Lucien Favre
Encyclopedia
Lucien Favre in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) is a football manager and former Swiss international player. He is the current head coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
.
Playing career
During his playing career, Lucien Favre made a total of 24 appearances for Switzerland, scoring one goal on his debut against Netherlands. At club level, he played for Lausanne-Sports,Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
, Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
and Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
. Considered as a skillful and intelligent play-maker, he announced his retirement in 1991.
Swiss national team
- 24 caps (1 goal on his debut against Netherlands, where both Ruud GullitRuud GullitOON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
and Frank RijkaardFrank RijkaardFranklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a Dutch football manager of Dutch and Surinamese descent and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side,...
also made their first appearance for their country). - First cap : SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football teamThe Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
v NetherlandNetherlands national football teamThe Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
2-1, on September 1 1981 in ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich... - Last cap : PortugalPortugal national football teamThe Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
-SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football teamThe Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
3-1, on April 26 1989 in LisbonLisbonLisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
.
FC Echallens
Lucien Favre’s coaching career started in 1991, as U-14 assistant manager with FC Echallens. The following year he took over the U-17’s, before being appointed manager of the first team in 1993.Under his leadership, his young squad surprisingly got promoted to the Nationalliga B (second tier of Swiss football, now called Challenge League
Challenge League
The Swiss Challenge League is the second highest tier of the Swiss Football League. Sixteen teams play in the Challenge League. The winners of the league are promoted to the Super League, and the bottom two teams are relegated to the 1. Liga...
). This promotion is still the outstanding
achievement in the club’s history.
Neuchâtel Xamax FC
After four years with FC Echallens, Lucien Favre was named Academy Manager of Neuchâtel Xamax FCNeuchâtel Xamax
Neuchâtel Xamax Football Club is a Swiss football club, based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between FC Cantonal and FC Xamax . The club plays in red shirts, black shorts and red socks and are currently in the Axpo Super League, the highest Swiss football league. They play...
. This move allowed him to experience the overall operation of a professional club.
Yverdon-Sport and Servette FC
In January 1997 Lucien Favre was appointed manager of Yverdon-Sport FCYverdon-Sport FC
Yverdon-Sport FC is a Swiss football team from the town of Yverdon-les-Bains. The club plays in an all-white strip, and are currently in the Swiss 1. Liga, the third tier of Swiss football...
who were struggling at the bottom of the Nationalliga B at that stage. In 1999 he guided his side to the Nationalliga A
(top tier of Swiss football, now called Swiss Super League). The following season they unexpectedly achieved a 5th position in the table, which is still the best ranking of Yverdon-Sport FC
Yverdon-Sport FC
Yverdon-Sport FC is a Swiss football team from the town of Yverdon-les-Bains. The club plays in an all-white strip, and are currently in the Swiss 1. Liga, the third tier of Swiss football...
in the top-flight to date.
In the summer of 2000 Favre decided to join Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
, a long-established club based in Geneva where he had already won the league as a player. The highlights of his spell in Geneva were a
victory in the Swiss Cup final 2001, as well as a superb run in the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
Cup. Servette FC
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
eliminated Slavia Prague, Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
and Hertha BSC (with a 3-0 away win
in the Berlin Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Berlin)
The Olympiastadion is a sports stadium in Berlin, Germany. There have been two stadiums on the site: the present facility, and one that is called the Deutsches Stadion which was built for the aborted 1916 Summer Olympics. Both were designed by members of the same family, the first by Otto March...
), before going out against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
(0-3 and 2-2) in the last 16. Three months later Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
won the 2001-02
Spanish La Liga under the leadership of Rafael Benitez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
.
FC Zurich
In 2003 Favre was appointed FC Zürich manager. He won the Swiss Cup in 2005 beating FC Luzern in the final. The following season, FCZ ended their twenty-five year wait fora league title with a dramatic final day victory against FC Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
to win the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
. On 29 May 2007, after securing another Swiss title, he was awarded best Swiss manager
for the second time in a row.
Hertha BSC (Berlin)
On 1 June 2007, the German BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
club Hertha BSC announced that Lucien Favre had just agreed to sign a three year deal as manager.
During the 2008-09 season he guided Hertha BSC to an excellent 4th place position, having at his disposal the 13th biggest budget of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. In February 2009, one of
the highlights of his spell in Germany was the brilliant tactical display of Hertha BSC against FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
in a packed Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Berlin)
The Olympiastadion is a sports stadium in Berlin, Germany. There have been two stadiums on the site: the present facility, and one that is called the Deutsches Stadion which was built for the aborted 1916 Summer Olympics. Both were designed by members of the same family, the first by Otto March...
(almost 75,000 spectators).
This performance allowed them to beat the former German champions 2-1 and Hertha BSC went to the top of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
. Favre extended his contract for an additional year.
The 2009-10 season did not look as promising because Hertha’s increasing financial difficulties prevented them from recruiting efficiently. Furthermore, three of the best
players left in the summer: Josip Šimunić
Josip Šimunic
Josip Šimunić is a Croatian footballer who plays as a defender for Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian national team.-Club career:...
, Andriy Voronin
Andriy Voronin
Andriy Viktorovych Voronin is a Ukrainian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Dynamo Moscow. His previous clubs include Chornomorets Odessa, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Mainz, Köln, Bayer Leverkusen, and Liverpool. In the 2002–03 season, Voronin became top goalscorer in the...
and Marko Pantelic
Marko Pantelic
Marko Pantelić is a Serbian footballer, who plays for Olympiacos.-Early years:...
. At the end of September 2009, Hertha BSC were struggling in the league and Favre was relieved of
his duties by the club.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
On February 14, 2011 he was named as the successor of Michael FrontzeckMichael Frontzeck
Michael Frontzeck is a German football coach and former footballer. For the Germany national football team, he earned 19 caps and was in the squad for Euro 1992.- Player career :...
as head coach of Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
. He took over when the team was on the last place of the league with only 16 points after 22 match days. Finally he was able to save Borussia from relegation in the 2010/2011 season.
Coaching philosophy
Lucien Favre’s teams play a dynamic, quick and attacking minded football where ball possession and change of tempo alternate. This attractive style of play has brought results in every club hehas managed. Furthermore, Favre is very skillful tactically, leaving his opponents struggling to penetrate his well-organized sides.
Lucien Favre is also well-known for his ability to develop talented young players and introduce them into the first team. Under his leadership, Blerim Džemaili
Blerim Džemaili
Blerim Džemaili is a Swiss football midfielder of Albanian origin who plays for Napoli.-FC Zürich:Džemaili started his career at Swiss side FC Zürich. There he was part of the 2005–06 and 2006–2007 Swiss Championship winning team...
, Almen Abdi
Almen Abdi
Almen Abdi is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent who plays for Udinese.-Career:He was part of the 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2008–09 Swiss Championship winning team with FC Zurich. Abdi was awarded an improved contract until summer 2010 in June 2006. Abdi was in November 2009 promoted to the reserve...
, Steve Von Bergen
Steve von Bergen
Steve von Bergen is a Swiss footballer who plays as defender for Italian Serie A club Cesena. He played for FC Zürich for two full seasons, winning the Swiss Super League in both campaigns and then moved to Hertha BSC, playing there for three years...
and Gökhan Inler
Gökhan Inler
Gökhan İnler is a Turkish-Swiss football player who plays as a central midfielder for Serie A side Napoli.-Early career:İnler started his career at FC Basel, but was later loaned out to FC Schaffhausen...
made their debut with the Swiss national team
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
before signing for foreign clubs. In 2007 FC Zürich became Swiss champions
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
with an average age of
twenty-one years and a half.
Player
- UEFAUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions : 17 games played, 4 goals - 19851985 in sports1985 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland-American football:...
: Swiss championSwiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
with Servette FCServette FCServette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
Manager
- 19941994 in sports1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
: Promotion to Nationalliga B (FC Echallens) - 19991999 in sports1999 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Alexandra Meissnitzer, Austria-American football:...
: Promotion to Nationalliga A (Yverdon-Sport FCYverdon-Sport FCYverdon-Sport FC is a Swiss football team from the town of Yverdon-les-Bains. The club plays in an all-white strip, and are currently in the Swiss 1. Liga, the third tier of Swiss football...
) - 20012001 in sports2001 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Janica Kostelić, Croatia-American football:...
: Swiss Cup winner (Servette FCServette FCServette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
) - 20052005 in sports2005 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Bode Miller ** Women's overall season champion: Anja Pärson -American football:...
: Swiss Cup winner (FC Zürich) - 20062006 in sports2006 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* January 2, Fiesta Bowl – Ohio State 34-20 Notre Dame* January 2, Sugar Bowl – West Virginia 38-35 Georgia...
and 20072007 in sports2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* February 4 – Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win was the Colts' first Super Bowl Championship since their 1970-71 team, when...
: Swiss Super LeagueSwiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
winner (FC Zürich) - 20062006 in sports2006 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* January 2, Fiesta Bowl – Ohio State 34-20 Notre Dame* January 2, Sugar Bowl – West Virginia 38-35 Georgia...
and 20072007 in sports2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* February 4 – Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win was the Colts' first Super Bowl Championship since their 1970-71 team, when...
: Manager of the year (Switzerland) - 20092009 in sports-Alpine skiing:* Alpine World Ski Championships 2009 held at Val d'Isère, Savoy, France-American football:* The Florida Gators defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 24-14 in front of a Dolphin Stadium record crowd of 78,468 to win the 2009 BCS National Championship Game...
: Manager of the year (Germany)