The development of the false nine as Chelsea field Schurrle in the role to emulate Messi and Liverpool ace

Early days

The real father of the tactic was Italian supremo Luciano Spalletti, who found a problem at AS Roma when no recognised strikers were available.

In Francesco Totti however, Spalletti possessed a player of undoubtable talent and the ability to operate somewhere in between playmaker and forward – hence the false nine was born.