By Alina Kazmi

 In the traditional game of football, one would argue that the most important position would be a striker. A role that entails immense pressure and great value to the team, a position that can define and deliver wins in a game, which is the main objective of football. In recent years, a noticeable decline of the traditional strikers has happened, leading many to believe in a drought of strikers in the football world. The number of goal scoring strikers has decreased significantly over the years due to multiple various factors. 

Tactical shifts in style of play have immensely influenced this decline in strikers. Traditional roles and formations have been edited with fewer teams playing with 4-4-2 formations and opting for a more versatile structure of 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. These formations have led to the morphing of a “false 9” role in which a player has duties that include the typical goal scoring, with added responsibilities such as contributing to build-up play and pressing in the defence of the opposition. Such duties were never expected from traditional strikers; however, due to their short-term positive impact and popularity from key figures such as Pep Guardiola, a “false 9” has destroyed the concept of the traditional striker. The flexibility of a “false 9” is attractive enough to the modern football world to justify such eraser of a traditional striker. In the eyes of a manager, it is more beneficial to have a “false 9” who can carry many responsibilities than splurge and harbour a striker who is more traditional and is solely interested in the goal-scoring aspects of the role. Thus, leading to the decline of traditional strikers and the rise of “false 9s” in football.  

The cost of football has risen over the years, resulting in a shift in the overall landscape of the football world. Football clubs no longer have the means to splurge on the high fees strikers go for, resulting in them opting for a player who can play on a “false 9” role or even ignoring the need for a traditional striker overall. When clubs experience this striker drought, most of the time the problem is heavily intertwined with limited funds or lack of backing from the club’s board. Other financial situations such as player wages and contracts also come into play as talented strikers go for a large sum due to scarcity of such talent in the football world and often demand a hefty salary to accompany. Financing has immensely impacted this striker drought, as the money in football now is larger than life and can lead to clubs making some cuts on key players who traditionally change the game.  

Youth and international systems also have a role in this striker drought and in the decline of talent. Fewer strikers are emerging from youth systems due to different development approaches and newer coaching methods, which do not nurture the abilities of a traditional striker. Football nations such as Italy and Brazil have opted for a more versatile or defensive style of play and an over-reliance on a “false 9” role, eliminating the need or development for a classic striker. The cultural shift and modernisation of the game have led international systems to focus more on other aspects of abilities, rather than developing traditional attributes of a striker. Scouting and recruitment have a massive part to play in this decline of strikers, as players are often moulded while they are in the earlier stages of their careers. Most recruitment at present, solely emphasises players who align with a specific playing style, leaving behind traditional strikers. Thus, leading in fewer players with traditional striker capabilities climbing through the footballing ranks.

Nevertheless addressing these factors and harbouring traditional talent while embracing the modernisation of the game can help to ensure that there is never a drought of strikers again.

Is there a striker drought in football?