Brentford Appoint Keith Andrews As New Head Coach

Following Thomas Frank's transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford FC has confirmed Keith Andrews as their next head coach. Having joined the club last summer as set-piece coach, the 44-year-old Irishman has inked a three-year contract and will be expected to keep up Brentford's amazing Premier League adventure. Though seen by some as a gamble, this decision to appoint Andrews aligns with Brentford's long-standing practice of promoting from inside—a strategy that has always paid off for the West London team.

Keith Andrews starts his job at Brentford at a point when the club is in a transition period. The Brentford hierarchy found itself in a tricky situation following the departure of Thomas Frank, a few backroom employees, and the transfer of star players like Christian Nørgaard and Bryan Mbeumo to leading teams. Despite these obstacles, Brentford's management feels Andrews' great knowledge of the club's culture and systems suits him perfectly for the coaching role.

Who is the New Brentford Manager, Keith Andrews?

Keith Andrews, a former Republic of Ireland international midfielder, has an extensive coaching and playing background. Born in Dublin, Andrews had a 16-year professional playing career that included stints at premier clubs like Wolverhampton Wanderers, MK Dons, Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion, and Bolton Wanderers. Andrews captained Wolves at the age of just 20 and played a major role in MK Dons' campaign for promotion, even scoring a crucial goal in their Football League Trophy final victory.

Keith Andrews earned 35 international caps for Ireland; he was also featured prominently at UEFA Euro 2012. Having retired as a player in 2015, Andrews turned to coaching first as assistant manager at MK Dons, then as part of the Ireland National Football team's senior and U21 coaching staff under Stephen Kenny. Following a brief spell with the Sheffield United first-team coaching unit, the footballer-turned-tactician joined Brentford as the set-piece coach in 2024.

Andrews' quick ascent is quite noteworthy; two months ago, he tried but failed for the managerial position at League Two MK Dons. He is now leading a Premier League club, therefore becoming only the third permanent Irish-born manager in English football history and the first in the top tier since Chris Hughton in 2019.

Keith Andrews Emerging Coaching Career

Andrews' coaching style is based on thorough planning, strategic creativity, and a great focus on set-pieces—an area where Brentford have been known as industry pioneers. The Bees shone last season under his leadership in both offensive and defensive set-pieces, making Keith Andrews a major contributor to their Premier League stability. Starting ten years ago, Brentford's creative approach to set-piece coaching has seen several of their specialists relocate to major teams, highlighting the club's innovative reputation.

Promoting Keith Andrews has been seen as both a gamble and a long-standing tradition of Brentford's effective internal promotion plan. Andrews is given credit for having a great impact on Thomas Frank's thinking and the general club environment during his brief stint as set-piece coach, even if he had no prior expertise as a head coach. Brentford's leadership, including owner Matthew Benham and director of football Phil Giles, maintains that his familiarity with the squad and club culture outweighs his lack of administrative experience. Responses from stakeholders, however, might vary greatly.

Given Brentford's present instability and prominent departures, some fans and analysts consider Keith Andrews' appointment a rush decision. Others, however, have shown a thumbs-up to the move, keeping faith in his obvious tactical acumen. Driven, detail-oriented, and able to inspire players, according to former colleagues and teammates—characteristics that would aid Andrews in the demanding Premier League setting.

Stabilizing the team amidst transfer rumors, incorporating new signings such as goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and putting together his own backroom team, as several staff members have signed for Tottenham Hotspur, with Frank, are all immediate difficulties for Andrews. Brentford are slated to open their Premier League 2025-26 campaign on August 17, with a match against Nottingham Forest, which will be the first assignment for Brentford new manager. The club will definitely back Andrews to make the most out of this golden opportunity and make a strong statement as the Brentford head coach. Now, it's yet to be seen how Keith Andrews match the expectations.