The attacking midfielder position in football may be more commonly referred to as the No. 10 position. It is a position that links the midfield with the forwards, creating goalscoring opportunities for the front men/women.

One of the all-time greats, Diego Maradona, was the prototypical No. 10 and the person many players have attempted to replicate.

Understanding the attacking midfielder position

The attacking midfielder is the maestro who dictates the play of the team behind the strikers. No. 10s create scoring chances for the attackers and brings attacking players into play. There is nothing better than seeing an attacking midfielder produce a defence-cutting pass in the final third.

Attacking midfielders are well-known for their ball control and technique. In addition, attacking midfielders will be responsible for their teams’ creativity. If a team struggles to score goals, the pressure can fall on their shoulders as well as the blame for a lack of goals being created.

If you play in the attacking midfielder position, you won’t just be responsible for passing the ball and creating chances. You will need to be adept at shooting, possibly from long range. Of course, most attacking midfielders will wear the No. 10 shirt.

Famous attacking midfielders include:

• Maradona
• Messi
• Pele
• Zidane
• Ronaldinho

The attacking midfielder position has evolved over time. They may play more advanced and closer to a striker position. Some may be pushed wide and drift inside to create goals or shoot.

Premier League fans were treated to Spaniard Cesc Fabregas for many years. The attacking midfielder is second all-time in the Premier League in assists with 111. Fabregas played with Arsenal and Chelsea in the league. In between playing with the two English clubs, Fabregas starred for Barcelona and now plays for Monaco. His cutting pass enable his teams to score goals and succeed in the division.