ADVANCED PLAYMAKER

A midfielder who is the most advanced in a midfield trio which usually features a single pivot or destroyer (downwards facing triangle). They are a key presence within the midfield battle for possession and will not shirk defensive responsibility in terms of helping the team keep its shape. They will be expected to chip in with key goals, but their main currency is assists. They are expected to dictate the tempo in the manner of a regista but with more emphasis on locating colleagues in between or behind enemy lines and may choose to patrol a particular side of the pitch... rarely are they seen roaming across the pitch, free of positional restrictions. Their ball-carrying ability is usually very strong, though they tend to lack pace and they possess a peerless ability to give teammates an option. They would usually struggle if asked to operate as a trequartista and play with back to goal. A prominent example would be Andres Iniesta.

TREQUARTISTA

There are various latin terms used to describe varying types of #10's but we have chosen to give the traditional number 10 the most widely known term... the 'Trequartista'. Players who fall into this category are usually the most talented player in the team and given free licence to wreak havoc on the opposition, with emphasis purely on assists and goals. There is a significant degree of playmaking but it is restricted to the final third or quarter only and they will expect the midfield to do the hard running and feed them with possession, rather than work hard to help the side dominate possession. A trequartista can still be extremely influential in a team which is struggling for possession, which differentiates such a player to the Advanced Playmaker. Trequartista's usually have eyes in the back of their heads and have no issues with receiving the ball with their back to goal, which can help relieve pressure off the centre forward. They're also more explosive and unpredictable in small spaces than any of the other attacking midfielder types which makes them dangerous in and around the box. Prominent examples include Maradona and Zico.

ATTACKING '8'

Very similar in terms of positioning to the Advanced Playmaker with the difference being the attacking 8 is not particularly refined in possession, nor do they share the same desire to 'control' the game. Their primary concern is with 'impacting' the game and therefore despite their deeper-lying positioning, they tend to rival the Trequartista in terms of effectiveness in the final third by virtue of their insatiable lust for getting goals and assists. Attacking 8's usually possess a strong engine, which enables them to continuously make dangerous late runs into the box and possess a powerful shot from distance. Other characteristics include decent positioning defensively which allows their team to hold shape well out of possession and a wide range of passing. Modern day examples would include Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

WIDE PLAYMAKER

In terms of responsibilities and attributes, they would be very similar to an Advanced Playmaker/Trequartista hybrid. The only difference is whilst an advanced playmaker is very much key in the midfield battle and found more centrally albeit with a tendency to roam down a side of the pitch... a Wide Playmaker likes to start from a wide position and work their way into the centre of the pitch, elusively using their enigmatic movement to take control of the game in the final third. Ronaldinho and Luis Figo whilst having playmaking attributes tended to hold their positions out wide so do not fit this category. Prominent examples include Zinedine Zidane and in the modern game, players such as David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne (when they're deployed from wider starting berths).