Soccer has evolved a lot in recent years, especially tactically. Nowadays, a box-to-box midfielder is an excellent all-round player capable of defending well in his own half and attacking with the quality and class of a striker in attack.
Technology and other football research have developed a better understanding of the formations and roles of the players on the pitch.
Coaches like Pep Guardiola have set the benchmark in recent years with revolutionary and very effective playing styles.
In turn, these new playing styles and the improvement in players’ overall physical condition have created and strengthened new positions and roles for players, which are already being worked on in soccer academies and football camps.
A highly valued position these days is that of the box-to-box midfielder. These midfielders are extremely well-rounded players who must have excellent physical fitness and an above-average understanding of the game.
Current formations in soccer are structured around their midfielders and the offensive and defensive work they can do.
Having box-to-box midfielders in the team allows coaches to have more flexible approaches and adjust their tactics to counter their opponents’ strategies.
This is why we would like to talk about what a box-to-box midfielder is and why they are so coveted nowadays.
What exactly is a box-to-box midfielder nowadays?
Box-to-box midfielders are players who can perform at optimal levels in both defense and attack. They have the physical fitness to cover both aspects of the game without getting too tired.
They are called box-to-box midfielders because throughout the game they are constantly running from their box to the opposing team’s box.
These midfielders are excellent all-round players who can start a move by bringing the ball out from their own half or finish a counterattack with a powerful, accurate shot.
Normally, footballers define their roles according to their abilities on the pitch. Players with good physique are likely to be assigned defensive duties, while a quick, skillful player is likely to develop into a striker or an attacking midfielder.
The most impressive aspect of box-to-box midfielders is that they can fulfill both roles at a very high level.
This is why these kinds of players are so hard to come by and so sought after by elite soccer coaches.
In fact, in modern soccer, box-to-box midfielders are increasingly preferred to the traditional defensive midfielder, as they have better physical composure and can be more threatening when attacking.
A good box-to-box midfielder should have the following skills:
- Excellent physical fitness to cover long distances for 90 minutes
- The intelligence to get into the right positions
- Defensive skills to thwart opponents’ attacks and reduce the chances of a counterattack
- Good medium and long-distance shooting ability
- Excellent understanding of the game to cover for their teammates when they are out of position
- Able to defend in the center of the pitch and also on the wings
- Good passing accuracy to ensure they don’t give away the ball in dangerous areas
As you can see, a box-to-box midfielder must excel in many different facets of the game. For this reason, there aren’t many players of this type in today’s soccer.
The best box-to-box midfielders in history
The role of a box-to-box midfielder started to evolve some 25 to 30 years ago, so most of the names we’re going to mention are from modern-day football.
There are a couple from further back, such as Lothar Matthaus or Gianni Rivera, who were excellent all-round players in their time.
However, when talking about modern-day box-to-box midfielders, we couldn’t fail to mention players like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Clarence Seedorf.
If we take Gerrard by way of an example, we’re talking about a player who was equally good at defending and attacking play. His incredible long-range shooting ability turned him into a soccer legend, and he was key to Liverpool’s historic comeback in the 2004 Champions League final against AC Milan.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was another fabulous all-round player with a great knowledge of the game. He started his career as a winger and ended up as a box-to-box midfielder because of his incredible ability to both defend and set up goal-scoring chances.
His sheer power and grit made him one of the stars of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which was won by Germany.
Seedorf and Lampard, although they also had defensive qualities, stood out more for their offensive work and playmaking. Despite this, they too can be classified as box-to-box midfielders.
We can’t finish this section without mentioning such amazing players as Patrick Vieira, Yaya Touré, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, who have also created a name for themselves in this role.
Are box-to-box midfielders still relevant today?
Box-to-box midfielders are highly valued and coveted players nowadays. In elite soccer there aren’t too many players who can meet these standards. For this reason, top teams like Manchester City and Liverpool have spent a lot of money signing midfielders in the past few years.
Federico Valverde, for example, is worth 120 million euros according to the website Transfermarkt and this just shows how highly valued box-to-box midfielders are nowadays.
Teams like Chelsea and West Ham have also spent a significant part of their budget on box-to-box midfielders.
Current top box-to-box midfielders
One team that is currently basing its system of play on box-to-box midfielders is Real Madrid.
They have three excellent box-to-box midfielders – Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga.
Federico Valverde is probably the clearest example of a box-to-box midfielder nowadays. His speed means he is extremely effective in the center of the pitch and also on the wings if he is needed there.
He is also very capable of scoring goals and has the vision to create scoring chances and play penetrating long passes.
Jude Bellingham is excellent in defense, as well as having impressive finishing.
The Englishman showed his class throughout the whole of the last season, establishing himself as a lethal goalscorer as well as a very smart and effective defender.
Apart from this Real Madrid trio, players such as Alexis MacAllister, Frenkie De Jong, Gavi, and Enzo Fernandez are also very worthy of a mention.
Despite not having the strongest physique, these footballers play with great intensity and can play very efficiently both in defense and attack.
Gavi and Frenkie De Jong have become a solid midfield duo, with good ball handling and the ability to press opponents high. Unfortunately, their careers have been marred by a series of injuries.
Mac Allister and Fernandez were key players in the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar that Argentina ended up winning, indisputably the best midfield duo of the tournament.
If you dream of becoming a better soccer player, then set aside some time to analyze these players in action.
Conclusion
Box-to-box midfielders are highly valued players nowadays and very few have the necessary skills to fulfill this role.
A box-to-box midfielder must have an excellent understanding of the game in many different areas in order to fulfill their role and responsibilities on the pitch.
A box-to-box midfielder is a player who moves freely from his own box to the opposing team’s. They must be able to defend well, create attacks, and have good finishing.
They must be physically fit enough to be able to cover long distances during the match.
A box-to-box midfielder must be able to read the game and cover for their teammates in defense when necessary.
Major clubs around the world have invested a lot of money in box-to-box midfielders.
Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde and Alexis Mac Allister are some of the best players in this position.