What Happened To The Playmaker? | Playmaker Evolution

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Football is constantly evolving, and each season brings with it fresh ideas and tactical innovations. And no position is more emblematic of this shift than the playmaker. In fact, what even is a playmaker any more? With assists coming anywhere from Fullbacks to wingers to holding midfielders, does the traditional n. 10 still exist? Stick around as today we’re going to be answering this question, and taking a look at the evolution of the modern day playmaker!
A playmaker is defined as "a player who controls the flow of the team’s play, and is often involved in a teams offensive game, and leads to goals through their creativity, technique and passing ability."
We all loved them, the classic number 10 that dominated the game for decades, players such as Maradona, Ronaldinho, kaka, Zidane del piero.. but why does it seem like its no longer the playmakers responsibility to create the chances? In todays video we take an in depth look at the evolution of the playmaker, and how the traditional number 10 may no longer serve a purpose in the modern game.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:24 Definition
00:37 Classic Playmaker
01:04 History of the Number 10
02:02 New Playmakers
04:55 Attacking Fullback
06:00 Gegenpressing
08:52 Does The Playmaker Still Exist?
09:40 What Came First?

[@fishyfish6510]

I don't think Müller is a central playmaker. He said it himself that he is a unique type of player, the Raumdeuter. He occupies the same areas but he doesn't operate like the other central playmakers

[@FootballMeta]

yeah not the best example on my part.. I feel a whole video on his position could be interesting as it's certainly very unique

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

@@FootballMeta where is it

[@Yasinvanpersie]

The Raumdeuter is a space invader. They are more like a 9 & a half/10 & a half. They have no defined set position on the pitch

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

@@FootballMeta just reminding you...

[@euganieldamiao8084]

@@Yasinvanpersie a Raumdeuter sounds like a second striker

[@Electrifying316HBK]

It's definitely a tactical change from managers. The classic number 10s still exist but they simply aren't needed as much as they used to be. And teams that have them most of the time play them in a different role. Some recent number 10s with a modern twist would be Dybala, Eriksen and Bernardo Silva and none of them are played in the classic playmaker role. Dybala became a second striker to feed goals to Higuain, Ronaldo and now Vlahovic. Conte pulled Eriksen into a more central role in front of a CDM. Bernardo is mostly playing a false 9 now... And there are more of these examples. Also I feel like this system would be too inconsistent in today's game. With players having much more games to play these days and injuries being a lot more frequent what if your playmaker gets injured for half a season (as they often do)? Then managers have to adapt their entire philosophy simply because their one key player is missing.

[@BenAnderson48]

Even Football Manager shows this pretty well, an Advanced Playmaker type typically will not perform well due to not having enough space, while a Deep-Lying playmaker will complete astronomical amounts of passes, even if they don't assist often. I think that's exactly how the game has shifted. Teams attack with a front 5, where does a 10 fit into that? Total football is the meta, and there's plenty of playmakers up front. I've been learning that having your playmaker sit back a bit more can actually improve usefulness in the final 1/3, as once the ball is cleared they can pick the ball up almost unopposed and restart the attack immediately. I wouldn't be surprised to see more playmaking 6's showing up soon. Honestly, that might bring about a revitalization of the 10 as a pressing 10, whose job is to harry the opposition playmaker in the first phase of play. I've also contemplated that a playmaking 10 might make a resurgence as keepers become more universally technical. Teams want to build in a back 3 and City's experimented with using the keeper as part of that back 3. In my mind that eliminates the need for a playmaking 6 and might allow for a playmaking 10 in a 4-2-3-1. Football is just a big game of geometry and math. Move players around to make different shapes and see if you can have more numbers in an area than the other side.

[@kieran9882]

I think it’s interesting that when Klopp first took over Liverpool, the squad had 3 number 10s in Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino who would all get attracted to the ball, and a target man in Benteke, with no true runners in behind. Brenden Rodgers couldn’t make it work, but I think most managers wouldn’t really. Coutinho had great vision and Killer through balls in his locker, but he would look up and there was no one to aim for, especially when Balotelli was the striker who was very static. I think sometimes playmakers are only as good as what’s in front of them making runs. Now theres 3 runners in behind and The best passers are Trent, Thiago and Van Djik, It would make an interesting video how it evolved 😊

[@rod6722]

These days you could basically have a team of playmakers only! xD Something like : Ederson - TAA, Hummels, Van Dijk, Cancelo - Kimmich, De Bruyne, Pedri - Ziyech, Kane, Neymar

[@akachiedoggy5711]

The squad above will win every available trophy, domestic & UCL

[@gurururuwarararara8164]

God damn, that'd be sick

[@user-wu2wj5ji9w]

With substitutes like Kounde, Messi, Silva, Modric, Neuer

[@fishead3448]

@@akachiedoggy5711 no chem though

[@ronnyquatre6305]

I don't think this team will win many games... if they play against a team that consist of Vini Benzema Messi in attack, they will traumatise that defence! Frankly , I don't know why people talks highly of VVD, sure he a good player, but he is not world class... I think most people that says VVD is world class are young people who haven't seen Nesta, Maldini , Stam etc...b

[@giacomotartaro2897]

In Italian, we use two different words for the two roles you spoke about. The "regista", which translates as playmaker, is the one who plays defensively (as Pirlo, Busquet etc.), on the other hand, we call "trequartista" the one who plays in attack (Baggio, Zidane etc.) with the number ten on the shirt. "Trequartista" can be translated as three-quarterer since, if you divide the pitch into four for the long, he plays on the third line. It is interesting because we always had two different names for two different roles, the creativity of the ten as "trequartista" in attack, and the playmaker who controls the flow and tempo of the whole team when translating from defense to attack.

[@bonginkosintshingila1460]

The tactical shift came first. Amazing video it truly isn't enough to just be beautiful. Please make a video of the tactical shift of Liverpool from with Countinho to without him.

[@philipcallado5693]

It’s about flexibility now. You could also argue that the traditional striker is being phased out with more and more false 9s. There’s still a few out there, like Lewandowski, Kane, and Benzema, but not as many as in the past, and Kane actually is used more like a false 9.

[@FootballMeta]

I agree, the traditional target man has certainly declined in more recent years. I wonder when it will eventually flip back and become the standard

[@nunoalmeida2749]

I think there was a defensive tatical shift that made the space where traditional playmakers play way more limited so the managers had to change the whole idea of a playmaker because the traditional ones started being marked out of the game

[@amandabenger]

That was excellent! You really know your stuff, and your wording is well thought out.

[@elr492]

It is clear that coaches killed the position, not the lack of players. There plenty of n 10 out there playing as inverted wingers, false 9, mezala and deep lying playmakers. The truth is that playing a traditional n 10 exposes the team defensively too much, that is why, for instance, both Barcelona and PSG have such trouble recently to play "old" Messi. The same happens in the NT to some extent. That is his natural position, but nobody can play him there because he does not press or mark. So force the team around him to clumsily compensate for this to allow him to create. Messi acts as forward when his team loses the ball and as a 10 when they recover it, exposing the defense in the transition from attack to defense. To some degree Ozil was also a victim of this.

[@totalefootball8637]

Tactical changes from managers. Even goalkeepers are playmakers. Ederson being the example

[@JonesBeiges]

pretty funny...... how many teams do you know who can afford 11 'playmakers' ?????

[@raihanvs4963]

Onana

[@footballman10]

Valdes, Terstegen and ofcourse Noier are the biggest examples... you must only watch premier league

[@DpKris]

It is the tactical shift. To be more precise the Fergie United 08 and Pep's Barca. And most of the points you have mentioned are text book Pep's Barcelona team. We did had attacking full backs before the great Cafu and Carlos combo was the best in it. Playmaking centrebacks is not a new thing I believe, Laurent Blanc, Rio Ferdinand, Marcherano, Pique, Wes Brown, Ricardo Carvalho are some of the great names that comes in my mind. Also Libero keepers like Neuer, Allison, also helped the formation of attacking full backs more pronounce.

[@morganvitale]

Great video! Well done buddy.

[@Nate-pl8et]

I saw this channel tonight. You be delivering homie, I like how creative u are

[@4migm]

It's undeniable that changes in tactics have led to the decline of the traditional 10. However, I think the players also influenced the changes in tactics. Think about this, who were the most successful and popular players in the 90's and 2000's ? It was often the playmakers. Tactics are only successful if you have the personnel to make it work. Many young players looked up to players like Maradona, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Zidane, even Riquelme and Guti if you were Argentinian or a Madrid fan. So many young players emulated their game around these players, even if they never quite reached that level. Since these players were often the most talented personnel that managers could use, their tactics naturally leaned towards using them. But then, Messi and Ronaldo happened. Both started as inverted wingers and they completely dominated. The two most impactful, successful, and popular players (by a wide margin) were no longer traditional 10's. Pep's tactics have had a gigantic influence on the modern game. However, if he didn't have Messi, I don't think his tactics would have taken off like they did. After all, no tactic can take off if you don't have the personnel to make it happen. And the reverse is also true, the right tactic can unlock a player's potential. Both go hand in hand. It's a snowball effect the way I see it. Many young players started looking at what Messi and Ronaldo were doing, and they emulated them. As those young players became professionals, managers naturally started using them. Interestingly, as his career progressed, Ronaldo became more and more like a traditional 9. The perfect goal poacher. And Messi moved more centrally. And now, Messi has continued to find success by now moving even deeper, almost like a Pirlo or Zidane. Dare I say it, Messi is looking more like the traditional playmaking 10 I think he helped push to the brink of extinction. And he won a world cup that way!

[@PakoBar2717]

I feel like the midfielders are more seen as regulators preserving the equilibrium of the team which diminishes their offensive impact. You don't see as often midfielders making runs to the penalty area like a box-to-box, trying one-two passes to get in the box or dribbling on 1vs1 on the sides as if they were wingers à la Iniesta or Juventus Pogba. They are much more static and play rather as deep playmakers and this is due to better defensive organisation of the opponent and the offensive impact of the fullbacks.

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

I came back to watch this video again after watching a documentary about Ozil. You have an insane quality of production. Underrated channel which is much better than the most popular one "football made simple" but I like channels with smaller viewers, sorry xD. Also what is your answer to your question? Was it the decline of playmakers which made the shift?

[@tactify2884]

Definitely a tactical shift by managers, as formations with a standalone no 10 position no longer in vogue with 433 and others taking over the tactical space , but generally I think it’s more about the era of football that we are in as physical attributes is very important now.

[@user-gi4bd1cx7y]

Could you do a video on the 4-1-4-1

[@adithyaadiga488]

Please do a video on leipzeig under domic they look really good and how they play

[@hussainqureshiwaish7364]

Watched your video mate got to say you know your stuff 😉

[@FootballMeta]

Thank you 🙌🏻

[@schneidervonhammer722]

Excellent video.... Based on this high pressing 4 3 3 formation(energy draining) - I guess Klopp(LIV) and Pep(CITY) would win the Champs league if it were played early or mid season. This is were squad depth is important(keeping players fresh).. As both City and Liv tired as the season went on and had more difficulty towards the end of the season breaking teams down, having said that there is no substitute for an out and out speed merchant attacking-fwd who can dribble a bit(see Vini Jnr and Mbappe and the younger CR7) who can rip apart teams who play a high line(or even defend deep) - add a ruthlessly clinical goal scorer(Benzema) and you can still pull off miracles. I guess the one player who had all the attributes(size, technical ability and skill) of a modern playmaker was Paul Pogba( ability to hold the ball, thread pin point passes and crosses , smash in jaw-dropping long ranges and all have box to box dynamism )- he is probably the biggest disappointment of the last 5 years - he really could have reinvented the wheel(Playmaker position) but social media, his ego and laziness got to him. Also shows what teams like LIV/CITY miss towards the end of the season..that player with creative x-factor who can unlock any defence(see Ronaldhino/ Early Messi)

[@nenoroalzafen30]

To answer your question i would say, there is no more tower to control the game since it's all about pressing and no more control and possession

[@alexpena1853]

To answer the question, I'd say is a combination of both but with the tactical changes accelerating the "decline" of #10. A prolific #10 is extremely dangerous as it can become the focal point for the opposing team's defense thus crating space on the weak sides just on their presence/positioning alone. Most of the #10's mentioned last in the video didn't have the qualities of a PROLIFIC 10 which is to take on one ore more defenders with speed and skill to create for themselves as well for others. The likes of Kaka come to mind when thinking "prolific"; in todays prevalent pressing style where would a manager position these kind of players anywhere else but at the 10 position.

[@stormmeansnowork]

I think on the one hand the present day no.10s are not as good, on the other, when young players come up from the youth system, the youth systems training no longer train youngsters (or allow the youngsters) to play as a no.10. So anyone with some skills at the feet would automatically be deployed or trained as inverted wingers or all around MFs. This dynamic arises when coaches like Mourinho realized that you cannot always get a good no.10 at your club, so instead of spending (or even gambling) on one, it's more reliable to find success with strictly enforced tactics revolving around stamina, physicality and the pace of a player. This then became a trend across the world's best footballing nations and gave rise to the aforementioned trend in youth training systems which further suffocated the production of good no.10s. Honestly, I would very much want to see what the likes of Ronaldinho and Rivaldo would be like in the present day, but that can only be found out in a game, at best

[@robbiebalboa]

I feel like everyone channels it. Wing backs invert to attack you have CAM’s put up front. Linking up in an ultra form of total football linked with pressing and third man runs. Goal keepers distributing to wingers like CDM’s back in the day to an extent. Everyone is a playmaker. 😂

[@mariadanielalavia8877]

Just coming here to say that the libero goalkeeper wasn't a Neuer thing it was Gatti from Boca Juniors who started to play like that, allowing the whole team to stop playing with a dedicated libero and to advance forward in the field, sadly I dont think many people watch Argentinian football lol

[@vm2532]

Can you please make a Video about cb?

[@zionikoroha]

Make a video on why all Serie A teams can defend

[@schneidervonhammer722]

To answer the Question: As footballers physical conditioning improved(After Wenger came to Arsenal and introduced- dietary changes/rehab/ other science based tools)..players became Bigger/Faster/Stronger - the pace of the game sped up a lot, resulting in increased pressing by the defending side leaving less time for traditional number 10's to influence games - this needed a tactical change from managers. In RMA's recent 2022 Champs league wins - they looked most uncomfortable when the pace/pressing frenzy of the opposition basically overwhelmed them - See City(1st leg) Che(2nd leg) - but tiredness, lack of technical ability and clinical efficiency basically saw them lose those ties(in PSG/ City's case add lack of European mental toughness/nous)

[@jbri1]

I just found your channel but most of your videos are quite old. Tactics should so quickly these days, it would be nice to see more up-to-date analysis

[@ashwinramesh9837]

Bro make a video about man City 2022 tactics

[@jay-05]

Thanks brother for the video.Will you please explain the difference between number 6 and number 8???

[@FootballMeta]

Good suggestion thanks 💪🏻

[@naadiyamaxamuud6756]

I need to understand each playet his position and what skills he has

[@majesticfool]

Funny that I found in football manager the advanced playmaker never seems to have space. This explains it

[@faibabernard]

Tactical Shift is the causative agent, of course…

[@winstong7438]

❤

[@flu-fiorde4324]

Athleticism led to the decline; with more and more demand for the playmaking to be started further back; with all the high press demanded from coaches taking advantage of athleticism.

[@erickhilario6217]

Sané's metrics shown are incorrect, you are showing Messi's metrics

[@dominiclee5786]

Let's just say that modern day football has evolved. First to disappear are sweepers, now playmakers.

[@chesswithivan8346]

I also think it's a tactical decision by the managers. Reminds me a bit of how total football killed the football of the 60s, which, for its time was more about beautiful playmaking, and less about everyone doing everything.

[@lafrostie7676]

Here to read what FIFA and football manager players have to say. Amazing how they think they can argue with someone with actual football experience like Football Meta

[@jakesimpson5233]

It’s a different level of competition, but the number 10 is still a huge deal in the MLS. The best players in the league play as 10s

[@maiklehmor1099]

Definitely a tactical shift in managers, 10s become beautiful solitary roled players in a increasing defensively demanding sport Unacceptable 😂

[@damianrucco7593]

Juan Román Riquelme

[@freddieseah1232]

Tactical changes led to the death of the traditional playmaker..

[@paulakpeti6142]

Tactical shift of manager then came the decline of No:10's

[@menzisimelane5317]

tactical shift by managers first

[@andrescardenas4732]

Pues considerando que fueron los DT los que maltrataron y estancaron las carreras de los 10 tradicionales más recientes, como lo hizo Van Gal con Riquelme y Zidane con James Rodríguez es claro que los 10 tradicionales dejaron de ser apreciados en el fútbol como lo fueron antes

[@chardinnguehou1442]

Tactical shift came first

[@barumbadum]

Muller!!!

[@realone296]

Messi

[@user-zd9zr5sl3c]

Almost a month since the last video, I’m starving☠️☠️

[@FootballMeta]

Been a busy period outside of KZbin, new video coming very soon I promise 😂💪🏻

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Tactical shift by managers

[@philipocansey6922]

Tactical shape led to the decline in no. 10s

[@vsubhuti]

Annoying music is noise otherwise great videos

[@nehemiahjacobs1987]

Tactical shift led to decline if you ask me

[@el_pollitosir1067]

Messi is the best play maker

[@duruobidinma2554]

Muller isn't a playmaker, you got that wrong

[@FootballMeta]

Yeah probably not the best example on my part, could probably make a whole video on his position 🤔

[@totalefootball8637]

More like space creator and finder.

[@lillihamer_75lespuy98]

@@FootballMeta please do! It would much be appreciated 🙌🙌

[@duruobidinma2554]

@@FootballMeta please let me know when you do cause that's a player that fascinates me. Him and Kai Havertz, I still can't figure out what they are. Muller could be passed up as a striker or a winger or I don't just know, same with Kai Havertz

[@realone296]

@@FootballMeta Messi

[@turns2ashes]

Modern football is so dull. It’s all press press press. Attrition of the fittest, creativity is suffocated