Football's Evolution - The Rise of the 'Complete' Midfielder

As we know football moves in cycles and is arguably in a constant state of flux. Those who fail to adapt and change often find themselves trailing behind as they have been left standing still while others have attempted to modernise. With many of these ‘cycles’, they have been part of the game before and have returned to counter a present style or system. The return of the back three in particular highlighted the fact that tactics and styles move in cycles This article will look at the new modern trend which has seen a new type of midfielder emerge, a return somewhat of the so called 'extinct' box-box midfielder.

For the past decade the most favoured formation which has been adopted by most of the successful sides has been the 4-2-3-1. It was used commonly for Brazil for decades, taking advantage of the central “box” of the two centre backs and two defensive midfielders which allowed the full backs to attack constantly. However other nations started to see the value in using a defensive midfielder in the 1990's.

The defensive midfielder became an essential part of the football due in part to the trequartista role which involved the number 10 to play between the units. For English football players like Zola and Bergkamp excelled due to the freedom and space they found playing between the orthodox 4-4-2 formations of English sides in the late 90’s. Coaches started to see the need and value in having a defensive midfielder in place who could screen and pick up these 10’s when they dropped between the units and thus sought to nullify their threat.

A certain Claude Makelele made the role famous after his successes with France and Real Madrid at the turn of the century and it was a big mistake of Real Madrid to allow him to leave to Chelsea in 2003. Mourinho in his first season declared Makelele his player of the season.

The growth of the 4-2-3-1 

As the defensive tactic sought to plug the hole between the defence and midfield coaches thus had to find ways to get their creative players on the ball. This led to the roaming trequartista who was forced to move wider to find pockets of space. Thus the defensive midfielder was often drawn away from his desired central role. This created an issue because other players would exploit this space. Therefore it then became necessary for two holding midfielders. 

This change in formation negated the influence and presence of the 'box to box' midfielder who was so popular in the English game. Players like Bryan Robson and Roy Keane were the classic box to box players and did very well in their careers. However as the 4-2-3-1 became more prominent the need for the box-box player became minimised. 

Rafa Benitez adopted the 4-2-3-1 while coach at Valencia in the early 2000’s and was very successful with it. It became a popular formation in Spanish football on the back of Benitez’s success and then he brought it over to England while at Liverpool.

At the same time that Benitez came to the Premier League Carlos Quieroz had returned from Real Madrid back to Man Utd and was seeking to create a more “European” side. Both of these coaches proved to have a good understanding of the European game and proved this in their time in England. They both believed in the 4-2-3-1 as it gave their sides more balance and control of the game, as well as the ability to play between four units and extra defensive support.

The two midfielders at this time were seen as having specific roles; one would be the destroyer and the other the creator. A la Mascherano and Xavi Alonso at Liverpool or Carrick and Hargreaves at Man Utd. The ‘destroyer’ and the ‘creator’ highlighted what the 2000’s were all about; it was a decade of specialists. 

Midfield specialists

Football needed specific players for specific roles and it excelled due to this. Milan’s success under Ancelotti was built on the Gattuso/Pirlo combination. One holds, breaks up play and finds the deep playmaker who starts the attacks and sets the tempo

The reason for the deeper playmaker was that space was becoming restricted higher up due to teams playing a three man midfield with two deeper midfielders. Therefore coaches sought to have their more ‘creative’ player playing deeper, allowing them more space to create. Thus the talents of Pirlo, Alonso, Scholes and Veron excelled in this role.

Yet like any style or system it becomes exposed and stale. Let me just highlight a failing of the previous 4-2-3-1 which was shown so badly at the 2012 Euro’s. The Dutch played Nigel De Jong and Mark Van Bommel as their two defensive midfielders, both who are specialist “destroyers”.  On paper they may have allowed the Dutch to attack more freely as they offered more defensive cover to the side, yet what actually happened was that the link between the attack and defence was open because both players did not want to push forward.

Holland were exposed on the counter numerous times and Van Marwijk was shown up for being a decade too late in his approach to the formation. Holland’s problem was that they played two spoilers and no deep lying playmaker, meaning that there was no tempo controller in there.The introduction of a player like Kevin Strootman would have given the Dutch many more options. And why Strootman? Well he is an example of the new modern midfielder.

In the past few seasons a new trend has emerged; 4-2-3-1 is still the formation favoured by many of Europe’s top coaches yet they have seen a need to evolve and this evolution has come in that midfield two. The specialist has been replaced by the all-rounder. The box-box midfielder has returned. Yet this is the 2.0 version.

The rotating double pivot

Germany, both their national team and their two biggest clubs Bayern and Dortmund have proven to be ahead of the rest in this new midfield evolution. They have shown an understanding of the need for balance and have got it almost perfect. It is now referred to as the “double-pivot” and in the combinations of Schweinstieger/Khedira for Germany, Schweinsteiger /Martinez for Bayern and Gundogan/Bender for Dortmund, we are seeing the best examples of the double pivot in the game.

Schweinsteiger is a great player because he has adapted his game completely from a right side midfielder to a holding midfielder and now a ‘complete’ midfielder. His role is like that of a box-box midfielder in that he moves up the pitch and finds pockets of space which is being created due to the attacking four ahead of him and the overlapping full backs. They force the defence back and ultimately allow more space for the late runs of the 'holding' midfielder.

The previous destroyer or even creator would not be be so far up the pitch and this highlights the change in the formation. Schweinsteiger’s late movement means he is often unmarked which gives him more time closer to goal to create or score. Yet the difference is that this is not just a one man role but two. 

A rotating double pivot enables both players to fulfil the role of supporting the attack. If Schweinsteiger is marked than Khedira rotates with him. Both players have shown the discipline and knowledge of when to go forward and support the attack and when to hold and support the defence.

This evolution in the German midfield was why Bayern were so eager to capture Javi Martinez this past season. They saw in Luis Gustavo a talented destroyer yet not a midfielder who could offer them a rotating double pivot. Ultimately Schweinsteiger would be easier to track if he was the only one making those runs. 

The chemistry, almost symmetry which Schweinsteiger and Martinez have has meant that Bayern’s build up play through midfield, their movement to create and exploit space and their ability to both move forward to support the attack has been a key reason why Bayern have seemingly dominated games this season.

And of course their complete ability means that out of possession they are great defensive midfielders who have a wonderful ability to read the game, screen passes and press. Just watching Bayern this season and seeing how these two defend out of possession has been a joy. Dortmund are similar yet only Gundogan offers the forward thrust.

The rise of the complete midfielder

You can see this new type of midfielder emerging across Europe. Yaya Toure is perhaps the most complete midfielder since Patrick Vieira and Michael Essien in terms of his physical, technical and tactical ability. The past season was a failure in many areas for Man City and Toure suffered due to the constant tactical changes. However the year before proved that he was the ‘modern box-box midfielder’ and this season, with the introduction of Fernandinho Man City may actually have the rotating ‘double pivot’ which could be invaluable for their effectiveness in and out of possession, especially in Europe.

In Italy Arturo Vidal was highly sought after by Bayern to play the Martinez role yet he opted for Juventus instead and has proven his talents as tireless midfielder who along with Marchisio as Juve’s carrilero’s who support Pirlo defensively and provide support to the attack. Lazio's Hernanes is another who does this very well in this role yet there is little doubt that these players would excel in the modern midfield 4-2-3-1 (of which Hernanes does for Brazil under Scolari).

And what about in England? It would appear that Arsenal under Wenger have seen this change in style. He has changed from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 and although it has been in short doses the use of both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere alongside Arteta has proven Wenger has seen the need for this driving force through midfield. Both players do it well both with and without the ball, Chamberlain particularly highlighted this ability against Brazil a few weeks back. 

These players are proving to be the modern midfielders; creative, strong, positive and also defensive minded (yet Wilshere needs to improve his discipline positionally). I wonder if Wenger will be brave and seek another of these types of midfielders or will he settle on playing Arteta in the Busquets role?

Man Utd have been craving this type of 'complete' midfielder to support their own Busquets in Carrick. Although many have seen Carrick’s worth this season I wonder if a midfielder such as Strootman could allow United to play a rotating double pivot? It would be a great tactical masterstroke of Moyes to seek to evolve this United midfield (which many have seen the need to improve for years). 

Carrick does have the potential to support the attack more, the Roma 7-1 proved that. However he has been restricted in his forward movement in recent years and although successful I wonder if he would become even better doing playing the role which Schweinsteiger does?

Midfield is where the game is won and lost for me. This is why Barcelona obsess over midfield and dominating the game in these areas. Yet this season particularly Bayern overpowered and dominated Barca's midfield with strength and skill. The effectiveness of Schweinsteiger and Martinez in the double pivot provided a perfect balance for the side and it is no wonder they won an unprecedented treble. Martinez was key to their success as he offered them the ‘complete’ role which they have missed in recent seasons with Van Bommel, Tymoshchuk and Luis Gustavo.

The position specific specialist is becoming extinct, the world of football is moving to universality and the modern midfielder is required to be everything. Playing in that 4-2-3-1 he is required to drop in to make a back three, screen and press in midfield and move forward to support the attack. He is the complete player, yet he is not the old school box-box midfielder. 

No, this player is intelligent and creative in his approach. If you possess one of these players you are fortunate, yet possessing two means you are on for something very special indeed.

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address

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