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In football, a playmaker is an attacking player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals. The term overlaps somewhat with attacking midfielder, but playmakers are not constrained to a single position - creativity is the only true requirement, and good passing ability and tactical awareness help. Because many midfielders have these attributes, they tend to be the playmakers of a team. The playmakers number is most often number 10.

Contents 1 Qualities of a good playmaker 2 Playmakers and tactics 3 Playmakers in football history 4 List of famous playmakers

Perhaps the most important quality of a playmaker is the ability to read the game, and get into good positions making for effective receipt and distribution of the ball. Intuition is another key element of a playmakers' game, as they need to know where different players are at different times, without taking too long to dwell on the ball. A good playmaker will often hold possession, allowing other team members to make attacking runs. The ostensible role of the playmaker is to then provide or facilitate the final pass which leads to a goal. In football terminology this is often known as a killer ball or the final ball and is officially recorded as an assist.

Playmakers are not often renowned for their tackling or defensive capabilities hence they are often seen as a luxury in football teams, though they retain their places due to their ability to change games. In a 4-4-2 formation a playmaker will usually play alongside a defensive midfield player to ensure that the team is not vulnerable to attack. However with different formations a team may play with multiple playmakers. When Kevin Keegan managed Manchester City F.C. he often employed two playmakers Ali Bernarbia and Eyal Berkovic in a 3-5-2 formation. However most teams usually use only one playmaker to minimise defensive frailties and also because using more than one may inhibit each playmakers playing style (hence the Italian national football team has opted not to play Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero in the same team).

There have been many great playmakers.The term has not always been in use in football terminology though it is widely used today. In the 1960's famous playmakers included the Brazilian midfielder Didi and Mimis Domazos a former Greek international who is considered as Greece's best ever player and was known as 'The General'. Pele who is seen by many as the greatest footballer of all time is considered to have been a playmaker due to his passing skills and awareness. Gerson was another playmaker who played for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup. In the 1970's famous playmakers included Kazimierz Deyna (who played for the Poland national football team), Gunter Netzer (of the West German national team), Colin Bell (who played for the England national football team) and Johan Cruijff of the Holland national football team.

In the 1980s famous playmakers included Michel Platini (whose passing skills helped orchestrate the victory of France in the 1984 European Championship) and Glenn Hoddle (who is considered by many Football critics as the greatest passer of the ball the England national football team have ever had).

In the 1990s famous playmakers have included Carlos Valderrama (who played for the Colombia national football team), Zinedine Zidane, (who twice helped France reach the World Cup final (1998 and 2006) and a European Championship win in 2000), Eyal Berkovic (who played for the Israel national football team and who was nicknamed Ha Kosem (the Wizard) for his ability to seemingly conjour opportunities for his team out of nothing, with his passing skills), Michael Laudrup, who was the playmaker for FC Barcelona's Dream Team, Dennis Bergkamp (who himself was very much influenced by Hoddle and who is an example of a playmaking striker famed for his control which enabled him to receive and pass the ball with great fluidity), Jari Litmanen (who still continues to plays for the Finland national football team and Malmö FF), Roberto Baggio (whose skills pushed Italy to the World Cup final in 1994) and Luis Figo of Portugal.

Since the millennium playmakers who have found fame within international football include Juan Roman Riquelme (who instigated the famous Argentina goal against Serbia and Montenegro at the World Cup 2006, involving 24 passes, by his movement and precision passing), Jay Jay Okocha of the Nigeria national football team, Michael Ballack of the Germany national football team, Paul Scholes of Manchester United F.C. and the England national football team, Deco of the Portugal national football team and Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero and Andrea Pirlo of the Italian national football team.

Country	Famous Playmakers
Argentina	Maradona, Bochini, Alonso, Gallardo, Riquelme, Aimar
Belgium	Van Himst
Brazil	Pele, Zico, Rivaldo, Kaká, Ronaldinho, Juninho Paulista, Juninho Pernambucano
Colombia	Valderrama
England	Gascoigne , Hoddle, Bell, Paul Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard
France	Platini, Zidane, Kopa
Germany	Ballack
Holland	Cruijff, Gullit, Neeskens van Hanegem
Israel	Berkovic
Italy	Baggio, Totti, Rivera, Del Piero, Pirlo
Portugal	Deco, Rui Costa
Korea Republic	Park Ji-Sung
Uruguay	Schiaffino, Recoba