What does MP mean in soccer?

In the world of sports, there are many tactics and formations for optimal team performance. In the early days of soccer, positions used to be very static and fixed. Now, with the evolution of various coaches, the roles are evolving and there are certainly modern positions. Such is the case of the playmaker or attacking midfielder, who operates in many ways on the field.

A playmaker is an attacking midfielder who operates in the spaces between the midfield and the forward line. He usually receives the ball between the midfield and the opponent's defense, an area often referred to as "between the lines".

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The classic playmaker used to wear the number 10, which is why in some places, such as the United Kingdom, he is called by that number. In Argentina, meanwhile, he is called enganche, to describe his importance in the connection between the midfield and the attack. When teams began to move from the 4-3-3-3 of the 1970s to the 4-3-1-2 or 4-4-2 diamond formation of the 1980s, the enganche became even more important.

The classic playmaker had few defensive responsibilities, often playing a free role. When his team was defending, he would look for space to receive a pass and launch a counterattack. While the rest of the midfield was fighting to regain possession and defending the central areas, the playmaker was thinking about how to take advantage of the situation when his team had the ball.

What are the advantages of playing with a playmaker?

Playing with a playmaker makes it more likely that a team will access the space between the lines. When this happens, a team is more likely to create chances. This is particularly true against teams that are organized with two horizontal defensive lines, such as in the 4-4-2.

Some of the great midfielders in recent soccer history include Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Bruno Fernandes and Paulo Dybala. All of them, skillful dribblers, with great lucidity in tight spaces and with the facility to filter balls between spaces for the forwards and wingers of the team.Two of the midfielders with the greatest representation of this in all history were Diego Maradona with Napoli and Ricardo Kaka with AC Milan.