Football tactics are built on three key pillars: the positioning of players on the pitch, the team’s actions during attack or defence, and the execution of set pieces. While football is a game that thrives on improvisation, the coach’s instructions and the players’ tactical discipline often determine the outcome of matches. Set pieces, in particular, can be decisive—especially for weaker teams facing stronger opponents. A well-executed free kick or corner can be the only opportunity to score, and history is full of examples where coaches devised ingenious methods for exploiting such moments.
However, a team’s tactics rely not only on the coach but also on the players’ ability to execute them. For instance, Arrigo Sacchi’s pragmatic approach required players with exceptional physical fitness and a near-mathematical understanding of their movements. For his national team, he predominantly selected players already trained in this style, while others needed extensive preparation to meet his tactical demands.
History of the Development of Football Tactics
In the early years of organised football, tactics as we know them today were practically non-existent. Players largely relied on individual skill, moving the ball toward the opponent’s goal with teammates covering their backs. Much of early football was borrowed from rugby, which explains why forward passing was initially prohibited.
Goals were often scored by a single player driving the ball into the net—a style that would today be described as “kick and rush.” Even so, small glimpses of tactical thinking began to appear. Some coaches introduced rudimentary insurance: a player would follow behind the ball-carrier to recover possession if it was lost.
In 1866, the rules of football underwent revolutionary changes: forward passing was now allowed, but with restrictions. The offside rule emerged, requiring at least three opposing players (typically the goalkeeper and two defenders) between the ball and the receiving player. This was the beginning of organised tactical play—a development that, much like finding a lucky streak with a Staycasino, could completely change the outcome of the game.
The 1-2-7 Formation
With the new rules, forward passes became possible, but individual dribbling still dominated—particularly in British football. Scottish teams, however, began to experiment with passing football.
The First Tactical Scheme
In the 1870s, Queens Park in Scotland was one of the most influential football clubs. The club’s players formed the core of the national team and pioneered a passing-based style that took full advantage of the rule changes. This early approach was elegant and highly effective, though outside Glasgow, few had seen or adopted it.
Football tactics would continue to evolve rapidly in the decades that followed, giving rise to the classic formations and innovative systems that laid the foundation for modern football. From WM formations and Catenaccio to Total Football and Tiki-Taka, the game has been shaped by strategic minds and players capable of executing their visions. Today, understanding this evolution not only enriches the appreciation of football but also highlights how much the sport depends on both creativity and discipline.
Early Tactical Innovations
In 1872, the Scottish national team faced the English national team in the first official match between these nations. The British were considered clear favourites, being in excellent physical shape and including many skilled dribblers and runners. Yet the Scots did not chase their opponents. Instead, they displayed the same passing style pioneered by Queens Park.
During the first half, the English were shocked as Scotland dominated possession and played aggressively, though they failed to score. The second half was slightly more balanced, but no goals were scored, likely due to heavy rain. The 0-0 draw humbled the English, but it also sparked their appreciation for combination play, which soon spread across Europe.
At that time, formations were heavily forward-oriented. Some teams even used a 1-2-7 formation. The first truly organised tactic was likely the 2-3-5 formation, with three midfielders dropping into defence when necessary, creating a five-player defensive line. This formation dominated world football until the 1940s.
The WM Formation (‘Double V’)
In 1937, the Basque national team toured the USSR, facing leading Soviet clubs. Moscow’s Lokomotiv, playing the five-forward formation, lost 1-5. The Basques introduced a new tactic: the WM, or double V formation, marking a tactical revolution.
Herbert Chapman, Arsenal’s coach, adapted this system after changes to the offside rule, which now required only two defenders between the attacking player and goal. He moved the central midfielder back into defence, slightly retreated the inside forwards, and positioned two attacking midfielders just behind three forwards. This system strengthened defence while maintaining offensive options.
Hungarian Tactical Innovations
In the early 1950s, Hungary’s national team dominated Europe and the world. Their famous 6-3 victory over England in 1953 demonstrated tactical brilliance. Nándor Hidegkuti, nominally a centre forward, dropped deeper into the field, pulling defenders out of position and creating gaps for Hungarian forwards. Midfielder József Zakariás dropped into defence as a fourth defender, while full-backs pushed wide, surprising opponents with fluid positioning.
Catenaccio
Catenaccio, meaning “door bolt,” is a defensive system invented by Austrian coach Karl Rappan and later refined in Italy. The central figure is the sweeper, positioned behind four defenders. Nereo Rocco improved the system, and Helenio Herrera allowed the sweeper to participate in attack. Catenaccio was not purely defensive; it balanced solid defence with opportunistic offence.
Total Football
Dutch coach Rinus Michels created Total Football, first at Ajax, then Barcelona, and the Netherlands national team. Players rotated positions vertically, creating free zones and dynamic attacks. Johan Cruyff, formally a withdrawn forward, moved across almost the entire field. Total Football required versatile players skilled in both attack and defence, eliminating traditional man-to-man marking.
Tiki-Taka
Tiki-taka, best exemplified by Josep Guardiola’s Barcelona, focuses on constant ball possession and controlled passing. Quick counterattacks are limited, and attacks primarily originate from midfield. Players like Messi, Suarez, and Neymar were central to executing this system, allowing Barcelona to dominate both possession and tempo.
Mini-Football Tactics
2x2 Formation
The simplest mini-football formation, where each player covers their zone. It is energy-efficient and defensively compact but relies heavily on individual skill.
1-2-1 Formation
Also called the diamond formation: one defender, two midfielders, and a forward acting as a pivot. It allows versatile attacks but requires excellent coordination and understanding among players.
4-0 Formation
The most modern and popular mini-football tactic. It maximises attacking options and field control but requires highly versatile players and extensive practice.
Modern Tactical Formations in Big Football
4-4-2
The good old 4-4-2 formation, which, however, is losing popularity today. But it still has its strengths: playing with two forwards allows for quick attacks; when the wing midfielders join the attack, it gains width; the width of the attacks forces the opponent's defenders to leave gaps in their defence, which the forwards can run into with the ball. Of course, there are also weaknesses: playing with this formation is very predictable; the formation is clearly not very flexible; the small number of central midfielders weakens the team's position in the middle of the pitch. This formation is used by Atlético Madrid and Leicester City, and Milan achieved great success with it in the late 1990s.
4-3-3
The 4-3-3 formation was used quite successfully by José Mourinho at Chelsea. Many well-known clubs still use it today. It is a good formation, but it requires good players to implement it. The advantages of this formation are quite obvious: two wing forwards prevent the opponent from quickly conducting flank attacks; three midfielders in the centre of the pitch is a big advantage; the formation can be easily transformed into any other. Top-class teams such as Barcelona, Celta and Roma play using this formation.
4-2-3-1
Many teams play this way today, especially in the Premier League and Germany. A team that plays using the 4-2-3-1 formation almost always controls the centre of the pitch and easily transitions from defence to attack. However, this style of play requires a lot of physical effort from the players. Attacks should start from deep, which is not easy. PSG, Manchester United and Real Madrid play according to this scheme.
3-5-2
The 3-5-2 formation is particularly popular in Italy. Three central defenders provide solid defence with the support of central midfielders, while the wing players actively participate in the attack. A lot depends on the latter in this formation. After all, if they do not drop back in time, the opponent can simply destroy the team's defence from the flanks. Fiorentina and Palermo play successfully with this formation. The Dutch national team also performed quite well in 2014.
4-5-1
Teams that use the 4-5-1 tactic try to constantly control the ball and stay mainly on the defensive. And if the formation is transformed into 4-6-0, it is extremely difficult to overcome such a defence. However, this formation has one significant drawback: the lone striker is often cut off from the rest of the team when they are defending. It is also difficult to organise a quick counterattack with a primary focus on defence. Nevertheless, Sunderland uses this formation quite successfully. They concede very few goals, but they also score very few. But they do manage to pull off some impressive victories from time to time.
