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Thomas Frank has revealed he was interviewed by Manchester United and Chelsea on the same day during his final year in charge of Brentford.
The Tottenham manager shed light on the two meetings that took place on May 24 2024, beginning with a conversation inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe's garage before travelling across London for further talks with Chelsea.
Frank had already spent six years with the Bees by that point, having guided them into the Premier League in 2021 and established them as a stable top-flight side across his seven-season tenure.
His work had placed him on the shortlist during both clubs' managerial searches that summer.
The 52-year-old reflected on the unusual nature of holding discussions with two massive clubs within hours of each other and how rare it felt for a coach who had built his reputation away from Europe's traditional powerhouses.
'Sitting down to talk to two of the ten biggest clubs in the world, two hours apart, is quite unique,' he told Danish outlet TV2.
Thomas Frank has revealed he was interviewed by Manchester United and Chelsea on the same day during his final year in charge of Brentford
The Danish coach met with United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe on the eve of the Red Devils' FA Cup final win over Manchester City
Frank added that the day underlined the scale of his progression after moving to England as an assistant in 2016 and later taking charge of Brentford.
Before joining the Bees, he had worked in Danish football with Brondby and the national youth teams, building the profile that eventually caught Premier League attention.
The meeting with Ratcliffe also took place on the eve of Manchester United's FA Cup final against Manchester City, with Frank's representatives holding talks while the United squad travelled to Wembley.
United went on to beat City 2-1 on May 25, a result that proved decisive in securing Erik ten Hag's future.
Though he was unsuccessful in both interviews - Chelsea appointed Enzo Maresca, with United keeping faith with Ten Hag before moving for Ruben Amorim six months later - he acknowledged how striking the experience had felt.
'I know I didn't get either job, but it was still huge. I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews and thinking, "Thomas Frank from f****** Frederiksvark, am I really experiencing this?" '
Frank’s account of that day features in his forthcoming book, Thomas Frank – Diary from the Premier League: The Story of Denmark's Greatest Coach Name, which charts his route from Danish football into the Premier League and includes previously unseen material from his time at Brentford.
Twelve months after those interviews, Tottenham appointed Frank as their manager after parting company with Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2025. Spurs triggered his release clause at Brentford to complete the move.
Though he was unsuccessful in both interviews, Frank how striking the experience of interviewing for the United and Chelsea jobs had felt
Frank has delivered five wins and three defeats in the league, leaving Tottenham fifth after 11 games. It has been a steady start, though a few moments have drawn unwanted attention.
One of note came when defenders Djed Spence and Micky Van de Ven ignored him after the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea.
That flashpoint resurfaced this week when England manager Thomas Tuchel criticised Spence for his behaviour, stressing the standards expected of international players.
Frank will face his first north London derby when his players return from international duty this week.
Spurs will bid to claim their first win at the Emirates since a 2-0 League Cup victory in 2018, and their first Premier League success there since 2010.
