Brentford Appoints Keith Andrews As New Manager, Replacing Thomas Frank

‎Brentford has appointed former Ireland international Keith Andrews as their new manager, replacing Thomas Frank, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

‎This move continues Brentford’s tradition of promoting from within the club.

‎Thomas Frank, who departed to manage Tottenham Hotspur, originally stepped up from assistant manager to take the helm in 2018. Andrews, who previously served as the club’s set-piece coach for one season, is now taking on his first managerial role.

‎According to media reports, Andrews has signed a three-year contract.

‎”Keith is a perfect fit,” director of football Phil Giles said.

‎”He gets on with everyone, he’s very open and he’s a learner. He understands the players in the building and the way we’ve played and trained under Thomas Frank.

‎”Keith will bring his own evolution but isn’t starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress.”

‎Andrews, who earned 35 caps for Ireland, started his coaching career as an assistant manager at MK Dons, where he concluded his playing career in 2015. He then joined the Ireland Under-21 team as an assistant coach under Stephen Kenny.

‎When Kenny was appointed manager of Ireland’s senior team in 2020, Andrews joined him, and they remained together until Kenny’s contract ended three years later.

‎Shortly after, Andrews found himself back in a new coaching role within a matter of weeks.

‎Andrews joined Sheffield United’s coaching staff when Chris Wilder took over in December 2023, with the Irishman leaving at the end of the season to take up his role at Brentford.

‎”He is someone we have known for a while and always had in mind for a role at some point in the future,” Giles said at the time of the appointment.

‎While Frank took assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam, and first-team analyst Joe Newton with him to Spurs, Andrews remained at Brentford, a clue perhaps to his future at the club.

‎Frank, who led Brentford into the top flight for the first time in 74 years and established them as a competitive force in the Premier League, will be a tough act to follow for the inexperienced Andrews.

‎However, his predecessor also started the role with little prior recognition.

‎”I’m very appreciative of the owner, the board, and the staff that have supported this decision,” Andrews said.

‎”It’s an opportunity I feel I’m very capable of doing and ready to do. I’m humbled to be the new head coach of an amazing football club that’s touched me in a lot of ways.”