Tactical breakdowns: Demystifying the tiki-taka playing style in football (soccer)

Football (soccer) has evolved in recent years, witnessing some tactical modifications and new formations. 

From normal goalkeepers to ones that can play from the back, the beautiful round-leather game has evolved so much that ball-carrying defenders are now hotcakes in the transfer market.

However, one playing style that has stood the test of time amidst the rapid tactical changes is the Tiki-taka strategy, a football strategy favoured by many modern managers. 

What is this Tiki-taka style? Who created it, how many managers have adopted it, and how effective has it been? Sit back and relax while we break down one of the world's most effective football strategies.

 Football tactics explained: what is tiki-taka?

Tiki-taka is a possession-focused soccer strategy that involves passing the ball in tight spaces, moving it across the pitch, and creating scoring opportunities. 

It requires players with excellent technical ability, positional awareness, off-ball movement, pressing skills, and the capability to retain possession under pressure. 

It is one of the soccer coaching strategies suitable for a 4-3-3 formation, as it allows for close player proximity and a free-flowing attacking game.

 Breaking down the strategy: which managers use the tiki-taka tactic and what does it entail?

Though many football fans assume Pep Guardiola started this tactical philosophy, we can trace its origins back to the Schalke team of the 1930s and 1940s. 

However, it became more popular under Johan Cryuff in Barcelona in the 1990s. He built his team around a possession-based philosophy—pass, retain the ball, entertain the crowd, and score goals.

Knowing what it takes to implement his favourite tactic, Cryuff, one of the greatest left-footed players ever, added tactically disciplined midfielders and defenders like Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman, and Mari Bakero to the team.

Cyruff’s men took La Liga by storm. Between 1991 and 1994, they became unplayable for opponents and won four consecutive league titles.

 Luis Aragones

Seeing the fluidity in Barcelona's game under Cruyff, Luis Aragones adopted this approach for the Spanish national team before the 2008 European Championship.

Luckily, he had world-class players like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, and Fernando Torres who could help him achieve his goal. 

Thanks to the technically gifted midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and David Silva, three of Spain's greatest products, La Roja performed magic in the middle of the park.

They created many chances, scored goals, and defeated Germany in the final to emerge as champions.

 Pep Guardiola

While Aragones was performing magic in Euro, a young man (Pep Guardiola) was studying football strategy and preparing for the future.

A few months later, the Barcelona board dismissed Frank Rijkaard and handed the baton to Guardiola. 

Guardiola reintroduced a refined Tiki-taka philosophy when he took over at Barcelona. He added high pressing, directness in attack, and a focus on reaching the opposition's box to score goals. 

According to him, passing the ball without intention was nothing. Therefore, he built a deadly attacking side that would score plenty of goals and regain the ball within a few minutes of losing it.

"Tiki-taka means passing the ball for the sake of it, with no clear intention. And it's pointless.

You have to pass the ball with a clear intention to make it into the opposition's goal,” he said.

Interestingly, understanding the Tiki-taka football strategy wasn't difficult for the Spanish internationals who played integral roles under Aragones.

The Spanish tactician also switched from a natural 4-3-3 deep-lying formation to a highline defence. 

If you closely observe the image above, you will see that the defenders (Puyol and Pique) are close to the centre line when in possession.

And when they lose the ball up front, the wide wingers (Sanchez and Pedro) will move inward to cover some space, while the defenders will pull backwards to their natural positions.

Similarly, he set up his team to explore the flanks and create space for Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi to wreak havoc.

As you can see from the image below, Alexis Sanchez and Tello played from the flanks to create chances for Messi, the false 9.

According to Guardiola, Tiki-taka is all about passing and scoring. His message is clear: win possession, pass progressively, get to the opponent's box, and score. Though they enjoyed entertaining the crowd, they had one thing in mind: scoring.

Meanwhile, other managers who loved and explored the Tiki-taka football strategy include Louis Van Gaal, Vincente Del Bosque, Erik Ten Hag, Xavi, and Alonso.

 Which football formations suit the tik-taka strategy?

Though many possession-obsessed managers love a 4-3-3, others prefer 4-2-3-1, 3-2-4-1, or other football formations. Once again, Pep Guardiola comes to mind in this regard. 

The Spaniard is known for his multiple approaches to games. He started his reign at the Etihad Stadium with the usual 4-3-3 formation, featuring Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, or Gabriel Jesus in the 'false 9' position after Aguero's departure.

In 2020, he adopted the 4-2-3-1, using Dias and Laporte as centre-backs, while Rodri and Fernandinho occupied defensive midfield roles. 

Gundogan and Rodri formed a very mobile and strong double pivot, providing the needed shield for the defence.

In possession, the city's fullbacks would join the attack and provide more threat. Should they lose the ball upfront, the two central defensive midfielders would provide cover before the overlapping fullbacks returned to their natural positions.

However, everything changed when Erling Haaland joined City from Borussia Dortmund, and Pep had to create a space for him. Interestingly, the master tactician switched to 3-2-4-1 without affecting the core Tiki-taka principles. 

Ake and Akanji were at the heart of the defence alongside Reuben Dias, while Rodri and Stones formed the double pivot.

Grealish and Silva were on either flank, while Gundogan and De Bruyne were the playmakers feeding Haaland. 

John Stones would drop deep, receive the ball from Dias, and then give it to Rodri.

Alternatively, he could pass to De Bruyne, who would then locate Haaland with his trademark passes.

As for Rodri, his passing accuracy and ball retention helped City control possession from the deep. 

We saw this in many 2022–23 season matches, including in the Champions League final against Inter Milan. His ability to stop the opposition’s attacking threats and launch a quick attack from deep was crucial to City's win over their Serie A counterparts.

As a result, Guardiola has proven that a tactically sound manager can successfully implement the Tiki-taka playing style with different formations.

 Impact on the game: How effective has it been for managers?

The Tiki-taka strategy is one of the most effective football (soccer) strategies. It has yielded numerous trophies and accolades for managers like Cruyff, Aragones, Del Bosque, Ten Hag, and Guardiola.

Apart from trophies and accolades, the style of play guarantees entertaining performances and tactical flexibility, as managers can switch formations during games without altering the philosophy. 

It also allows the team to dictate the rhythm and tempo of the game, possess the ball for extended periods, and score lots of goals. Unsurprisingly, Manchester City don't just win games; they do it convincingly. 

 Disadvantages of the tiki-taka strategy

Though Tiki-taka offers many benefits, it has some flaws that opponents can explore. 

It sometimes lacks the directness required to win matches because the emphasis on patient build-up play and retaining possession can affect the team's attacking prowess. 

Likewise, it's almost ineffective against a team with a compact 5-4-1 low-block defensive setup.

Manchester City have always struggled against teams with a similar formation. We saw it against Newcastle a couple of seasons ago. Before the breakthrough, Pep had to switch to 3-2-5 and apply more pressure upfront. 

Similarly, Tiki-taka teams are vulnerable to counterattacks if they lose possession in advanced areas. That's because they commit too many players forward. 

Lastly, constant movement, positional interchanging, and pressing can be challenging as they require too much physical exertion and technicalities.

 Conclusion

The Tiki-taka style of play has left an indelible mark on modern football tactics. It has captivated fans and managers with its intricate passing patterns, fluidity, and attacking flair.

While the 4-3-3 formation is often considered the best system for Tiki-taka, managers like Guardiola have demonstrated that this philosophy is compatible with various formations, such as the 4-2-3-1 or even the 3-2-4-1, depending on the personnel and opposition.

As we wrap up this soccer coaching strategy breakdown, always remember to analyse managers’ tactics and formation during games. Don't just focus on the players and scoreline. 

Observe the team's intricate passing patterns, positional rotations, and ability to control possession.

Meanwhile, stay tuned for future in-depth analyses of some managers and tactical systems that have shaped the beautiful game.