Currently in charge of German second division team Stuttgart, Tim Walter is one of the most innovative figures in modern football. The 43-year-old spent last season training Holstein Kiel, and his bold approach drew admiration from coaches across the globe. As we will discover in this article, Walter deploys a wide variety of inventive methods
Basic Organisation: Main area of approx 30×30 with 5 attackers and 4 defenders. Two mini goals behind defenders. Two gates and an ‘end zone’ behind attackers. Ball returns to attacking team for each restart. Objectives: Attacking team look to move opponents and create space/lanes to progress through and score in one of the
Basic Organisation: Attacking team begin with a 5+GK vs 2 inside the first phase of build-up. Grid ends approx 25 yards out from goal. 3 additional defending players are positioned just outside the grid. Further forward, 2 attackers flank the last man on the defending team. Small goal either side of centre-circle. Objectives:
Basic Organisation: 4 zones on both halves of the grid. Each approximately 5×10. Both teams have a player in each of the four zones in their half, with two teammates positioned near the two mini goals in the opponents half. Defending players must stay in their zones, strikers can move between zones to receive
Basic organisation: 7 attackers form rondo shape inside approx 30×30 grid. 1 additional attacker positioned in the centre. 5 defenders positioned inside the rondo. Objectives: Attacking players must get the ball into the pivot player as many times as possible. One point is given each time he receives possession. Once he has the
During their incredible 2018/19 campaign, Erik ten Hag’s Ajax represented football at it’s most intelligent. Of course, he hasn’t re-invented the wheel; much of his philosophy has been inspired by the likes of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola. However, he isn’t a replica of his heroes either and has been brave enough to apply his
When coaching build-up play, it’s important to give players alternative routes of progression. Every coach will have a preferred method of building attacks, but the opponent’s approach to defending will change from game to game, and even within games. It is therefore essential to implement a varied approach that accounts for the different challenges that
Quite often, coaches whose philosophies are more ‘defence-minded’ will get criticism from fans and pundits. The likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Rafa Benitez have all come under such scrutiny during their careers, especially while at clubs whose supporters identify with a more offensive approach. Most football fans would like their team’s to be