The “False 9” role is unarguably one of football’s unique and most renowned tactical innovations often adopted by managers in other to have more body in the middle of the pack, to drop deep, support in midfield, and also lurk around the box for scoring opportunities.
False nine was first used back in the 1930s when the Austrian national team, known as the ‘Wunderteam’ fielded a player named Matthias Sindelar in a false nine position who often dropped deep and create space between the opposition’s defense.
It was also used in the 1950s by the Hungary national team with Nandor Hidegkuti and Peter Palotas deployed in the false nine positions to help the team when pressing and attacking.
Who is the best false 9 of all time?
While the tactical innovation and its implementation have led to commendable success for some teams. Has a football fanatic ever wondered whose players genuinely and painstakingly interpret or succeed with the tactical role (False 9) quite well?
- Ezequiel Lavezzi
Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli side of 2009-2013 was known for their swashbuckling attacking style of play with a 3-4-3 formation that boosted the likes of Lavezzi, Hamsik, and the lethal Edison Cavani.
Both in Serie A and Europe Mazzarri played a strange formation with three at the back and three upfront, and when the recognized center forward isn’t available he often deployed the Argentine into the false nine positions.
Lavezzi’s interpretation of the position against Chelsea in the Champions League where he scored and assisted gives credence to how innovative Mazzarri can be when one of his key players is unavailable through injury or suspension.
- Johan Cruyff
From Sindelar to Totti to Bergkamp, quite a number of teams in world football have built their attack around a tactical innovative position known as false 9, rather than a conventional center-forward.
Whilst Cruyff is revered as one of the greatest players ever to grace the beautiful game, his role in Rinus Michels’ 1-3-3-3 formation of the 1970s Ajax side explained how the legendary Dutchman interpreted the role with aplomb.
Cruyff often takes the role of a center-forward but frequently drifts wide and deep to help the team when defending and attacking to create space for goal opportunities.
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- Paulo Dybala
Like Firmino, like Dybala, the Argentine trajectory to stardom started at Palermo where he also played as a de-facto playmaker who drift deep and wide to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
When he arrived in Italy he was dubbed the next Aguero, but as his game evolve and mature the former Juventus star’s style of play become more evident that his compatriot’s style differ from his.
Dybala has obviously rejuvenated his career from being a number 10 and playing as a false 9 and sometimes as a conventional number 9 where he gets to put his vision, shooting, and dribbling abilities into use.
- Michael Laudrup
The term ‘brilliant’ can be said to be an understatement in talking about Laudrup’s greatness as one of Danish finest footballers in the history of the game.
Laudrup encapsulated shades of John Cruyff’s vision and technique, the then Barcelona’s manager often deployed him in the false nine roles to support in midfield with his sheer vision and technique and also get into the box to score.
The Danish maestro is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation for his sheer deftness and passing ability that often got him slotted into the false nine positions.
- Robert Firmino
Bobby as some of his fans loves to call him arrived in the Premier League in 2015 from Hoffenheim as an unknown quality, following his brilliant performances in the Bundesliga where he was named the ‘Breakthrough Player of the Season with 16 goals.
Whilst at Hoffenheim, the Brazilian played predominantly as a number 10 and also get to operate out wide to create space for the midfielders and also drift into the box to wrack havoc.
When he joined Liverpool, he first played as a de-facto playmaker in the final third for the Reds. But as the season progresses, he was later slotted into the false 9 role due to the lack of a conventional center-forward on the team.
In the 2017-18 season as part of a revolutionary new Jurgen Klopp, the Brazilian finished the campaign with 27 goals and 17 assists.
- Dennis Bergkamp
Not all footballers are well renowned for their mesmerizing skills and excellent deftness on the ball. However, Bergkamp can be said to be one out of the bunch whose creativity, vision, quality, and calmness in front of the goal made fans sit on the edge of their seat.
The former Arsenal legend is no doubt one of the best false 9 in Premier League history, for his sheer brilliance in assisting Thierry Henry’s goals throughout his stint with the London club.
Bergkamp during his career didn’t only play as a false nine, he also often dropped deep into the midfield to create goal-scoring opportunities for his colleagues and as well get into the box to wrack havoc against the opposition.
- Thomas Muller
Raumdeuter or false nine specialists is the term that will undoubtedly be used for Thomas Muller, for how brilliantly he’s been able to interpret the role for both club and the national team over the years.
Muller is well known for how successfully he interprets the position he occupies tactically, where he either plays as a false nine or behind a center forward to create space for the striker upfront while attacking.
The Bayern Munich star may not be one of the best dribblers, but his consistency in creating space and reading the game gives credence to his legendary status as one of the best False 9 players in the history of the game.
- Matthias Sindelar
Austria’s Wunderteam of the 1930s was one of the great pre-war international sides that saw Sindelar play as a false 9, interpreting the position really well under the pioneering coach Hugo Meisl who adopted a groundbreaking approach with five forward players.
Sindelar captained the Wunderteam to the 1934 World Cup and played in a tactical conventional formation modified by Hugo Meisl. This gives Sindelar the room to drop deep to help the team in the middle of the pack and also move into the box.
The ‘Mozart of football did manage to score 27 goals in 43 appearances for the Wunderteam whilst playing as a false 9 and he was well renowned for his brilliant creative ability.
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- Francesco Totti
Not all players do enjoy unrivaled adulation, bordering on a huge level of hysteria as ‘II Capitano’ Francesco Totti. The Italian was unarguably the best poster boy of AS Roma, for all he offered on the pitch in terms of loyalty, dedication, and goals before he retired.
Under Luciano Spalletti, he was often deployed into the False 9 positions with a 4-1-4-1 formation during his stay with the Giallorossi.
Spalletti experimented with Totti tasking him with the responsibility of dropping deep into the midfield and also getting to support the team when attacking.
Totti is a god, cult figure, and a superman during his time at Roma, unfortunately, his illustrious career wasn’t hundred percent littered with silverware. Nevertheless, in the 2005-06 season, he enjoyed one of his best-ever scoring campaigns as a false 9 with 26 goals in Serie A.
- Lionel Messi
Pep Guardiola’s trajectory as Barcelona manager in 2008 came with a lot of drastic changes that led to the departure of some key members of the team for him to mainly focus on those who can interpret his tactical philosophy.
As part of the revolution at the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi was used majorly in the False 9 roles and went on to become arguably the best player to ever interpret the tactical innovation.
Messi is a brilliant player in all ramifications, he’s no doubt the perfect embodiment of the position during the well-renowned tiki-taka era that saw Barcelona achieve success.
FAQ
Who started with false 9 in soccer?
False 9 was first used back in the 1930s when the Austrian national team, known as the ‘Wunderteam’ fielded a player named Matthias Sindelar in a false nine position
Who is a false 9 in football?
A center-forward who often retreats into midfield and participates in playmaking is known as a false 9.
How long did Messi play as a false 9?
Lionel Messi, Barcelona, 2009-2012
Lionel Messi established himself as one of the greatest players of all time, operating as a false 9 in Guardiola’s 4-3-3 and winning 4 consecutive Ballon d’Or awards from 2009 to 2012
How do you handle a false 9?
The first technique in successfully handling a false 9 is to position both central defensive midfielders directly in front of the false 9 if he approaches the goal.
Does False 9 work well?
The reason a false 9 may be so effective is that it is difficult for the defense unit to determine whose role it is to follow the player. If the center-back pursues the attacker, the defensive line is breached, allowing attacking players to make runs.
Is a false 9 considered a striker?
False 9: An unorthodox lone striker or center-forward who slips deep into midfield, imitating ways of a more advanced offensive midfielder role.
Is Kai Havertz a false 9?
Yes! Havertz played the vast majority of his Chelsea’s role as a false 9. Tuchel’s team played in a 3-4-2-1 formation, and Havertz was supported by two attacking players.
