Three of the last five Champions League winners did not have a true number nine in their starting line-up.
If you’ve read Jonathan Wilson's book Revolutions on the Pitch, which thoroughly explores the evolution of football tactics, then you’re likely familiar with the trend of major tactical shifts every 15–20 years—or sometimes even less.
It seems that we are now living through a period that could either become the next chapter in the book or even the focus of a separate section in the future. This is largely because several traditional positions have disappeared from modern football, while a few others are on the verge of vanishing.
Even as fans closely follow these tactical developments, many also engage with other forms of online entertainment during downtime, such as exploring Richard Casino. With a rich library of slots, frequent bonuses for both new and regular players, and quick, reliable Richard Casino withdrawal, it has become a popular way to stay entertained alongside the drama unfolding on the pitch.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these fascinating cases.
Positions That Have Already Disappeared
Libero
The oldest role on this list, yet still familiar to many—for instance, it remains selectable in the Football Manager simulator. Broadly speaking, the libero was a defender who:
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When defending without the ball, positioned themselves behind everyone else, providing an extra layer of security.
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When in possession, was responsible for initiating and accelerating attacks from a deep position.
Franz Beckenbauer is often regarded as the iconic figure of this ‘free defender’ role. However, he was not its inventor; the German simply perfected the position during the peak of his career, primarily through his influence on attacks and his ball-playing ability rather than purely through defensive work.
“When I was a child, Beckenbauer was the first foreign footballer’s name I ever heard. Whenever someone tried to play the ball from their own goal, everyone shouted, ‘Look, he thinks he’s Beckenbauer,’” Jamie Carragher once recalled.
Football historians point to two main reasons why the libero disappeared in the 1990s.
The first was the change in the offside rule. In 1990, attacking players were allowed to be on the same line as the last defender (previously, they had to be ahead of the last opponent), and in 2003, the concept of ‘active influence’ on an offside situation was introduced, even if the player did not touch the ball. This gave attackers more freedom and made the libero almost redundant.
The second reason was Arrigo Sacchi and his AC Milan team of the late 1980s. The legendary Italian coach showed that football could be played—and defended—in a completely new way. He abandoned the libero, instead introducing a line defence, zonal marking, the offside trap, and a high-press system.
“Sacchi changed everything. He abolished the libero, forming a very high line of three or four defenders, perfectly coordinated for zonal defence and offside control. This blocked opponents’ shots and forced them away from the goal,” explained Klaus Augenthaler, former German international.
Modern centre-backs share very few similarities with the original libero. Analysts sometimes draw comparisons with David Luiz, but even he was only a distant echo of the role.
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Most prominent historical representatives: Franz Beckenbauer, Franco Baresi, Matthias Sammer
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Recent prominent representatives: Laurent Blanc, partially Lucio
Pure ‘number 10’
The disappearance of the pure ‘number 10’ is more recent than that of the libero, and some might argue that isolated cases still exist today. However, the original idea of the ‘number 10’ was to differentiate them from other midfielders—their role was almost entirely attacking, with little defensive responsibility.
This is largely why the position has faded. Modern football demands that even forwards and wingers contribute defensively, and centre-backs are now expected to play with the ball as well. Free roles have almost vanished. Juan Riquelme, one of the most iconic ‘number 10s’, spoke openly about this in interviews:
“I am angry with modern football. I would not make the team today! I don’t know where they would put me in their 4-3-3 formation. I don’t play to run. I play to make the ball run.”
By 2025, the emphasis is on versatile central players who can perform multiple functions, rather than specialising purely in attack. Lionel Messi has also commented on the change, referencing Riquelme’s style:
“Today we see very few number 10s. Teams play 4-3-3, there’s no room for that.”
The closest modern equivalents are Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Paulo Dybala, and Martin Ødegaard, though each of them contributes significantly in defensive and transitional phases, unlike the original number 10.
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Most prominent historical representatives: Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane, Juan Riquelme
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Recent prominent representatives: Mesut Özil, James Rodríguez, Kaká
‘British’ wing midfielders
These players had little in common with the modern concept of a ‘winger’, even if they were right-footed on the right flank or left-footed on the left. Footedness was one factor, but far from the only one.
Firstly, today’s wingers are far more attack-minded than the traditional wing midfielders in a 4-4-2 formation. Back then, the two central forwards carried almost all the attacking responsibility. Secondly, players who could deliver accurate crosses into the box from 40 metres or more were highly valued. David Beckham is a well-known example, though not a perfect one.
Thirdly, modern football often features inverted wingers—left-footed players on the right, right-footed on the left. This change allows them to cut inside onto their stronger foot, while opening space on the flank for full-backs to advance and deliver crosses themselves.
“I would call them wing forwards rather than midfielders. These guys now operate on the opponent’s last line of defence, constantly making runs behind defenders. In our day, everything was simpler,” reflected Gary Neville.
The ‘British’ label comes from England and the Premier League, which produced the majority of these players: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, Antonio Valencia, Damien Duff. The role’s decline can be illustrated through the evolution of Arjen Robben. Known as the ideal inverted right winger, Robben started his career at PSV as a traditional British-style midfielder in the 2000s. Ryan Giggs also adapted to the modern game, shifting away from his early role.
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Most prominent historical representatives: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, early Ryan Giggs, David Beckham (to some extent)
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Recent prominent representatives: Jesús Navas, Florent Malouda
Positions That Are Gradually Disappearing
Traditional Defensive Full-Backs
This topic links closely to the previous one. With modern inverted wingers taking up space on the flanks, full-backs are now expected to contribute effectively to attacks.
At the elite level, it is rare to see a full-back whose only role is to defend and mark an opponent 1v1. This may still happen in mid-table or lower-tier teams, but top sides demand much more. Coaches are pushing the role even further, giving rise to players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Grimaldo, and Denzel Dumfries.
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Most prominent historical representatives: Paolo Maldini, Gary Neville, Eric Abidal, Javier Zanetti
Second Forward in 4-4-2
Today, 4-4-2 is mostly used for defensive organisation or pressing. While some teams still use two forwards, it is rare to see two pure number nines in attack. Often, one forward is a midfielder or winger moving upfield.
At the top level, only a few clubs still employ this approach. Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan is a prime example, with Lautaro Martínez pairing with Marcus Thuram or Romelu Lukaku. The second striker typically drops deeper to create space for the partner. In the past, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and Karim Benzema (under Zidane’s 4-3-1-2) performed similar roles.
This tactic is becoming less common. Diego Simeone rarely uses two pure strikers, preferring versatile players like Antoine Griezmann or Julián Álvarez. Another recent example is Leicester City with Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
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Most prominent historical representatives: Henri-Trezeguet (France), Ronaldo-Rivaldo (Brazil), Yorke-Cole, Van Nistelrooy-Solskjaer (Manchester United), Villa-Costa (Atlético Madrid)
A Defensive Midfielder Without Quality Ball Skills
In other words, a pure destroyer who focuses solely on breaking up play. Modern football demands that even defensive midfielders, or ‘sixes’, have strong technical skills. Only N’Golo Kanté in recent years comes close to evoking the classic type, though it would be unfair to call him limited, given his other contributions.
The role has evolved so much that Pep Guardiola, who pioneered transforming defensive midfielders into deep-lying playmakers in the early 2010s, now sometimes curbs excessive movement. Speaking about Rodri, he said:
“He is an incredible player, undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in modern football. The pace he sets and his character in tough moments are outstanding. He moves into the box, turns back, and makes both long and short passes. But last season he moved too much. A defensive midfielder should stay in position. It’s like driving a car and moving to the back seat—you could crash. The driver has to stay in front.”
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Most prominent historical representatives: Claude Makélélé, Gennaro Gattuso, Nigel de Jong
Goalkeeper without quality footwork
A goalkeeper who cannot play well with their feet may still find a place at average or weaker clubs, but has almost no chance of joining a top team. Today, the goalkeeper is effectively the 11th field player during the ball phase.
“You have to be a full part of the team’s attacking structure,” explained Manuel Neuer. “The ability to play with your feet, pass accurately, and make the right decisions under pressure is crucial. A goalkeeper sometimes has to think like a midfielder. They even need to step out beyond the penalty area, playing a role similar to a libero.”
Top coaches fully agree. Pep Guardiola said:
“The role of the goalkeeper has completely changed. Now it’s not just about saving goals—the keeper is the first player in attack. You need someone who can play with their feet, receive the ball under pressure, and maintain possession. Look at Ederson—his long passes and composure give us a big advantage.”
Jürgen Klopp added:
“Today, the goalkeeper is often the starting point for every attack. He has to stay calm and confident when the opponent is pressing. If a goalkeeper can’t play well with his feet, that’s a weakness that will be exploited.”
The days when keepers constantly shouted for defenders to clear the ball far upfield are long gone.
Bonus: Pure Striker / Penalty Area Forward
This was the main reason for writing this article. Three of the last five Champions League winners did not start with a pure number nine.
At Chelsea in 2020/21, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz rotated in attack, neither fitting the traditional striker role. PSG’s current season featured Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, and Doue/Barkola-Usman upfront—again, far from typical forwards.
Real Madrid last season was more interesting. Many would point to Joselu as the real number nine, and indeed he scored twice against Bayern in the semi-final after coming on as a substitute. However, in other playoff matches, Madrid managed without him. Vinicius and Rodrigo started, and Joselu only played 40 minutes across six games.
This raises a controversial question: are pure number nines disappearing?
Arguments in favour:
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Top-level strikers of this type are increasingly rare.
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Some teams succeed without them—for example, Liverpool won the Premier League even though their only nominal striker, Nunez, started just nine games and scored five goals.
Arguments against:
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Top clubs still search for strikers every transfer window, citing their absence as a key issue. Summer 2025 was no exception, with Arsenal looking for a forward. Mikel Arteta is being careful, as he wants a player who will actively participate in build-up play, not just wait in the box like a traditional number nine.
In conclusion, it seems that number nines are gradually disappearing—but primarily those limited to the penalty area. Modern football demands more versatile attackers who contribute in multiple phases of play.
