How Football Tactics Have Changed Over the Years

Last updated on: June 22, 2025

Football is no longer a game where players simply chase the ball around the pitch. Let’s be real here – it hasn’t been tactics-free since the early 1900s, but now, tactics play a huge role in how teams perform, win games, and even tournaments. You can have world-class players on every position and still lose games if your tactic is bad, and contrary, a good coach and tactic can win games and trophies even without spending billions on players.

The way coaches think about the game, how they set their teams up, and how players move on the field has changed massively over the decades. Here, we’ll look at some of the biggest shifts in football tactics in history, see how they influenced football, and some of the most famous tactics today.

The Football Tactics In The Early to Mid 20th Century

In football’s early years, formations were basic, often just about putting as many players as possible near the goal or in attack. The 2-3-5 “Pyramid” formation dominated the early 20th century. Like roulette strategy systems found on Roulette Guru that require doubling up after you lose a bet, many of these football tactics were about outnumbering opponents in attack, with two defenders, three midfielders, and five forwards. Back then, football was a relatively straightforward game of chasing and shooting.

Change in Tactics After WWII

Things really started to change after World War II. Coaches began to realise the importance of defence and midfield control. The famous “WM” formation, invented by Herbert Chapman of Arsenal, was widely used because it offered more balance between defence and attack. Teams could now organise better, close down opponents, and launch attacks more carefully.

As football evolved, so did formations. The 4-4-2 became the most popular choice in the late 20th century. It was invented by Soviet coach Viktor Maslov in the 1960s, when he adapted the already popular 4-2-4 system. The idea was to give teams a solid defence with four defenders, and then use 4 midfielders who could both attack and defend. Although it seems simple now, it was considered a complex system back in the day, and many European teams switched to it over time.

The Rise of Pressing and Possession Football

The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw big tactical changes, especially with pressing and possession football. Teams like Arrigo Sacchi’s AC Milan in the late 1980s started using very intense pressing to win the ball high up the pitch, which opens up an opportunity for quick goal scoring, but requires a lot of stamina from the players. This was a major shift from sitting back and waiting for opponents to make mistakes.

Pressing means players (both attackers, midfielders, and defenders) to work together to quickly close down the opposition when they have the ball. This style demands lots of energy and teamwork, and the idea is to force errors and create chances from turnovers, rather than just waiting for the ball to come back and create a positioned attack.

Alongside pressing came possession-based football. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, starting around 2008, showed how keeping the ball and controlling the game can dominate opponents. It became known as “tiki-taka”, and this style focuses on short passes, movement, and patience. Although many believe that it was Guardiola who invented tiki-taka, however, it was first used by former Athletic Bilbao coach Javier Clemente. Here’s a list of the most popular football tactics from the 1900s to date:

• 2-3-5 Pyramid
• WM Formation
• 4-4-2 Formation
• High Pressing
• Possession Football
• False Nine
• Attacking Full-Backs
• Flexible Formations

Flexibility and Data-based Tactics in Modern Football

Today’s football tactics are incredibly detailed and flexible. Coaches no longer stick to one rigid formation but adjust the shape and formation depending on the opponent or match situation. So, it’s safe to say that no modern team sticks to one tactic or formation – especially big clubs. They often switch between different systems even during a game.

For example, one of the biggest trends now is playing with a “false nine,” which is a forward who drops deep to confuse defenders and create space for teammates. This role was made famous by Lionel Messi at Barcelona, and many teams have copied the idea since. For example, Liverpool often plays with a “false nine”, but it all depends on the players that are currently on the pitch. When Darvin Nunez enters, he usually takes the position of a standard nine, which means that the team changes the tactic completely. 

Full-backs have also changed a lot. They used to be mainly defenders, but now they often act like wingers, pushing high up the pitch to add attacking options. Think of players like the most recent Real Madrid addition Trent Alexander-Arnold or Joao Cancelo, who are as good with crosses and passes as they are at defending.

Technology and data have transformed tactics, too. Coaches and analysts use video, statistics, and GPS tracking to study opponents and improve their own team’s performance. This allows teams to prepare specific plans for each game and make quick tactical changes on the sidelines.

Comparing Popular Tactics

In addition, you’ll find a comparison table of some of the most popular football tactics in history:

In today’s football, tactics shape the entire identity of teams. Tactical innovation also keeps football exciting and challenges other teams to adapt while making players more versatile on the pitch.