Thomas Frank
Alex Cochrane, currently serving as assistant coach to Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur, tragically lost his wife, Leeanne, in November 2024. She passed away at the age of 40 due to a rare form of thyroid cancer. At the time, Cochrane was working under Frank at Brentford before joining Thomas Tuchel’s backroom staff for the England national team in February 2025. Despite the personal tragedy, Cochrane has continued to advance his promising coaching career while navigating the profound grief of losing the mother of his three sons.
Cochrane said: “Going from everything going smoothly sailing to being a solo parent and organising everything around my family. Dealing with the shock while maintaining my work, it is difficult to put into words what I have experienced this last year. She was an incredible wife and mother, she was perfect for me and she brought balance to the family. She supported my journey in coaching and did whatever she could for the boys. My life was pretty much perfect and she was a massive part of that. The decline was pretty quick and very tough to see as her husband and to manage as a father.”
He continued: “It was incredibly tough, I had the support of the club [Brentford] and all the staff. I told the players quite early on as there would be times I would be away and they were all supportive. Christian Norgaard, the captain, was incredible throughout. That period was tough because there was hope that maybe she could beat this. But there was also realism if she did go and what would happen, I had less sleep then. After she passed, I probably slept five hours but before when she was ill and I was dealing with those thoughts, it was three hours.”
Reflecting on the immediate aftermath of Leeanne’s death, Cochrane added: “It was a bit of a daze, I was in shock, it felt like I was knocked out but I was still on my feet. I went into a mode to provide for my three sons, Leeanne spoke about me looking after them and myself. Every time I got out of bed I had to find a way to get to the end of the day and some days were harder than others of course. Football was able to give a release and was able to help, a good training session with laughs and joy or a win on the weekend could give you a little lift.”
Cochrane recalled a poignant moment: “I just started crying, I was sat opposite Henrique Hilario, and in that moment he just knew and gave me a hug.”
Cochrane’s story is a testament to his resilience in the face of unimaginable personal loss. His ability to continue his professional journey while managing his grief highlights the support he received from his colleagues and the football community. His experience underscores the profound impact personal tragedies can have on individuals, even as they continue to fulfill their professional roles. Cochrane’s openness about his journey offers a powerful reminder of the human side of those involved in the world of football.
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