Justin Cochrane: Style of play, playing career, background & more

With reports suggesting that current Brentford manager Thomas Frank is set to join Tottenham Hotspur, the Bees' assistant manager Justin Cochrane has emerged as a potential successor.

From the brink of promotion to England's top flight in 2020 to European contenders in the Premier League in 2025, Frank has taken Brentford to new heights since being appointed.

Losing the Dane is far from ideal, but they have lost the likes of Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Ivan Toney in recent years and continued to progress.

With current assistant Justin Cochrane mooted as a candidate to replace Frank, we take a look at his credentials, including his style of play, playing career, background and more.

Justin Cochrane background

Previous roles

While Justin Cochrane is yet to manage a senior side, he has accumulated a vast amount of experience in the coaching department since his professional playing career drew to a close in 2013.

Cochrane's trajectory started when he took the role as a youth team head coach at Tottenham Hotspur, joining the setup in 2009, whilst still playing football at a non-league standard.

Following his spell with Spurs, he was announced as the lead for the Youth Development Phase for the FA, having managed three different England age groups. Concurrent with his role for the FA, he took a temporary job as a coach for AFC Wimbledon.

In 2021, his experience at Premier League sides was enhanced when taking the job as head of player development and coaching for Manchester United's academy.

His role under Man Utd's regime lasted just a year, joining Brentford in June 2022 as the Head of Coaching, working alongside fellow assistant managers Kevin O'Connor and Claus Norgaard.

Professional playing career

• Queens Park Rangers (2000-2002)
• Hayes (2002-2003)
• Crewe Alexandra (2003-2006)
• Gillingham - loan (2006)
• Rotherham United (2006-2007)
• Yeovil Town (2007-2008)
• Millwall (2008)
• Rushden & Diamonds (2008-2009)
• Aldershot Town (2009)
• Hayes & Yeading United (2009-2010)
• Boreham Wood (2010-2011)
• Antigua Barracuda (2011)
• Boreham Wood (2012-2013)

Philosophy and style of play

Having not managed at a senior level, it's hard to determine what kind of style the 43-year-old will opt for, but if Thomas Frank's Brentford is anything to go off, an assessment can certainly be made.

Frank has defined adaptability in recent years for the Bees. What started off as a customary 3-5-2, has often become a 3-4-3, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

One thing that has stayed present is Brentford's fluidity on the ball, and tenaciousness off it. The team's standout ability to know when to press high and when to back off and form a compact, low block is impressive, and Cochrane should definitely take some of the credit as the club's Head of Coaching.

When speaking to Brentford after joining Thomas Tuchel's coaching staff with England, Cochrane hinted towards a formation that helped him learn and could be the go-to should he be hired as the manager for the Bees.

The coach I had at Hayes at the time had a very fluid team - we played 3-5-2, with a sweeper system, and he allowed everyone to express themselves within the structure.

- Justin Cochrane

“We were very hard-working, we played passing football, and the coach was really helpful in terms of helping me develop as a player and helping me mature as a young person."

Given the squad he has inherited and the time that he has spent under Frank, a 3-5-2 formation may make the most sense for Cochrane, but it will come with it's challenges. The primary source of goals for Brentford in the 2024/25 term, Bryan Mbeumo looks likely to leave the club in the summer transfer window, while Yoane Wissa too could attract interest.

A first step into senior management in the Premier League would undoubtedly prove a test, but he possesses an impressive CV at 43 and may rise to the challenge.