PLAYMAKER

In soccer, a 'playmaker' is an attacking player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals. The term overlaps somewhat with attacking midfielder, but playmakers are not constrained to a single position - creativity is the only true requirement, and good passing ability and tactical awareness help. Because many midfielders have these attributes, they tend to be the playmakers of a team. The playmaker's number is most often number 10.

Contents

Qualities of a good playmaker

Playmakers and tactics

Playmakers in football history

List of famous playmakers

Qualities of a good playmaker

Perhaps the most important quality of a playmaker is the ability to read the game, and get into good positions making for effective receipt and distribution of the ball. Intuition is another key element of a playmakers' game, as they need to know where different players are at different times, without taking too long to dwell on the ball. A good playmaker will often hold possession, allowing other team members to make attacking runs. The ostensible role of the playmaker is to then provide or facilitate the final pass which leads to a goal. In football terminology this is often known as a ''killer ball'' or the ''final ball'' and is officially recorded as an assist.

Playmakers and tactics

Playmakers are not often renowned for their tackling or defensive capabilities hence they are often seen as a luxury in football teams, though they retain their places due to their ability to change games. In a 4-4-2 formation a playmaker will usually play alongside a defensive midfield player to ensure that the team is not vulnerable to attack. However with different formations a team may play with multiple playmakers. When Kevin Keegan managed Manchester City F.C. he often employed two playmakers Ali Bernarbia and Eyal Berkovic in a 3-5-2 formation. However most teams usually use only one playmaker to minimise defensive frailties and also because using more than one may inhibit each playmakers playing style.

Playmakers in football history

There have been many great playmakers.The term has not always been in use in football terminology though it is widely used today. In the 1960s famous playmakers included the Brazilian midfielder Didi and Mimis Domazos a former Greek international who is considered as Greece's best ever player and was known as 'The General'. Pelé, who is seen by many as the greatest footballer of all time, is considered to have been a playmaker due to his passing skills and awareness. Gerson was another playmaker who played for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup. In the 1970s famous playmakers included Kazimierz Deyna (who played for the Poland national football team), Gunter Netzer (of the West German national team), Colin Bell (who played for the England national football team) and Johan Cruijff of the Holland national football team.vattoly
In the 1980s famous playmakers included Michel Platini (whose passing skills helped orchestrate the victory of France in the 1984 European Championship) and Glenn Hoddle (who is considered by many Football critics as the greatest passer of the ball the England national football team have ever had).
In the 1990s famous playmakers have included Carlos Valderrama (who played for the Colombia national football team), Zinedine Zidane, (who twice helped France reach the World Cup final (1998 and 2006) and a European Championship win in 2000), Michael Laudrup, who was the playmaker for FC Barcelona's Dream Team, Juan Carlos Valeron (Deportivo legend and key player of the Spain national football team in the last years), Dennis Bergkamp (who himself was very much influenced by Hoddle and who is an example of a playmaking striker famed for his control which enabled him to receive and pass the ball with great fluidity), Jari Litmanen (who plays for the Finland national football team and Malmö FF), Roberto Baggio (whose skills pushed Italy to the World Cup final in 1994) and Luís Figo of Portugal.
Since the year 2000, some playmakers who have found fame within international football include Juan Roman Riquelme of Argentina, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi of the Spain national football team, Deco of the Portugal national football team, Andrea Pirlo and Francesco Totti of the Italy national football team, Landon Donovan of the American national soccer team, and Mikel Arteta of Everton. Steven Gerrard plays a similar role for Liverpool FC and was successful in their European campaigns.
There are players who can switch from 'Playmaker' to another role. Such players are Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Ronaldinho

List of famous playmakers

Country	Famous playmakers
Argentina	Maradona, Bochini, Alonso, Riquelme, Aimar, Verón, Tevéz
Belgium	Van Himst
Brazil	Didi, Gerson, Kaká, Pelé, Rivaldo, Juninho, Zico, Ronaldinho
Bulgaria	Balakov
Colombia	Valderrama
Denmark	Laudrup
England	Hoddle, Gascoigne, Scholes, Bell, Gerrard, Rooney
Finland	Litmanen
France	Platini, Zidane, Kopa
Germany	Ballack, Schneider, Gunter Netzer, Overath, Schuster, Matthäus
Japan	Nakamura, H. Nakata
Holland	Bergkamp, Cruijff, Neeskens, van Hanegem
Israel	Berkovic, Nimni
Italy	Baggio, Rivera, Totti, Pirlo, Del Piero
Nigeria	Okocha
Poland	Deyna
Portugal	Coluna, Deco, Rui Costa, Luis Figo
Russia	Igor Netto, Dmitri Loskov, Cherenkov
Spain	Suarez, Xavi, Guardiola, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fábregas, Iniesta, Guti
Trinidad and Tobago	Russell Latapy
Romania	Gheorghe Hagi
United States	Donovan
Mexico	Blanco, Bautista