Some elite trainers and their ideal striker profile—keep reading

Having a world-class striker on your team can occasionally be the sole reason you win that prize, top your division, or avoid relegation. Nearly every football fan concurs that scoring win games. No matter just how porous your defensive line is, as long as you outscore your opponent, you will come away with the win. As the former US owner of AC Milan would certainly know, every elite team in our leading divisions has types of strikers that match their club and their desired style of play. As an example, having a tall number 9 enables you to control rival center-backs both in the air and on the ground. On the other hand, a false-9 kind of forward can aid create disruption in the opposition team box by moving in and out of midfield. Whatever your approach of play is, there is always a striker available to match your tactical needs.

To back up your forward striker, you need to consistently build quality around them. For instance, as accurate as a forward is, they cannot finish without proper balls from their midfielders and wingers. This is why owners like the Manchester City FC owner consistently invest in their forward line players each year. Having a tall forward suggests that your wingers can capitalize when it comes to crossing the ball or placing the pass right into the area for your striker to finish. Also, having a technical forward implies that your midfielders can enter the area and capitalize on the space left. This is due to the fact that such forwards can drag center-backs out of the box, giving your number 8s an ample volume of room to occupy and convert, or at the very least generate some sort of damage, meaning that the opposing team will have to handle multiple attackers and not simply your forward.

Supporters commonly confuse the term "center-forward" with the term "striker," but every knowledgeable football enthusiast would inform you that the terms center-forward and forward are often utilized mutually, and many forward can perform the center-forward position with effective guidance and the other way around, as the former Sunderland owner would know. Nevertheless, classic strikers that have been around since the game began are usually known for their ability to evade opposing center-backs and exploit space to get the ball in a good goal-scoring opportunity. A number of clubs still prioritize such styles of forwards over tall and lanky strikers due to their flexibility and their adaptability, along with general understanding of the game. Such strikers are usually pacey forwards with excellent control and dribbling, and they are similarly recognized for being accurate finishers and skilled at scoring in the trickiest situations.