When will Thomas Frank receive credit for his Brentford success?

Brentford released a clip of Thomas Frank speaking to his players after the thrilling 5-3 win over Wolves on Saturday. The Dane was clearly very pleased with the performance of his team. Frank’s natural authority inside the dressing room was also obvious as every player in front of him listened closely. Everyone at Brentford is bought into the manager’s ideas.

And why wouldn’t they be? Frank has played a transformational role in the Bees’ history, taking the club up to the Premier League three years ago and keeping them there. With seven fixtures of the 2024/25 campaign played, Brentford are in 11th place and are targeting a second top-half finish in three seasons.

This is despite Brentford possessing one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League. According to recent estimates, only Ipswich Town have a smaller wage bill than the Bees who have consistently punched above their weight in recent times. So why doesn’t Frank receive more credit for his achievements?

Not only do Brentford punch above their weight, they play a brand of dynamic football that highlights Frank’s credentials as a modern, forward-thinking manager. It’s not as if the Bees have become a permanent fixture in the Premier League by replicating the underdog tactics that worked for Burnley and Stoke City in the past.

In terms of their average share of possession, Brentford rank in the bottom half of the Premier League table, registering 45.7% this season. That places them below the likes of Wolves, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Southampton, but Frank’s team doesn’t need the ball to play matches on their terms.

Look at how effective Brentford were in their emphatic victory over Wolves on Saturday when the visitors to the Brentford Community Stadium had the higher share of possession. Inviting Wolves forward opened up more space for the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Mikkel Damsgaard to exploit on the rapid counter-attack.

“They are an extraordinary team,” said Pep Guardiola of Brentford after the Bees pushed Manchester City all the way in a match at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season. “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.”

Guardiola went on to claim “it is just a question of time” until a bigger club comes calling for Frank, but the 50-year continues to fly under the radar. While other managers who have achieved less have landed big jobs – see Vincent Kompany and Enzo Maresca, for example – Frank remains at Brentford.

Of course, Frank has been tentatively linked to some jobs. Manchester United reportedly assessed the Dane at the end of last season as they weighed up Erik ten Hag’s future. Frank was also on the shortlist to replace Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea manager when he left Stamford Bridge earlier this year. Tottenham Hotspur are similarly believed to be admirers. An offer could materialise at some point in the future.

Brentford are one of the Premier League’s greatest success stories of the last decade. While the Bees have a millionaire owner in the shape of Matthew Benham, they have recruited from obscure markets to compete at the top level of English football. Data and shrewd scouting has been central to their success.

In Frank, Brentford have a manager who has the tactical acumen and natural communication skills to put it all together on the pitch. The Dane isn’t the only reason behind the Bees’ remarkable rise, but his contribution should be noted more than it is. Guardiola recognises Frank’s greatness and others should too.