The evolution of box-to-box midfielders

Over the years, the focus on the importance of box-to-box midfielders has increased. The box-box midfield role is a subcategory of the central midfield role which also includes the controlling midfield role. Central midfielders of this type are tasked in helping their teams transition from defence to attack, which is pivotal in breaking oppositions down easily. One can refer to these midfielders as an engine in the midfield that drives the team forward. The physical aspects of the box-to-box midfield role are quite demanding as these midfielders need the stamina to run up and down the pitch to execute their roles effectively.

Box-to-box midfielders have both attacking and defensive qualities which make them skilled at joining the attack and creating chances, scoring goals, and helping out defensively by intercepting, keeping the defensive shape of the team, tackling and winning the ball back for the team when they can. Ideally, these midfielders should have a very good passing range, can drive with the ball, have tackling abilities, read the game well to intercept when needed, have the vision required to pick out the attackers in front of them, dominate the midfield with their energy and control , dribble their way out of tight situations and have very good shooting abilities to score goals for the team.

Box-to-box midfielders are mainly concerned with dealing with situations in front of them but can occasionally help the team with situations behind them if needed. Some examples of box-to-box midfielders are Khedira of Juventus, Vidal of Barcelona, Matuidi of Juventus, and Modric of Real Madrid. In recent years, the box-to-box midfield role has evolved and can be broken down further into the attacking box-to-box midfield (ACM) role (Paul Pogba and Aaron Ramsey) conventional box-to-box midfield (CM) role ( Abdoulaye Doucouré, Allan and Blaise Matuidi ) and the defensive box-to-box midfield (DCM) role ( N'Golo Kante, Lucas Torreira and Idrissa Gueye).