In a conversation with Danish channel TV2 on 17/11, Frank disclosed that the two meetings occurred on 24/5, as both Man Utd and Chelsea were seeking new managers. The first meeting took place at the garage of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Man Utd. Immediately after, Frank traveled from west to south London to speak with Chelsea's leadership.

"Sitting down to talk with two of the ten biggest clubs in the world, just two hours apart, was a very special feeling", Frank shared. "I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews, asking myself: 'Thomas Frank from Frederiksvaerk, how did I get here?'"

Coach Thomas Frank (left) and billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. Photo: Sun

At the time, the 52-year-old coach had spent six years at Brentford, guiding the team to promotion in 2021 and establishing himself as a highly regarded figure in coaching circles. His journey in England since 2016, following stints at Brondby and with the Danish youth national teams, brought him into the sights of these major clubs.

The meeting with Ratcliffe occurred just before the 2024 FA Cup final between Man Utd and Man City. While Man Utd prepared for Wembley, Frank's representatives were simultaneously in further discussions with the Red Devils. Ultimately, Man Utd won 2-1, allowing Erik ten Hag to retain his position for a period.

Both opportunities concluded without Frank being appointed. Chelsea chose Enzo Maresca, while Man Utd continued with Ten Hag before appointing Ruben Amorim six months later. Despite this, Frank considers the experience a significant milestone in his career.

This story will feature in his upcoming book: "Thomas Frank - Diary from the Premier League", which chronicles his journey from Danish football to the world's top league, including previously unreleased material from his time at Brentford.

One year after Frank's whirlwind interviews, Tottenham triggered a release clause to bring him in as Ange Postecoglou's replacement. He has had a relatively stable start, with five wins and three defeats after 11 rounds, positioning Tottenham in fifth place.

However, some noteworthy situations have arisen, such as when two defenders, Djed Spence and Micky Van de Ven, ignored him as he tried to motivate them after a 0-1 loss to Chelsea. Nevertheless, a win against Copenhagen and a draw with Man Utd helped Frank escape criticism.

Hoang An compiled