The Lack of “Real Number 9” in Modern Football

Nowadays, football has evolved from the simple tactic to the more complex one. From “just give it to the striker” to “you should do passes and moves.” Modern football demands the player to start the progress of their tactic from goalkeepers, then gradually start passing the ball to the front. It made major changes in football which requires a player that is able to pass and move. It needs players to adapt to a new environment, which usually the duty for the player has been fixed. For example, center backs only protect the backline from the opposing attacker, midfielder only provides passes for the striker, and strikers only have to score goals. However, center backs now should be able to pass as midfielders. Midfielders are demanded to help center back and forwards which provides them passing options. Forwards should be able to go back and help midfielders. Furthermore, players should follow the rigid rules that their coach has given, even though it doesn't fit their particular play style. 

Real Number 9 is one of the central forward types in football that focuses on a central forward that has the ability of scoring goals. Ability that number 9 stands out more than the other type of strikers is his intuition in putting the ball into the goal no matter how small the opportunity is. With the evolution of football that emphasizes collective gameplay, false nine; a central forward that drops to the back in order to provide passing options, is more relevant to the kind of football gameplay. The other forward (wingers) also evolved into inside forwards which became another way of goal scoring rather than using Number 9.

There aren't many Real Number 9s left in modern football. Several players like Erling Haaland, Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic, Viktor Gyökeres, and Benjamin Šeško are some of the top strikers today. Their rarity makes these players highly valuable, often driving up their transfer prices. Because of this, many big clubs hesitate to spend huge amounts of money just for one position.

Modern defense stance also led to the extinction of Real Number 9. “Just give the ball to the central forward” tends to be easier to thwart because they will be marked by opposing center backs and prevent them from scoring goals. Furthermore, there is a pressing strategy that focuses on how to press the opponent which makes them uncomfortable holding the ball. Collective pressing strategy makes the ball very difficult to move with short passes and usually the ball will have been taken by the pressing team in the middle area before it reaches the front area.

But did the Real Number 9 role's complete lack of effectiveness ultimately cause it to vanish? Football continues to evolve, thus it's not impossible that Real Number 9 will resurface and transform into an effective approach. However, Real Number 9 might hold the key to the modern defensive strategy. In the penalty box, they are predators who are able to detect even the smallest opportunity. If a team has a strategy that is able to combine modern tactics with a real number 9, as what Manchester City and Erling Haaland did, they can develop into a very formidable and unstoppable squad in both attack and defense.