Is Frank the Top Coach at Spurs? A Look at Four Major Roles Held by Danish Coaches

With Thomas Frank now at the helm of Tottenham, some have claimed this is the most significant role ever held by a Danish coach. But is that assertion entirely accurate? Flashscore has explored the annals of football history to highlight some of the prominent positions Danish coaches have occupied globally.

Ebbe Skovdahl:

The late Ebbe Skovdahl, who sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 74, was relatively unknown when Brøndby brought him in from B 1903 in 1985. The club sought his expertise to implement full-time professionalism for the first time in its history, and he delivered. Under his management, Brøndby clinched the Danish championship in 1987 and made it to the quarter-finals of the European Cup (later known as the Champions League), where they were narrowly defeated 2-1 on aggregate by the eventual champions, FC Porto.

Following their valiant efforts against Porto, Benfica signed Skovdahl. However, he encountered difficulties conveying his tactics to the players due to a language barrier. His assistant Toni was left to translate, but vital nuances were lost in communication. With a record of ten wins, three draws, and three losses deemed unsatisfactory for a club of Benfica’s stature, Skovdahl was dismissed after just four months. He subsequently returned to Brøndby.

Søren Lerby is undoubtedly one of the greatest Danish footballers, having represented prestigious clubs such as Ajax, Bayern Munich, AS Monaco, and PSV Eindhoven. However, his brief managerial stint of just five months (from October 1991 to March 1992) is best forgotten.

Despite his legendary status as a midfielder for Bayern Munich, Lerby had no prior coaching experience when he was appointed to replace Jupp Heynckes in October 1991. He remarked, “Back then, you didn’t require a license to become a coach, but I quickly realised it wasn’t the right path for me.”

While Lerby dazzled on the pitch, he struggled to replicate that success as a coach. Following a string of poor results, including a humiliating 6-3 aggregate defeat to his former club B 1903 in the UEFA Cup, Lerby’s short-lived managerial career came to an end, leading him to transition into a FIFA-licensed sports agent.

Morten Olsen:

Morten Olsen, a legendary defender in his playing days, proved to be an astute tactician as a coach. After guiding Brøndby to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1991, he moved to 1. FC Köln, which was then considered a powerhouse in German football, where he stayed for two years before joining Ajax in 1997.

While at Ajax, he brought in Danish national team captain Michael Laudrup, and they secured the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup, alongside a quarter-final appearance in the UEFA Cup. However, tensions arose in the dressing room during his second year, leading to Dutch internationals Ronald and Frank de Boer boycotting training to facilitate a move to Barcelona. As performances dipped, Olsen was dismissed in December 1998.

Michael Laudrup:

You may wonder why Michael Laudrup features in this discussion. Although clubs like Swansea, Mallorca, Getafe, and Spartak Moscow may not boast the same prestige as some European giants, Laudrup achieved remarkable results, notably at Getafe and Swansea. His illustrious playing career at both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid positioned him as a potential candidate for coaching roles at these clubs, though those prospects never came to fruition.

Laudrup led Getafe to their first-ever trophy with a Copa del Rey final appearance in 2007 and guided the team to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2008, where they faced a heartbreaking elimination by Bayern Munich due to a late equaliser from Luca Toni. His most notable achievement as a coach came when he led Swansea City to victory in the EFL Cup (previously known as the Capital One Cup) final, where they triumphed over Bradford City 5-0 in 2013. This marked a significant milestone for Swansea, ending a 100-year wait for a major trophy, which Laudrup himself regarded as the most crucial silverware of his career.