The Evolution of the Striker Role

The football world is ever evolving, with tactics and roles being one of the key components that change over the years. The striker role is a crucial position on the football pitch and is widely regarded as one of the most important positions in the game. With that being said, many managers alter the striker roles to try to get one up on the rivalling teams. 

There have been countless roles that have changed the striker’s play forever. We have seen target men, poachers, and the introduction of Pep Guardiola’s false nine role, among many others. The first adaptation of striker play first came with the change in formation, as previously many managers opted for a two-striker formation; however, this is rarely seen in today’s game with every manager requiring unique needs from the focal point of the attack. 

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The History of Striker Play

As mentioned, numerous tactical innovations regarding striker play have occurred in football history. Though tactics and roles can adapt, the underlying factor of strikers will always remain the same: to score goals. Traditionally, strikers were expected to stay within the box width and score goals in that crucial area. Managerial tactics in history often saw the utilisation of the 4-4-2 formation, with the two strikers being the focal points of the attack.

The 1900s and early 2000s were dominated by ‘classic number 9s’. Prime examples of these traditional strikers were Alan Shearer, Marco Van Basten, and Gerd Müller. These classic number 9s were widely regarded as the best strikers in the world at their time. The term classic number 9 is a phrase to describe the traditional striker play, referring to a physical and powerful striker who is proven to find the back of the net. The 2000s came, with a change in the way strikers would operate. The change introduced faster, more technical players, becoming the leading force. The traditional striker gradually phased out of the game, with managers prioritising fluidity and flexible attacking options. 

The Modern Striker

The modern striker in today’s game has evolved and is required to contribute more than just goals. Strikers are required to be the complete package, athletically and technically. Some managers require their starlets to be able to defend from the front, triggering and leading the press, while others prefer a more conservative approach. Strikers in the modern era are expected to contribute to the link-up play and drop deep when needed to provide an extra body. 

Striker Variants in Modern Football

The False Nine

The false nine is a role that Pep Guardiola popularised during his time at Barcelona. Pep’s tiki-taka style of play was a joy to watch for all, consisting of one and two-touch passing with fluidity from all positions. The key to the success of this tactic was the false nine, which Lionel Messi operated. The false nine role sees strikers drop deeper into midfield to allow space for the wingers to exploit, all whilst linking up with the midfield. It is essentially a playmaking role, with the aim of getting on the ball and drawing a press from the opponent’s defence. If the opponents sit off and do not press, then the team has an advantage in the midfield. Another notable success story of the false nine is Roberto Firmino under Jurgen Klopp for Liverpool.

Poacher

Despite sharing many characteristics with traditional strikers, the poacher role remains a feasible option for managers globally. A poacher is a pure goal scorer who spends large parts of the game looking to get in behind the defence and end the move with clinical finishing. A poacher is not particularly involved in the build-up for the attackers as such, but is there to finish them when needed. Interestingly, Pep Guardiola has transferred from the false nine striker to the poacher role with Erling Haaland at Manchester City.

Shadow Striker

Shadow strikers are rare and require a high level of footballing IQ to execute. The shadow striker will take advantage of the space left behind the main striker, making runs into the space behind from deeper positions. Jude Bellingham is the prime example of a shadow striker, making late runs in behind with a large goal-scoring threat despite playing in a slightly deeper position.

Advanced Forward

The advanced forward in modern football is the most common striker variant, which is operated by most football teams. The advanced forward role expresses a unique amount of flexibility, allowing strikers to drift into wider areas to affect the play. The role shares similarities with the poacher, in terms of both staying high upfield and exploiting defensive gaps. Luis Suarez is the ultimate example of an advanced forward, combining his poacher-like finishing with his creativity to create from wide areas.