Guardiola: The 'face of' the Central Midfielder in the Modern Game

I was born in the early nineties. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to watch the Barcelona 'Dream Team' led by a certain Johan Cruyff. which dominated European football at the time and brought back home the first European Cup (now the Champions League) won by FC Barcelona in 1992. While stars like Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romario and Hristo Stoichkov stole the limelight, it was Josep Guardiola which kept the clock ticking. His presence was profound and it was a delight watching him spray passes all over the pitch from his deep-lying position from in front of the back four. He was, arguably The central midfielder of his decade. But, upon all that significance, Josep Guardiola was forced into early retirement from the elite clubs in Europe, only to finally stop playing football at the age of 35, with arguable some magic still present in his feet.

Guardiola was never known for his physique. Actually, like many of the great graduate of La Masia (the Barcelona football academy), Guardiola was a very weak person. He lacked any real stamina to contest for a physically grueling game lasting 90 mins. However, he had a rather special gift. His passing was supreme. He would spray passes across the pitch with unprecedented precision and pace. This game him his role as a play-maker. However, it is his great awareness and ability to anticipate the play of game which gave him his position as a Deep Lying play-maker. In fact, he was registered as a defensive midfielder. His job was simple: choose when to attack, choose when to defend, choose how to attack and more importantly, never make any mistakes. He was the source of Barcelona's power at the time.

I am definitely not suited to talk about Guardiola, since, at that time, I did not have any footballing prowess when it came to observing and reading the beautiful game (I still don't have it yet). However, I have read a lot about the greatness of Guardiola. I have also read about the time when Josep told Xavi that he would be Josep's replacement and that Iniesta would the undoing of the both of them at Barcelona. More importantly though was what happened? Why did Guardiola leave?

I found some solitude in the answers provided by the, in my opinion, brilliant article written by Gabriele Marcotti dated on March 29, 2004. It is titled Coping With A Lack of Pep and can also be found in its printed view on the right:



Baring in mind that this was written in 2004, it is marvelous to think of the hints provided about the future. Guardiola only knew one way to play football. Guardiola was a simple man, a simple player. He was first and foremost a central midfielder. In his role, he implemented the basis that any player can play as. Now, as coach of Barcelona, Guardiola is showing us what a central midfielder can really do:
-Recently, in the pre-season friendlies, Guardiola used central midfielders as a false-9 (Messi Role), namely Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alacantara. Both these men are simply  central midfielders who simply often find themselves in great scoring positions. This qualifies them for that role.
-Sergio Busquets and Keita were used as Centre Backs throughout the 2010-2011 campaign. Even defensive midfielder, Mascherano was used in that position as well. Some may argue that this was bred through a need for players in that position. Then why would Guardiola not buy any players this summer. Why did he, instead opt to buy a central midfielder in an already stocked up midfield.
-Also, San Andres Iniesta has been frequently used on the laft-hand side of the three pronged attack. Evidently, this has been done in games when Barcelona seem to not have an entire grip on the match and a superior and more efficient passer is required than the likes of David Villa and Pedro.

However, all of this puts into perspective a final point. I've read this before, and was kindly reminded by Peter Staunton of Goal.com, of the revolution in football by his well written article here. The next tactical milestone, where the whole pitch is led by central midfielders. It is a brilliant piece and puts the concept of total football introduced by Johan Cruyff to a new perspective. The Dutch model only spoke of a model where all players were interchangeable. Were, if need be, any man was a scoring opportunity and any man was also a defensive rock to hinder any unexpected attack. With Guardiola, most of his players will be central midfielders. The basis of his team is central midfielders.

You may think this is all just theory. Frankly, I though so. I also thought that Guardiola did not have the guts to play his team in that way. However, in the European Super Cup final triumph against Porto held on Friday, the very observant ZonlMarking.net noted that 'Guardiola ends the European Super Cup final with six central midfielders'. This progression is commendable despite the flaws evident in that match.

So it seems that Guardiola was outcropped because his position failed to exist in Europe's elite teams, only to come back and lead a team full of central midfielders. More importantly, a team which plays beautiful football and wins titles.

Guardiola: Indispensable to the Dream Team, Early retirement, Successful Manager, Revolutionary Manager, and now: 'The face of the Central Midfielder in the Modern Game'.
 



Note that it has come to my mind that maybe Gaurdiola's way of getting back at the footballing world was by fielding the most successful team of the decade made of predominantly central midfielders so as to show us that we were wrong in letting him go. Believe me, we all know he left before his time. The change, though, is appreciated by myself and many more football fans.