Brentford boss Thomas Frank is hoping to create “more magic moments” after signing a new contract tying him to the club until the summer of 2027.
The 49-year-old Dane was appointed to the top job in 2018 and guided the club into the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2020/21, ultimately finishing 13th in their top-flight campaign.
Frank’s side currently sit 10th and will return to Premier League action against Spurs on Boxing Day bolstered by a 2-1 win over reigning champions Manchester City before the World Cup break.
“Being a head coach at a club is like a relationship; there are highs and lows,” said Frank.
Merry Christmas everyone 🎁
The boss is here to stay until 2027 🥰#BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/txTkoOnYOQ
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 24, 2022
“I have been here six years in total, which is a long time in modern football, and I’d like to say thank you to the fans for the support you give us – the players, the staff, everyone involved with the club.
“The warmth, support and kindness every time I meet a Bees fan has been amazing and it gives me extra energy to continue the work going forward.
“We attacked the Premier League in the first season and we’re attacking it in our second season. I’m looking forward to hopefully continuing our progress and creating more magic moments together.”
Frank first joined the Bees as assistant head coach in December 2016, and had already agreed to a new deal back in January that would have seen him remain at the club until 2025.
He is just the second man to lead Brentford in the top tier, and is tied with David Webb in third place for total wins as manager in club history (91).
Brentford, who have won four and drawn seven of their 15 league matches this season, are in a close battle for a top-10 finish and one of three sides on 19 points as the second half of the season kicks off.
They will first host Spurs on Monday before rounding out 2022 with a trip to West Ham.
Frank was pleased the World Cup break gave injured players more time to rehabilitate, including captain Pontus Jansson (hamstring) who will be available for selection for the first time since the Bees’ 0-0 draw with Bournemouth in early October.
Boxing Day on the horizon
🔜 #PLReturns pic.twitter.com/X8K8l8v3Q2
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 23, 2022
Midfielder Christian Norgaard came back from an Achilles injury for the City victory and is expected to feature again after representing Denmark at the World Cup, while Aaron Hickey and Kristoffer Ajer remain out of the side but are close to returning.
Frank personally enjoyed the time off, telling a press conference: “It has been a privilege. I haven’t had that for six years, to have two weeks off.
“When you’re working in this relentless business, it’s nice to have the odd day off, so it was much appreciated.”
He was less certain about whether or not the winter World Cup break would be beneficial to his Bees as they look to take three points from fourth-placed Spurs, who he expects to have a strong number of Qatar returnees, including England captain Harry Kane, at their disposal.
“Yes and no,” he said of the break’s benefits. “We’d just beaten [Manchester] City so it might have been nice to come in and see all the boys bouncing off that energy and the confidence that something like that gives.
“The good news is that it was such a big thing to win and that will give us confidence going forward.”
