The era of the 4-4-2 formation lives on

In football’s continued evolution especially in the area of tactics, no formation has suffered more scrutiny and adaptation than the 4-4-2 formation.

Whenever I find myself having to discuss or write about tactics and it always takes me back to the beginning where my relationship and education on tactics began.

In primary school discussing with the likes of Uyi Edebiri and Emmanuel Oke on why the Dutch looked destined to win the World Cup after their exploits at Euro 1988.

Of course, back then we were trained and taught to play the 4-4-2 and it was the only way to go. It was the formation that provided the best balance for any team especially at that level and I am talking about a bunch of 10 and 11-year-old kids.

The Dutch were amazing and with them came the 4-3-3, total football and all that good stuff, until Segun Taylor and his merry men romped my team 3-0 in the first game of our prestigious inter-class match competition.

The defeat remains entrenched in my memory. It was such a bad performance that I lost my captaincy to Adefolu Sonde which then led to a change of roles and the introduction to the 3-5-2 formation courtesy of our Ghanaian maths teacher, Mr Boivie.

The 3-5-2 changed my entire perspective to preparing for a match. My team did not lose another match after that switch was made and were incredibly difficult to break down and so I embraced tactics and its conversation forthwith.

High school changed this as it was clearly demonstrated that we are a 4-4-2 playing nation and by default a 4-4-2 playing school as well. Conversations with Godwin Osometa and Lekan Kehinde shaped the return to accepting the formation back into my heart.

The interpretation and execution of the 4-4-2 formation remains simplistic, hence the reason why it has had adaptations and modifications in different forms.

The balance and comfort of the back four provides the bedrock of the success over the years. From Sir Alex Ferguson’s Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke inspired 4-4-2, to Conte’s adaptation at Juventus in his early days as a 4-2-2-2 to Milan’s 4-3-1-2 at different times or even coming closer to home with the Super Eagles in the mid-1990s under Clemens Westerhof with flying wingers in Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke.

Over the years, many had scrutinised this formation. Some have called it outdated and embraced more fanciful and aesthetically pleasing formations.

You could attribute this to the successes of Barcelona from the Cryuff era to the Guardiola era as well as the overall Dutch influence spread across Europe and the world in general. 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations gradually became the order of the day. Of course, there were still an odd few who stuck with the 4-4-2 or in some cases the 3-5-2 or it’s other variants like the 3-4-3 or 3-3-1-3 formations.

Over the years, one manager has stayed true to the 4-4-2 formation and with it, he has continued a successful career at a club that is ordinarily considered Spain’s number three club.

Diego Simeone’s reign at Atletico Madrid has been built on his ability to combine two varieties of the 4-4-2 formation.

On one hand, is the variety that showcases purely central midfielders lining up across midfield from Gabi, Saul, Koke, Thomas Partey and Rodri. Utilising a combination of high energy, industry and hardwork as tools to ensure what Simeone’s side is renowned for defensive and organisational solidity.

Also, he had the option of playing with more orthodox wingers in Thomas Lemar, Yannick Carrasco, Angel Correa and most recently the ability of Joao Felix to drop into midfield to avoid being outnumbered in the middle of the park.

Love him or loathe him, Simeone along with Christophe Galtier have just demonstrated both at Atletico Madrid and Lille that the 4-4-2 formation remains alive and not extinct. Its use in this modern, finicky, agenda fueled era remains as before but is also dependent on the type of personnel at the disposal of the coach and the interpretation of his instructions and shape at every given scenario.

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