Who started the idea of the false nine?
The origins of the false nine can be traced back to the 1930s when an Austrian player named Matthias Sindelar was forced to play a more withdrawn role due to his slight build. To evade the constant pressure from opposing defenders, Sindelar would drop deep into midfield, creating space for his teammates. This pioneering approach laid the groundwork for the false nine role.From our blog: Who Are The Top 5 Best Playmakers in Football History?
The idea of the false nine began in its clearest form since that Clásico, and it was later adopted by an elite group of coaches and teams around the world. This position has proven very successful and has become one of the most important positions in our current era.
A player described as a forward whose theoretical task is to score goals, yet he operates a lot outside the penalty area. If left unmarked, he would cause catastrophic problems for the opponent’s defense, and if marked, it would also cause another problem manifested in the loss of marking on another forward within the box aimed at scoring goals. This can be considered the most comprehensive definition of the false nine concept.
The false nine’s task is to lure defenders out of the box during attack execution, and it is possible to draw midfielders to focus on him. The goal of all this is to expose spaces in the opponent’s team.
More precisely: When defenders leave the penalty area to mark the false nine positioned outside it, it will create many spaces for his team's forwards or advanced midfielders, thereby increasing the chances of scoring goals.
Messi, Guardiola, and their role in the false nine concept
However, the establishment of the false nine in its most accurate form dates back to the historic version of Barcelona led by Pep Guardiola, who told the team’s legend, Lionel Messi, that he would rely on him in the famous Clasico , which ended with Barcelona defeating Real Madrid 6-2 in 2009.The idea of the false nine began in its clearest form since that Clásico, and it was later adopted by an elite group of coaches and teams around the world. This position has proven very successful and has become one of the most important positions in our current era.
What is the false nine?
We continue our discussion by learning about the false nine by identifying the technical characteristics of this position:A player described as a forward whose theoretical task is to score goals, yet he operates a lot outside the penalty area. If left unmarked, he would cause catastrophic problems for the opponent’s defense, and if marked, it would also cause another problem manifested in the loss of marking on another forward within the box aimed at scoring goals. This can be considered the most comprehensive definition of the false nine concept.
What is the role of the false nine?
Let’s talk about role of the false nine within his team:The false nine’s task is to lure defenders out of the box during attack execution, and it is possible to draw midfielders to focus on him. The goal of all this is to expose spaces in the opponent’s team.
More precisely: When defenders leave the penalty area to mark the false nine positioned outside it, it will create many spaces for his team's forwards or advanced midfielders, thereby increasing the chances of scoring goals.
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Considering the false nine idea falls under the list of attacking tactics, it can only be applied when the team has possession of the ball. How can you attack without the ball?
Moreover, several features must be present in the false nine, namely agility, good physical preparation, along with intelligence, quick decision-making, and continuous creativity.
Fàbregas had several stops in Europe, but his most notable ones were with Barcelona and Chelsea.
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When can the false nine concept be applied?
Other details regarding the false nine concept:Considering the false nine idea falls under the list of attacking tactics, it can only be applied when the team has possession of the ball. How can you attack without the ball?
Moreover, several features must be present in the false nine, namely agility, good physical preparation, along with intelligence, quick decision-making, and continuous creativity.
Famous False Nines
We conclude our discussion about the false nine by identifying the top three players who were active in this position:Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi was always considered a right winger on paper, but his roles on the field clearly indicated him being a false nine.Lionel Messi’s stats with Barcelona
During a tenure where he primarily stood out as a false nine, Lionel Messi participated in 778 matches with Barcelona, contributing to 977 goals, after scoring 672 goals and assisting 305 goals.Francesco Totti
The Roma legend, and the Italian national team, Francesco Totti, is also one of the notable names that can be considered an excellent model of the false nine concept.Francesco Totti’s stats with Roma
The Italian legend Francesco Totti played 785 matches with Roma, where his roles as a false nine were practically evident. Totti managed to contribute to 516 goals with the team, after scoring 307 goals and assisting 209 goals.Cesc Fàbregas
The Spanish midfielder star Cesc Fàbregas, known for his numerous rounds in European leagues, is among the famous players who managed to apply the false nine concept exceptionally well.Fàbregas had several stops in Europe, but his most notable ones were with Barcelona and Chelsea.
Cesc Fàbregas’ stats with Barcelona
The Spanish Cesc Fàbregas participated in 151 matches with Barcelona, during which he managed to contribute to 92 goals, after scoring 42 goals and assisting 50 goals.Cesc Fàbregas’ stats with Chelsea
In the toughest league for those who want to implement the false nine idea, Cesc Fàbregas participated with the Blues, Chelsea, in 198 matches across various occasions, not just the Premier League, managing to score 22 goals and assist 54 goals as well.You may also be interested in: The playmaker position, the top five players who occupied this position historically.