Roles

The advanced playmaker

An advanced playmaker is usually one of the team's main creators, playing in attacking midfield between the opposition's midfield and defence. The classic number 10 is a common version of the role.

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What an advanced playmaker is

An advanced playmaker is usually one of the team's main creators, playing in the attacking-midfield area between the opposition's midfield and defence.

The advanced playmaker receives the ball in dangerous positions, turns quickly, and plays the passes that create chances for the forwards. They operate in the space often called between the lines — the gap between the opposition's defensive line and their midfield. From there, they can play through balls into runners, slide passes wide, or threaten the goal themselves.

The classic number 10 is the most familiar version of the role. Many celebrated creative players have been advanced playmakers — number 10s given freedom to find space and create chances. The role remains one of the most distinctive in the game, even though many modern systems ask more defensive work from it.

Where the role comes from

The advanced playmaker has roots in several major football traditions.

The number 10 has been part of football tactics for almost as long as numbered shirts have existed. The traditional 1 to 11 numbering used the 10 for the player who linked midfield to attack, and the role grew naturally into the team's main creator. Most football cultures developed their own version of the role.

South American football, particularly in Argentina and Brazil, gave the world some of the most influential number 10s in football history, with the role often called the enganche in Argentine football — literally "the hook" that connected midfield to attack. Italian football contributed the trequartista, an advanced playmaker with even more freedom. The Spanish, German and Dutch traditions all built their own creative roles around this position. The role itself is universal, but the specific names reflect the football cultures that developed it.

What the advanced playmaker does

The role has clear responsibilities, even though much of what makes it distinctive is unwritten.

Find space between the lines

The advanced playmaker constantly looks for the gaps between the opposition's midfield and defence. They drop, drift wide, or shift across the pitch to escape their marker and receive in space.

Receive and turn

When the ball reaches them, they have to receive it under pressure, often facing their own goal, and turn quickly to face the opposition's goal. The first touch is critical — a heavy touch loses the moment.

Play the decisive pass

Find the chance-creating pass that turns possession into a clear attack — a through ball, a slipped pass into the box, or a disguised pass that removes defenders from the move.

Score from distance

When the path through is closed, the advanced playmaker takes the shot. Many of the role's best moments come from long-range strikes when the through ball is not on, or from arriving late at the edge of the area to finish a move.

Skills the role demands

The advanced playmaker needs a specific combination of qualities.

Vision

Seeing passes that others do not see — through the lines, in behind defenders, and into half-spaces. The advanced playmaker often plays passes that look impossible until they have been played.

Close control

Receiving the ball in tight spaces, with defenders close, and keeping it. Most of the role's work happens in the most crowded part of the pitch, where ball control under pressure is essential.

Awareness

Knowing where every teammate and opponent is before receiving the ball, so the next decision is already made. The best advanced playmakers play with their head up before the ball arrives.

Shooting

Striking the ball cleanly from the edge of the area, especially when a pass is not on. Goals from distance are part of the role's contribution, alongside the assists.

How the role differs from similar roles

The advanced playmaker can look similar to other creative players but has a clear distinction.

Versus the deep-lying playmaker

Both are creators, but at different starting positions. The deep-lying playmaker plays at the base of midfield, taking the ball from defenders and starting attacks. The advanced playmaker plays in attacking midfield, between the lines, and finishes attacks with chance-creating passes.

Read about the deep-lying playmaker

Versus the trequartista

A trequartista is a kind of advanced playmaker with more freedom and less defensive responsibility. The two terms are close to interchangeable in some uses, but the trequartista usually means a player given a more roaming, less structured role.

Read about the trequartista

Versus the second striker

Both play behind the centre forward. The advanced playmaker focuses on creating chances; the second striker focuses on scoring. A second striker often makes runs into the box; an advanced playmaker often stays deeper to find passes.

Versus the box-to-box midfielder

An advanced playmaker plays a more attacking role and rarely tracks back as far as a box-to-box midfielder. The two can be paired in a midfield three, with the advanced playmaker freed to focus on creating while the box-to-box player covers the defensive work.

Where the role fits

The advanced playmaker fits naturally into formations that include a clear attacking-midfield position.

The advanced playmaker fits best in formations that give them space behind the striker, especially 4-2-3-1 and some versions of 4-3-3. The team needs enough structure behind the role to protect central midfield when the playmaker takes risks or moves away from position.

The role also needs runners. A playmaker can only create if forwards, wingers or attacking midfielders make movements beyond the defence. Without those runs, the advanced playmaker may receive between the lines but have no dangerous pass to play.

How the role has changed

The modern advanced playmaker is asked to do more than the classic version.

The classic number 10 of earlier decades was almost purely a creator. They had little defensive responsibility, and many famous players in this role barely tracked back. The trade-off was accepted — the team carried them defensively in exchange for what they offered going forward.

The modern game has less room for that kind of player. Pressing has become central, and even the team's main creator has to chase, defend, and contribute to the defensive shape. The pure number 10 is rare at the top of the modern game; in their place are advanced playmakers who also press, or whose creative work is shared between several players in midfield. The classic role survives, but it has become more demanding.