Real Madrid Tactics: Kaká And The "False 5"

The idea of specific numbers being assigned to specific duties, or players, on a soccer pitch has a long history. The early rules of association football in England required that all the starters wore numbers 1 through 11 in sequential order, beginning with the keeper (these rules were in effect as late as 1993 according to some sources). As such, these numbers were eventually related to the positions of the players that wore them: "1" became the keeper's number, "10" the organizing, attacking midfielder, and "9" for the striker. The numbers in between all have different histories as well, though they tend to be slightly more murky than the ones I've just outlined.

Take the number 5: the two greatest players (in this author's opinion) to wear the number 5 shirt for Real Madrid are creative midfielder Fernando Redondo and attacking midfielder Zinedine Zidane (though defenders like Fabio Cannavaro and Manuel Sanchís also sported the number). Traditionally speaking (and in this case "traditional" means "coming from Argentina"), the number 5 shirt was worn by the central defensive midfielder, the creator and organizer of offensive play.

Fernando Redondo, the legendary Real Madrid central defensive midfielder exemplified the qualities of a traditional Argentine "5": working from behind the action, he funneled the ball around the attack, creating plays using his vision--and on occasion his speed.

So what does all this have to do with Kaká? you ask. Real Madrid already has a Redondo-like "5" in Xabi Alonso. Very true. But what I'm proposing is something a little bit different, and possibly not that extraordinary: that Kaká could function as a "False 5," a player who lines up as a "5," but plays something completely different.

« Previous1234Next »