The Death of the Classic Number 10
The classic number 10 position has always been the most coveted position in the history of the game.
A player who can get you off your seat with mesmeric brilliance and make you crave for even more is no longer a fantasy that exists.
The fall of those “luxury players” is truly heartbreaking. Their fall from grace and the aesthetic decline of the beautiful game is a tragedy in itself.
No More Flair in the Beautiful Game
Every child’s dream is to become a number 10, being the focal point of the attacking team by creating and scoring goals. Many have viewed the number 10 position as the most influential on the pitch for many years.
Now, as we enter a new phase of football that is focused on rapid attacks and structured midfielders, the number 10 is becoming less influential than ever before.
Relying on touch, vision, control and, most importantly, speed of thought, the classic number 10’s role was to create and score where possible.
Team-mates sprang into life around the player, anticipating knife-through-butter killer balls and deft touches to open up defences.
With great regret, the European game is seeing a decline in such players for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the speed of the game has increased just too much now.
Perhaps the rigid defensive lines in midfield and defence are too narrow to find space and time in the hole. Maybe it’s neither. Maybe teams just require more dynamic players who can contribute in the attacking and defensive phase.
The Change of Guard
When Spain won the European Championships in 2008, they brought about a revolution of footballing concepts. The world was taking notice.
Amidst the very recognizable Tiki Tika that was introduced by Barcelona, Luis Aragones’ side played a very fluid 4–1–3–2 system that had free roamers all over the pitch.
Both Iniesta and Silva played the roaming free roles in the wide half spaces in addition to taking turns playing the number 10 role. This concept of Shadow number 10s worked perfectly as opponents had difficulty marking their movement.
But the main man was Xavi. His sublime vision and clinical execution of game changing passes were key to Spain’s success. His deeper positioning meant that the diamond formation (1–2–1) in the middle would shift to a 1–3 with Xavi staying central.
This was a great example of how whilst the traditional 10 was not considered viable in the modern game, controlling the central space between the penalty area and center circle was still pivotal to the outcome of games.
This shift in style created a revolution. The main playmaker of the team started to drop deeper & deeper since then. The irrelevance of the classical playmakers became even more striking with the resurgence of the registas and deep-lying playmakers of the time.
The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso marked an era in football by setting a new standard in setting the tempo of a game from deep.
The decline and redundancy of the classic 10s was reinstated when Jurgen Klopp stated in 2014 that a good high press can be the best playmaker for the team in an interview with Sky Sports.
Football has always been the “working class ballet”. Yet one sight becomes ever rarer each passing year: the classic number 10.
From Platini to Totti, the classic trequartista has always been a sight to inspire dreams and engulf kids into what is possible with a ball. Elusive for much of a game yet so often the match winner, these players are the embodiment of technique, grace and skill.
THE FALSE 9: THE INVISIBLE NUMBER 10
At Villarreal, however, Pelligrini had a taste for artistry. His teams were known to reward flair and individuality whilst refusing to compromise on tactical cohesiveness.
Most importantly, he was open to the idea of revolving his team around a Classic number 10. A player that does it all for the team.
In the modern generation, we see players like David Silva, De Bruyne and more recently Phil Foden and Jack Grealish in the English Premier League operate wider in search of ‘elusiveness’ and this has made them incredibly effective.
Time will tell how this particular tactic will be combatted outside of adopting a low block and hoping for the best as at the moment it seems very difficult to counter.
Evolution of the Position
The best modern exponent of the wide playmaker role was Zinedine Zidane who drifted down the left as a ‘Mezzala’, before roaming to the regista position as well as the number 10.
This floating role made him incredibly hard to pick up despite his chronic lack of pace and likewise Ronaldinho also played in from the left, albeit not dropping as deep as the Frenchman but wielding no less influence.
Compare these players to Zico, Platini or Maradona and it is clear they had more in common with Laudrup tactically.
Mourinho’s systems tend to require a playmaker with distinct abilities. Sneijder and Deco were his most favored while Ozil and Fabregas were also used to great effect.
Where the “Thinking” Takes Place
The number 10 position is often regarded as the position where the “thinking” takes place.
Now the focus is more on quick transitions and team build up rather than a playmaker slowing things down and then threading the eye of a needle with a sumptuous piece of magic.
The focus on running and pressing has taken away the artistic side of the game.
It is common for leagues to experience trends in formations because football is a constantly changing landscape.
In short, the decline of the traditional number 10 is a combination of successful modern football tactics and the emergence of the 8/10 hybrid position.
Where are the “Luxury Players” Now?
Managers will not work luxury number 10 players into their starting eleven anymore because they can not afford the player to have an off-day.
If the number 10 does not perform, it has an extremely negative impact on the team’s creative ability and defensive structure if they are allowed to free roam.
The increase in the speed of the game, as well as a greater reliance on strength and power, has contributed heavily to the downfall of such a player.
At the very top of the game, the relationship between space and time has become tighter and the integral use of anchor men and holding midfielders has been influential in denying the opportunity to play between the lines.
Crucially these holding midfielders are frequently able to create from deep as Andrea Pirlo, Xabi Alonso and Marco Verratti brilliantly demonstrate.
Football is different now. The success of Barcelona and Bayern Munich is based on the ability to press high and win possession closer to the opponent’s goal.
There’s no time or space to carry passengers. Sadly those days are over. And with it, only memories remain.
Nostalgic Blast from the Past
Memories of a glorious Juan Román Riquelme at his best for Villarreal and Argentina; of Michel Platini mesmerizing Turin with his skills and precision; of Dennis Bergkamp dropping and using his incredible vision to turn a move into a chance.
The reversion to old-fashioned wingers and their success in the modern game, in addition to the inverted forward role, has also contributed to driving the classic number 10 to virtual extinction.
While clubs will always possess luxury players, the central figure who was the focal point of every attack is a player in decline. The quick thinker who dwelt in possession is no longer able to hold possession between the lines.
In A Nutshell
As the game changes so will its tactics and the accommodation for the old-fashioned number 10 may once again be opened.
The sight that thrilled so many youngsters when growing up will once again return to our screens to inspire a new generation.
In order for the 10 to rise from the ashes, there needs to be an evolution or basically we need to wait for another Kaka.
Moody, elusive, volatile and lazy, yet exquisitely skilful and effortlessly intelligent, the classic number 10 may be a dying breed, but one whose memories will long live in the mind of football fans who witnessed their graceful brilliance.