Old Faithful – The 4-4-2: Is it Dead?

During the 80’s and 90’s the 4-4-2 was king and then as the 21st century came around it became superseded by more wacky and complex formations on the soccer field.

Hit the fast forward button to today and the 4-4-2 is starting to re-emerge throughout soccer. So, is it dead or is it alive?

Before the 4-4-2

Did you know the 4-4-2 was created from the 4-2-4 formation? In 1958, Brazil won their first World Cup playing the 4-2-4. Then again in 1970.

Soviet coach Viktor Maslov is credited with tweaking the 4-2-4 during the 60’s into what we are familiar with today as the 4-4-2.

Why is the 4-4-2 popular?

• Divides up space more equally in zonal marking.
• Offers possessional structure.
• Gives a team flexibility throughout.
• Two strikers can push up onto the two opposing center backs.
• Provide a threat on the ground or in the air inside the 18 yard box.
• Midfielders can push up the field and isolate themselves vs the opposition outside defenders and provide crosses to the strikers inside the box.
• The two central midfielders can arrive late to add additional threat inside the attacking 1/3.

Who did it best?

One team you may remember that played the 4-4-2 perfectly was the 1999 Manchester United team under Sir Alex Ferguson (treble winning side).

• Dwight York and Andy Cole were the two strikers.
• David Beckham and Ryan Giggs were out to the left and right.
• Paul Scholes and Roy Keane as the two central midfielders.

Early 2000’s – What happened?

Possession started to become the name of the game. Playing with two strikers meant teams could only have two center midfielders.

So, opponents started to drop a striker back into the midfield to create an overload against teams playing with two center midfielders. You follow?

Soon, everyone was playing this way and this is where the 4-2-3-1 came from.

The 4-4-2 is ALIVE

There is a certain style of 4-4-2 that you probably don’t realize, but is being utilized all over the highest levels of soccer. It’s called the 4-4-2 PRESS. If you watch closely Pep Guardiola of Manchester City will fall into the 4-4-2 PRESS.

What the heck is 4-4-2 PRESS?

Simply put, there is 4-4-2 while IN POSSESSION and then there is 4-4-2 while OUT OF POSSESSION.

The out of possession formation is the 4-4-2 PRESS.

Benefits of the 4-4-2 PRESS

• Offers a great defensive shape.
• Provides good coverage across the field.
• Two strikers can control the back line’s build up while the two lines of 4 provide great protection.
• Use wide midfielder and outside defender for double coverage.
• Push winger higher up to put pressure on the opposing outside defender.
• Easy formation to transition to IN POSSESSION.

Examples of easy transition

• In a 4-2-3-1, the #10 can push up alongside the lone striker and the wide players can drop back beside the two central midfielders.
• In a 4-3-3, the wide strikers can drop in and one of 8’s can push up alongside the striker.

Try it!

Lucky for you, we have a whole list of featured tournaments we love that you should sign up for and implement the 4-4-2 PRESS. Let us know how it works!

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