Total Football: The Revolutionary Soccer Tactic That Changed the Game
If you are a soccer fan, you have probably heard of the term "total football". But what does it mean exactly? And how did it influence the history and evolution of the beautiful game? In this article, we will explore the origins, principles, advantages, disadvantages, and examples of total football, the revolutionary soccer tactic that changed the game forever.
total football
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What is Total Football?
Total football (Dutch: totaalvoetbal) is a tactical system in association football in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. This means that players are not restricted to fixed positions or roles, but can interchange and adapt to different situations on the pitch. For example, a defender can move forward to join the attack, while a midfielder or a forward can drop back to cover for him. This creates a fluid and dynamic style of play that can confuse and overwhelm the opponents.
The Origins of Total Football
The concept of total football is not new. In fact, some historians trace it back to the early 20th century, when teams like Hungary, Austria, and Scotland experimented with flexible formations and positional interchanges. However, the term "total football" was coined in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when it was popularized by the Dutch club Ajax and the Netherlands national team.
The Principles of Total Football
The main principles of total football are:
High technical ability: Players need to have excellent ball control, passing, dribbling, shooting, and vision skills to be able to play in different positions and situations.
High tactical intelligence: Players need to have a good understanding of the game, their teammates, and their opponents to be able to switch roles and exploit spaces on the pitch.
High physical fitness: Players need to have high stamina, speed, agility, and strength to be able to run, press, and recover throughout the game.
High teamwork and communication: Players need to have a strong sense of collective responsibility, trust, and coordination to be able to work together as a unit and support each other on the pitch.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Total Football
The advantages of total football are:
It creates unpredictability and creativity in attack, as players can create numerical superiority, overload zones, and surprise movements.
It creates stability and solidarity in defense, as players can cover for each other, press as a team, and maintain a compact shape.
It creates versatility and adaptability in transition, as players can switch from defense to attack and vice versa quickly and smoothly.
The disadvantages of total football are:
What is total football? Famous tactics explained
Total football and its influence on modern soccer
How to play total football in FIFA 23
The best total football teams of all time
Total football vs tiki-taka: which is better?
The legacy of Johan Cruyff and total football
Total football drills and exercises for coaches
How Pep Guardiola adapted total football to Manchester City
The rise and fall of total football in the Netherlands
Total football formations and strategies for beginners
How Ajax revolutionized total football in the 1970s
Total football and the philosophy of Rinus Michels
The benefits and drawbacks of total football
How to defend against total football teams
Total football and its impact on player development
The future of total football in the 21st century
Total football and the role of the goalkeeper
How Liverpool used total football to win the Champions League
Total football and the evolution of the false nine
The similarities and differences between total football and Gegenpressing
How to train your team to play total football
The history and origins of total football
Total football and the importance of positional interchangeability
How Barcelona mastered total football under Pep Guardiola
Total football and the art of pressing and counterpressing
How to analyze total football teams using data and statistics
Total football and the characteristics of the ideal player
How Arsenal implemented total football under Arsene Wenger
Total football and the influence of Dutch culture and society
How to beat total football teams using direct play and long balls
Total football and the role of creativity and improvisation
How Bayern Munich adopted total football under Hansi Flick
Total football and the challenges of squad rotation and injury prevention
How to create a total football culture in your club or academy
Total football and the use of technology and innovation
How Leeds United applied total football in the Premier League
Total football and the ethical dilemmas of playing style and identity
How to scout and recruit players for a total football system
Total football and the psychological aspects of motivation and teamwork
How Borussia Dortmund challenged total football with their high-intensity style
Total football and the relevance of formations and tactics in modern soccer
How Real Madrid countered total football with their star-studded team
Total football and the role of leadership and communication on the pitch
How to develop a total football mindset in your players
Total football and the social and political implications of playing philosophy
How Atalanta surprised Europe with their total football approach
Total football and the comparison with other sports and disciplines
How to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of total football teams
Total Football: A Complete Guide for Players, Coaches, and Fans (book title)
It requires a high level of skill, intelligence, fitness, teamwork, and communication from all players, which is hard to find and develop.
It requires a high level of discipline, concentration, and organization from all players, which is hard to maintain throughout the game.
It requires a high level of risk-taking, experimentation, and innovation from all players, which can lead to mistakes and failures.
How Total Football Was Implemented by Famous Teams and Players
Total football has been implemented by several famous teams and players over the years, who have added their own variations and interpretations to the original idea. Here are some of the most notable examples:
Ajax: The Birthplace of Total Football
Ajax is widely regarded as the birthplace of total football, as it was the club where the tactic was first developed and perfected in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under the guidance of coach Rinus Michels and the leadership of star player Johan Cruyff, Ajax dominated both domestic and European football, winning eight Eredivisie titles, five KNVB Cups, three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup in a span of nine years. Ajax's style of play was based on high pressing, high tempo, high possession, and high movement, with players constantly interchanging positions and roles on the pitch. Ajax's total football was not only successful, but also beautiful and entertaining to watch.
Johan Cruyff: The Master of Total Football
Johan Cruyff is widely regarded as the master of total football, as he was the player who embodied and exemplified the tactic the most. Cruyff was a versatile and intelligent player who could play in any position on the pitch, but he was most effective as a forward or an attacking midfielder. He had exceptional technical skills, such as ball control, passing, dribbling, shooting, and vision. He also had exceptional tactical skills, such as spatial awareness, decision making, creativity, and leadership. He was the focal point of Ajax's and Netherlands' attacks, orchestrating and executing plays with flair and elegance. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
Rinus Michels: The Architect of Total Football
Rinus Michels is widely regarded as the architect of total football, as he was the coach who invented and implemented the tactic at Ajax and later at Netherlands. Michels was a visionary and innovative coach who revolutionized the game with his ideas and methods. He believed that soccer was a team sport that required collective effort, discipline, and organization. He also believed that soccer was a dynamic sport that required flexibility, adaptability, and improvisation. He trained his players to be technically proficient, tactically intelligent, physically fit, and mentally strong. He also trained his players to be versatile and interchangeable, able to play in any position or role on the pitch. He is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Netherlands: The Nearly Men of Total Football
Netherlands is widely regarded as the nearly men of total football, as it was the national team that came closest to winning the World Cup with the tactic in 1974 and 1978, but fell short both times. Led by Michels and Cruyff, Netherlands dazzled the world with their attractive and dominant style of play, earning them the nickname "Clockwork Orange". They reached the final in both tournaments, but lost to West Germany in 1974 (2-1) and to Argentina in 1978 (3-1 after extra time). Despite their failures, Netherlands left a lasting impression on the soccer world with their total football.
The 1974 World Cup: The Peak of Total Football
The 1974 World Cup in West Germany was the peak of total football for Netherlands, as they showcased their best performances in the tournament. They won all their group games against Uruguay (2-0), Bulgaria (4-1), and Sweden (0-0), scoring six goals and conceding none. They then advanced to the second group stage, where they faced Brazil (2-0), Argentina (4-0), and East Germany (2-0), scoring eight goals and conceding none. They reached the final against hosts West Germany, where they took an early lead with a penalty kick by Johan Neeskens in the second minute. However, they failed to capitalize on their advantage and allowed West Germany to equalize with a penalty kick by Paul Breitner in the 25th minute and to take the lead with a goal by Gerd Müller in the 43rd minute. Netherlands tried to fight back in the second half, but could not find a way past West Germany's defense and goalkeeper Sepp Maier. The final whistle blew with West Germany winning 2-1 and lifting their second World Cup trophy.
The 1978 World Cup: The End of an Era
The 1978 World Cup in Argentina was the end of an era for Netherlands' total football, as they failed to repeat their success of four years earlier. They were without their star player Johan Cruyff, who had retired from international soccer in 1977. They also had a different coach, Ernst Happel, who was more pragmatic and less adventurous than Rinus Michels. They still managed to reach the final, but only after a controversial second group stage, where they faced Italy (2-1), West Germany (2-2), and Austria (5-1). They benefited from a dubious goal by Arie Haan against Italy and a controversial offside call against West Germany. They faced hosts Argentina in the final, where they held them to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, with goals by Mario Kempes for Argentina and Dick Nanninga for Netherlands. However, they succumbed to Argentina's pressure and crowd in extra time, conceding two more goals by Kempes and Daniel Bertoni. The final whistle blew with Argentina winning 3-1 and lifting their first World Cup trophy.
Other Teams That Adopted Total Football
Total football has been adopted by other teams over the years, who have modified and adapted the tactic to suit their own players and philosophies. Here are some of the most notable examples:
Barcelona: The Legacy of Cruyff and Guardiola
Barcelona is widely regarded as the team that inherited the legacy of total football from Ajax and Netherlands, thanks to the influence of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola. Cruyff was the coach of Barcelona from 1988 to 1996, where he implemented his vision of total football with a team that became known as the "Dream Team". He won four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, one European Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup with Barcelona. He also promoted the youth academy of Barcelona, known as La Masia, where he nurtured players like Pep Guardiola, who would later become his successor. Guardiola was the coach of Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, where he perfected his version of total football with a team that became known as the "Tiki-Taka". He won three La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey, two UEFA Champions League, two UEFA Super Cup, and two FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona. He also relied on La Masia graduates like Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and Gerard Pique, who formed the core of his team. Barcelona's style of play was based on high possession, high passing, high pressing, and high movement, with players constantly interchanging positions and roles on the pitch. Barcelona's total football was not only successful, but also beautiful and entertaining to watch.
Arsenal: The Invincibles of Wenger
Arsenal is widely regarded as the team that adopted total football in the English Premier League, thanks to the influence of Arsene Wenger. Wenger was the coach of Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, where he transformed the club into one of the most successful and attractive teams in England. He won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and seven FA Community Shields with Arsenal. He also reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and the UEFA Europa League in 2019. His most remarkable achievement was in the 2003-04 season, when he led Arsenal to an unbeaten run in the Premier League, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles". Wenger's style of play was based on high technical ability, high tactical intelligence, high physical fitness, and high teamwork and communication, with players displaying skill, flair, speed, and creativity on the pitch. Arsenal's total football was not only successful, but also admired and respected by many.
Bayern Munich: The Dominance of Heynckes and Flick
Bayern Munich is widely regarded as the team that adopted total football in the German Bundesliga, thanks to the influence of Jupp Heynckes and Hansi Flick. Heynckes was the coach of Bayern Munich from 2011 to 2013, where he led the club to a historic treble of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League in the 2012-13 season. He also reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2012, where he lost to Chelsea on penalties. Flick was the coach of Bayern Munich from 2019 to 2021, where he also led the club to a historic sextuple of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and DFL-Supercup in the 2019-20 season. He also won another Bundesliga title in the 2020-21 season. Heynckes' and Flick's style of play was based on high pressing, high tempo, high possession, and high movement, with players displaying power, precision, efficiency, and versatility on the pitch. Bayern Munich's total football was not only successful, but also dominant and formidable by many.
Conclusion
Total football is a revolutionary soccer tactic that changed the game forever. It is a tactical system in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team, creating a fluid and dynamic style of play that can confuse and overwhelm the opponents. It was popularized by Ajax and Netherlands in the late 1960s and early 1970s, under the guidance of Rinus Michels and the leadership of Johan Cruyff. It was also implemented by other famous teams and players over the years, such as Barcelona, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, and Lionel Messi. Total football has many advantages, such as unpredictability, creativity, stability, solidarity, versatility, and adaptability. It also has many disadvantages, such as difficulty, complexity, riskiness, and vulnerability. Total football is not only a tactic, but also a philosophy and a culture that reflects the beauty and evolution of the beautiful game.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about total football:
Q: Who invented total football?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as the concept of total football has been influenced by various teams and coaches over the years. However, the term "total football" was coined in the late 1960s and early 1970s by Rinus Michels, who is widely regarded as the architect of total football.
Q: Who is the best player of total football?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different players have different styles and attributes that suit total football. However, Johan Cruyff is widely regarded as the master of total football, as he was the player who embodied and exemplified the tactic the most. He was a versatile and intelligent player who could play in any position on the pitch, but he was most effective as a forward or an attacking midfielder. He had exceptional technical and tactical skills, and he was the focal point of Ajax's and Netherlands' attacks.
Q: Which team plays total football today?
A: There is no definitive answer to this question either, as different teams have different variations and interpretations of total football today. However, some of the teams that are known for playing total football or being influenced by it are Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Ajax.
Q: What are the benefits of total football?
A: The benefits of total football are that it creates unpredictability and creativity in attack, stability and solidarity in defense, and versatility and adaptability in transition. It also reflects a philosophy and a culture of collective effort, discipline, organization, flexibility, adaptability, and improvisation.
Q: What are the drawbacks of total football?
A: The drawbacks of total football are that it requires a high level of skill, intelligence, fitness, teamwork, and communication from all players, which is hard to find and develop. It also requires a high level of discipline, concentration, and organization from all players, which is hard to maintain throughout the game. It also requires a high level of risk-taking, experimentation, and innovation from all players, which can lead to mistakes and failures.
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