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| Lucien Favre | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lucien Favre |
| Birth date | 1961-11-02 |
| Birth place | Saint-Barthélemy, Switzerland |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs | FC Echallens, Lausanne-Sport |
| Years1 | 1979–1983 |
| Clubs1 | FC Lausanne-Sport |
| Years2 | 1983–1984 |
| Clubs2 | Servette FC |
| Years3 | 1984–1988 |
| Clubs3 | FC Zürich |
| Nationalyears1 | 1986–1987 |
| Nationalteam1 | Switzerland national football team |
| Manageryears1 | 1994–1997 |
| Managerclubs1 | Yverdon-Sport FC |
| Manageryears2 | 1998–2000 |
| Managerclubs2 | Servette FC |
| Manageryears3 | 2007–2009 |
| Managerclubs3 | Hertha BSC |
| Manageryears4 | 2011–2015 |
| Managerclubs4 | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Manageryears5 | 2015–2018 |
| Managerclubs5 | Borussia Dortmund |
Lucien Favre (born 2 November 1961) is a Swiss former professional football midfielder and manager known for developing young talent and pragmatic, possession-oriented tactics. He played in the Swiss Super League for FC Lausanne-Sport, Servette FC, and FC Zürich and later managed clubs across Switzerland and Germany, including Servette FC, OGC Nice, Hertha BSC, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Borussia Dortmund. Favre's career spans domestic league campaigns, European competition, and involvement with national-team players from Switzerland and other countries.
Born in Saint-Barthélemy in Vaud (canton), Favre began youth football with FC Echallens before moving to FC Lausanne-Sport. He progressed through the ranks to make senior appearances in the Nationalliga A (now Swiss Super League) with Lausanne, later joining Servette FC and FC Zürich. As a midfielder he featured alongside contemporaries from Swiss football such as Roger Mendy-era peers and represented the Switzerland national football team in the mid-1980s, competing against European opponents in qualification matches and friendly fixtures. Injuries and the competitive nature of Swiss club football influenced his relatively early transition away from top-level playing.
After retiring from playing, Favre took coaching roles in Switzerland beginning with youth and reserve teams before stepping up to first-team management at Yverdon-Sport FC. He worked within Swiss football structures at clubs like Lausanne-Sport and Servette FC, gaining experience in talent development, tactical planning, and match preparation. His reputation grew through work with academies and senior squads, connecting him to a network of players who would later feature in international tournaments and transfers across Europe.
Favre's managerial career encompasses appointments in both Swiss and European leagues. At Servette FC he navigated Swiss Super League challenges, while a later move to OGC Nice introduced him to Ligue 1 competition and the French transfer market. In Germany he rebuilt squads at Hertha BSC and achieved notable success at Borussia Mönchengladbach, guiding the club into UEFA Europa League contention and restoring its domestic profile. His tenure at Borussia Dortmund involved managing elite internationals and integrating academy graduates, competing in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League and facing rivals such as Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig. Throughout, Favre negotiated transfers, contract disputes, and media scrutiny common to high-profile managerial roles in European football.
Favre's tactical approach emphasizes structured possession, flexible formations, and vertical transitions. He often deployed systems that promoted ball circulation reminiscent of continental coaching traditions seen at clubs like FC Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam while adapting to Bundesliga physicality encountered at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund. Emphasis on youth integration linked him to player development pathways similar to FC Bayern Munich's academy graduates and the nurturing of talent that would later represent Switzerland national football team and other national sides. Favre prioritized situational pressing, disciplined defensive blocks, and creative midfield link-play to exploit spaces against opponents such as Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04.
Favre's achievements include promoting teams into European qualification spots and stabilizing clubs in top-flight competition. At Borussia Mönchengladbach he secured UEFA competition qualification and earned recognition from German media and peers in Bundesliga awards cycles. While not collecting major domestic trophies like those contested in DFB-Pokal finals or Ligue 1 titles, his development of players who progressed to UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup squads is widely noted. Individual managerial accolades and nominations in Swiss and German football circles reflect his influence on club performance and player careers.
Favre faced criticism at times for perceived tactical conservatism in high-stakes matches and for handling of squad rotation and media relations at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund. Debates in football journalism contrasted his methods with those of contemporaries like Jürgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and Thomas Tuchel, focusing on in-game adaptability and transfer-market decisions. Contract terminations and mutual departures—common in professional football—led to scrutiny from club boards, fan groups, and sports commentators across outlets covering UEFA competitions and domestic leagues.
Favre is part of a generation of Swiss coaches who have influenced coaching education and talent pipelines connecting Switzerland with Germany and France. His legacy includes mentoring players who later achieved international caps and contributing to coaching discourse alongside figures from UEFA coaching community and national associations. Outside football, he has kept a relatively private personal profile, with occasional public commentary on tactical trends and youth development that informs ongoing debates in European club football.
Category:Swiss football managers Category:1961 births Category:Living people