New Era, No Son: Spurs Prioritize Young Talent Over Legacy Star

[OSENWORLD] Tottenham Hotspur’s new managerial direction is raising serious questions about the future of club captain Son Heung-min (33). The North London club’s leadership has made it clear: youth development is now a top priority — and that could come at the expense of long-time veterans like Son.

Just 16 days after lifting the UEFA Europa League trophy — their first major silverware in 17 years — Tottenham sacked manager Ange Postecoglou and appointed Brentford’s Thomas Frank (52) as their new head coach.

Incoming CEO Vinai Venkatesham revealed through the club’s website on June 18 (KST) that Frank was selected from a shortlist of 30 candidates. “Among the 10 key traits we identified for success, Thomas Frank checked more boxes than anyone else,” Venkatesham said.

According to UK outlet TalkSPORT, one of those critical traits is the ability to nurture young talent — an area where Frank has built a strong reputation. The report highlighted 20-year-old forward Mathys Tel as a standout product of Frank’s system.

Frank led Brentford to consistent top-half Premier League finishes despite operating on a tight budget. His success with developing emerging players earned him praise as a smart and modern tactician.

Club chairman Daniel Levy added, “Every new manager is a new beginning. We want to build on last season’s momentum. Frank is intelligent, a strong communicator, and brings the technical expertise we need.”

But the shift toward a younger squad also signals a changing of the guard — and possibly the end of the Son Heung-min era. Tel, who joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich in February and scored three goals in 20 matches, is already viewed as a long-term successor to Son. The deal included a six-year permanent option, which Tottenham triggered following their Europa League win.

Under Postecoglou, Son would likely have remained the focal point of Tottenham’s attack. But with Frank at the helm, a youth-first approach makes Son’s departure a growing possibility — despite his status as captain and club legend.

Levy acknowledged that parting ways with Postecoglou was not an easy decision. “It was emotionally difficult,” he said. “But it was a collective decision made for the future of the club.”

/k_inside@osen.co.kr