“Lucien Favre brought tiki-taka to the Bundesiga” – Kevin-Prince Boateng

Kevin-Prince Boateng says Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre - and not Pep Guardiola – was the first to import the legendary tiki-taka style of football into the Bundesliga.

Manchester City boss Guardiola enjoyed a successful three-year spell in charge of Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016 after forging a glowing reputation as a coach with Barcelona, the team that defined tiki-taka.

When Guardiola was still in Catalonia, Boateng was making his way through the ranks at Hertha Berlin, and crossed paths with Favre when the Swiss tactician took charge in the German capital in summer 2007.

Boateng (l.) and Favre (r.) crossed paths briefly at Hertha Berlin in 2007. - imago

While the Ghana international would leave for Tottenham Hotspur just two months later, he had already seen enough of Favre to become a firm fan of the philosophy that would propel Hertha to a surprise fourth-placed finish come the end of the 2008/09 campaign.

“His love of football and his vision sets him apart,” Boateng told DAZN. “He was the first coach to bring tiki-taka to Germany. It annoyed him if the ball was knocked long. He always wanted you to play your way out of trouble. That impressed me, though at that moment in time I already had one foot in England.”

Watch: Owo met Boateng last year

Favre enjoyed success with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Nice before returning to Germany with this season’s Bundesliga title challengers Dortmund, applying the same principles ever since, the 2018/19 BVB vintage completing more passes from open play than all but Bayern this term.