From Formations to Roles: The Shift in Tactical Focus
In the past, football was defined by rigid formations, with teams sticking to a specific system (4-4-2, 4-3-3, etc.). However, modern football is moving away from fixed formations and placing more emphasis on the roles players perform on the pitch. Today, it's not just about where players stand, but what they do in the moment and how they adapt during the game.
The Role Over Formation Trend: With the rise of possession-based football and intense pressing systems, coaches have started to think more about the fluid roles of their players. For example, full-backs like **Trent Alexander-Arnold** are often seen pushing into midfield positions, while central midfielders like **Kevin De Bruyne** drop deeper to control the game, blurring the lines between attack and defense.
Notable Influences: Coaches like **Guardiola**, **Klopp**, and **Inzaghi** are leading this shift. Players now operate within flexible roles that can change depending on the flow of the game. For example, **Guardiola's full-backs** (e.g., **Joao Cancelo** and **Kyle Walker**) often invert into central midfield positions, creating overloads in the middle while maintaining defensive stability.
What’s Next? The future of tactics will likely see an even greater emphasis on **positionless football** where players have broader roles. Expect to see more **hybrid players** who can seamlessly transition between defensive and offensive duties, increasing the fluidity of tactical systems. Coaches will continue to look for players who can perform multiple roles within a game rather than sticking strictly to traditional positions.
Guardiola's Adaptation of Player Roles
Pep Guardiola is one of the pioneers of role flexibility in modern football. While formations such as the **4-3-3** and **4-2-3-1** still remain common, Guardiola's tactical setups go beyond strict formations. For example, his full-backs at **Manchester City** frequently invert into midfield positions, allowing City to dominate possession while maintaining defensive solidity.
Player Role Focus: In Guardiola’s system, players like **Bernardo Silva** and **Ilkay Gündogan** are not confined to specific positions. Instead, they move fluidly across the pitch, with roles constantly shifting based on the team's needs. This allows Guardiola’s teams to control the game from multiple areas of the pitch.
What’s Next? As we look to the future, we can expect more managers to adopt role-based football where players must think beyond their assigned position and contribute in multiple areas of the field. The importance of flexibility and intelligence will be paramount.
Watch Guardiola’s tactical flexibility in action
The Evolution of Positionless Football
**Positionless football** is gaining traction in modern tactics. This concept focuses on the fluidity of players’ roles, with attacking and defensive duties shifting during the game. Coaches are increasingly favoring players who can adapt quickly and perform multiple functions on the field.
Trend Analysis: In systems like Liverpool's heavy metal pressing under Klopp, players often find themselves in different positions throughout the match. Midfielders transition into attacking roles, while full-backs drop back into central defense to provide cover. Internazionale in the 24/25 season for example has center backs that can ofensive roles and even score a lot of goals.
What’s Next? The next phase of football may see even more coaches embracing hybrid roles where players can transition seamlessly between defense, midfield, and attack. This fluidity will likely be driven by data analytics and new training methods that prepare players to perform in a variety of situations on the field.
Why football formations aren't as important as you think
