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- Niko Kovač Tactics At Borussia Dortmund & Rob Edwards Tactics At Middlesbrough 2025/2026
Niko Kovač Tactics At Borussia Dortmund & Rob Edwards Tactics At Middlesbrough 2025/2026
Today, we have a pair of head coach analyses for you: One on Niko Kovač's successful 3-4-2-1 shift at Borussia Dortmund and another previewing Rob Edwards' move to Middlesbrough for 2025/2026.
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Today’s TFA Posts ⚽
When Niko Kovač took over at Borussia Dortmund in early February, his side was 11th in the Bundesliga and looked likely to miss out on European football in 2025/2026.
Even as we reached the end of March, Dortmund had hardly moved an inch in the standings, as they still occupied a place in the lower half of the league.
Following the March international break, Kovač decided to change the team’s tactical structure, diverting away from their usual 4-2-3-1 and going with a 3-4-2-1 shape.
Their only loss post-international break came against Barcelona away in April, when they set up in a 4-5-1 shape.
With their 3-4-2-1 tactics, Dortmund has now gone 13 games unbeaten.
They qualified for the UEFA Champions League again, and they are set to face Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final.
This tactical analysis will delve into the tweaks that the Croatian manager has made to bring this Dortmund team back to performing at a high level and what that could mean for them going into next season.
The 2024/2025 season was a disappointing one for both Rob Edwards and Middlesbrough.
Edwards began the season managing Luton Town, off the back of Premier League relegation in 2023/2024.
His side went into the year as top-six favourites, but by January, he was sacked with his team firmly in the relegation zone.
Conversely, Middlesbrough sacked their head coach, Michael Carrick, after a disappointing tenth-place finish.
The owners’ heavy investments in the summer window meant high expectations were in place.
Despite exciting football at times, these expectations were not met, and the Englishmen’s underwhelming league position meant their time was up.
Now, the two parties have come together in the hopes of a more promising future.
Edwards will be looking to replicate his exceptional 2022/2023 season with Luton, that led to promotion via the Play-Offs.
Middlesbrough will be looking to return to the top flight for the first time since 2017, when Aitor Karanka led the club.
This tactical analysis will analyse how the Boro may look moving forward.
As we approach the new season, we will consider the potential Rob Edwards tactics, Middlesbrough formations chosen and which personnel will likely be favoured.
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