Well Well Well.
Look what we have here. A dedicated place for me to talk about my favorite thing, The Beautiful Game.
Welcome to La Joga Bonito. This is simply going to be a place where I can share my findings, things I may find interesting, or whatever else I may come up with as a student of this sport that I have truly come to love. You may see me talk about tactics, players I find interesting or coaches whose styles I admire. So, my friends, sit back, relax and lets get nitty gritty, as we discuss Total Football.
Total Football, or if you are Dutch, totaalvoetbal is a style of tactics that takes emphasis on fluidity among the outfield players, and correctly utilizing space. The only player who was expected to remain in his position for the duration of the match was the Goalkeeper.
History
It is widely debated by Football writers as to the origins of Total Football, however most claim that it was originated by the Austrian National Team of the 1930’s, managed by Matthias Sindelar. The “Wunderteam” as they were known played a style of football that was considered to be ahead of their time. They would move the ball around the pitch very quickly, and emphasize on maintaining fluidity and high posession.
One of the most famous practicioners of Total Football is Dutch Manager Rinus Michels, whose resume includes multiple stops with Ajax(2x), The Netherlands National Team(4x), Barcelona(2x), and various stops in Germany and The United States.
It was during his managerial spell from 1965-1971 that Michels had first come into contact with Johan Cruyff. Michels had pretty quickly realized that Cruyff was different, both as a player and as a person. An article from the website breakingthelines.com describes Cruyff by saying, “He wasn’t only a special player, but a special person as well. He was a rebel who wanted to express his own ideas, who turned up late to training and smoked at halftime, but he soon became the heartbeat of the Ajax first team. In 1965, Rinus Michels took the reins at Ajax, and Cruyff was immediately placed in the starting eleven.” (Link to Article)
Cruyff quickly established himself as the “conductor” of Michels orchestras, and quickly inserted himself directly into the total football revolution. Michels really wanted his players to be fluid, and creative in their ball movement, controlling possesion and allowing for players to create space to allow for the ball to transition freely. When Cruyff turned from the pitch to the touchline, he continued to implement the teachings that his mentor had impressed on him during his playing days. His protege during his time with FC Barcelona, was none other than Josep “Pep” Guardiola, who is widely considered to be the greatest manager of modern day.
How it Works
The thing about Total Football that has allowed for it to be widely favored among coaches to this day is it’s fluidity, high possesion, and utilization of space.
Fluidity- in an episode of the hit Apple TV Show, “Ted Lasso” Coach Beard makes a presentation to the players of AFC Richmond, as they choose to implement Total Football. Coach Beard says, “Total Football is about constant movement. Players are no longer in set positions. Defenders are free to Attack. Attackers are trusted to defend. It’s about taking risks, and supporting each others choices.” Because fluidity is key in Total Football, it creates chaos from an opponents standpoint, constantly forcing them to modify their defensive shapes.
High Possesion and Utilization of Space - In order for it to work most effectively, the players must be very technically adept. If they are technically adept, they can work to create attacking opportunities.
Common Formations- Most commonly, Total Football is played in a 4-3-3, which can transition into a 3-4-3, allowing for a libero playing defender to step into midfield, thus leaving those left on the backline to start creating attacking opportunities deeper in their own half.
Struggles- Total Football is incredibly demanding. Athletes who play in the Total Football system are required to be in peak performance because of the physical demands that the system requires. Moving the ball up and down the pitch constantly, and changing positions places a lot of stress on the human body.
Practitioners of Total Football
Pep Guardiola was the brainchild of Johan Cruyff, and during his time at Barcelona became incredibly comfortable playing in his system. When he decided to transition from the pitch to the touchline, he took Cruyff’s tactics and gave them some Spanish flair, thus birthing Tiki-Taka. Like his mentor, Guardiola employed a high-defensive line, and used his midfielders to bait opposing sides into offside positions. Unlike Cruyff, who preferred to keep the ball moving, Guardiola’s sides preferred patient, methodical ball movement. Defenders would be very methodical in their passing options to move the ball upfield, and because shapes would constantly be changing, midfielders would rely on verticality to move the ball into the final third of the pitch. Guardiola’s Maestro in the front was none other than Argentine, Lionel Messi. Guardiola allowed for complete freedom in the final third of the pitch, allowing for the Argentine wonder to create many attacking opportunities.
Another interesting coach who employs the Total Football structure can be found in current Columbus Crew gaffer, Wilfried Nancy. Nancy employed a system of total football that brought Columbus’s opponents out of their shells, and exposed their mistakes. Nancy emphasizes the point of connectivity and fluidness among his players, and using wide areas of the pitch to create opportunities for attack.
(image credit of Total Football Analysis Magazine)
This image from Columbus’s recent MLS cup victory emphasizes how Total Football creates opportunities for teams to move the ball freely, create attacking chances, and exploit opponent weaknesses in order to capitalize on every opportunity possible. They did this by overloading LAFC in both halves of the pitch, and using space effectively.
I was recently able to attend a Q&A session with one of the most successful head coaches in MLS history. He said something along the lines of “Soccer is like Chess.” We as coaches and analysts spend time trying to break down the teams that we face, and in my opinion employing a total football-esque system allows us to put our opposition in checkmate. The whole goal of football is exploiting and capitalizing on the weaknesses of our opponents, and using them to our own advantages. In its essence, Total Football is art. It empowers players to be free, and allows for iconic moments to take place on the pitch.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little writeup I’ve done on total football. I will try to write on here regularly, and as always I look for any feedback you may have!
-LO