Iraola, so this could be one to watch this summer. Man City boss Pep Guardiola, commenting on Frank last year, also called him “one of the best” coaches around.

“They are an extraordinary team,” said the City manager.

“What they do always makes sense. Every corner is a headache. They are compact. This season, they have a high press. Thomas is one of the best.”