THE ATTACK LEADER
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The centre-forward has a difficult and responsible position. Surround by opposing players on all sides, he has many duties to fulfill. Since the beginning of football, there have been different styles of centre-forwards. Throughout history, football has seen so many with very different aspects and qualities. Several terms, moreover, were used to classify centre-forwards of the most varied styles. Terms such as tank, spearhead, executor, attack leader, builder, withdrawn centre-forward, false nine, etc., served as mention to reflect the role of a given footballer.

For many, the centre-forward is the main target of the team and has the tradition of scoring the vast majority of his squads's goals. However, this is a more modern view of the position. 

In the opinion of the exceptional G. O. Smith, here is a drescription of the centre-forward position:


He has to keep his forwards together, feed his wings with balls and give his inside forwards the opportunity to shoot at goal, but at the same time always be ready to take advantage of any weaknesses that arise, he should be a good scorer, but above all a sure passer, he should further confuse the opposing defense with sharp short passes, and always be on the go to pass a ball to his wings when he sees that they are free to take a quick run along the sideline. The post of centre-forward offers plenty of opportunity to shine in person. 

He has to control his body so that it can turn immediately in all directions, but at the same time hide his intentions from the opponents. 

He can often, if he runs to the side, lure the defense to that side and then by suddenly turning the ball to the free-standing wing before the enemy defenders have understood his tactics. But the centre-forward must not dribble too much, he can only fill his position properly if he has a good shot on goal; it is often worthwhile for him to stay a little behind the other forwards in front of the goal, the inside forwards then attract the attention of the defenders, can pass the ball sharply backwards and give him a free shot at the goal.


From G. O. Smith to Dixie Dean; from Matthias Sindelar to Hans Krankl; from Bernabé Ferreyra to Lionel Messi even though they had completely different styles, they were considered centre-forwards.

MODERN TERM: THE FALSE NINE.

The False Nine is a centre-forward whose main role is to drop deep, set up plays, create space for the other forwards or midfielders and giving numerical advantage in the midfield. Moreover, others managed to assimilate the aforementioned characteristics with the efficiency of scoring goals — the Argentine Lionel Messi, for instance. The term False Nine is relatively new, yet the role has been out there for a long time. This style is almost as old as football. In the 19th century, great players such as John Goodall and G. O. Smith were already standing out in such a way. Throughout history, several of this type have emerged, as was the case with Václav Pilát, György Orth, Matthias Sindelar, Adolfo Pedernera, Johan Cruijff, etc.

This term reflects very much players of the executor-builder and builder types.


EXECUTOR

Regarding centre-forwards characterized as centre-forward spearhead, one can have in mind a player with characteristics like that of the Englishman Dixie Dean, who had a very different style of play from other great Englishmen of the past, such as John Goodall and G. O. Smith. Dean almost did not participate in the process of organization; he would rather wait for the ball. After all, his only objective was to put the ball in the back of the net, either through aerial play — Dean's very strong characteristic — or through ground play. Nevertheless, he was a very mobile player. With a style more similar to Dean's, there were others with more limited characteristics, like George Camsell, another famous prolific goal-scorer.



Throughout history, several players with similar characteristics have been produced, such as Otto Tull Harder, Ted Drake, Gerd Müller, etc. Of the more recent centre-forwards with these characteristics, Erling Haaland is very well seen as a reflection of this style.

There are, of course, centre-forwards that are of this style, but they have excellent technical capacity. Such players are capable of combining perfectly and, impressively, could dribble entire defensive systems with their speed and dribbling precision, as was the case with Hughie Gallacher and Ronaldo Il Fenomeno. Others of the same style, as was the case with Giuseppe Meazza, due to his creativity, could play in other positions, organizing plays from behind, but while playing as inside forward.

According to István Tóth, Il Balilla Meazza was the perfect centre-forward for the W-Formation, due to his dribbling ability, speed, reading when to make a breakthrough and the Italian's formidable aerial game. Another great, very fast footballer with dribbling ability and opportunism for breakthroughs was Uruguayan Pedro Petrone, who was considered a symbol of a tactical change in the forward line.

Alfréd Schaffer, for example, was an exceptional centre-forward of the breakthrough style. Schaffer was a robust footballer with refined technique and advanced tactical knowledge. He, however, especially after his departure, became a centre-forward focused on creating plays, preparing chances for his teammates.


EXECUTOR & BUILDER

Moving towards a more combinative style, there were the builder-executor centre-forwards. In other words, footballers who scored many goals and were part of the orchestra, the organization of their teams' offensive actions, even being the main axis of an entire system. Examples like this were diverse, as was the case of John Goodall, György Orth, Dr. György Sárosi, Don Alfredo Di Stéfano, Lionel Messi, etc.


DR. GYÖRGY SÁROSI

This type of centre-forward was recognized as an even more significant style for the team's effectiveness in terms of goals. After all, this type of centre-forward was the team's main schemer and one of the main goal-scorers or the main goal-scorer. Dr. Sárosi, for instance, was almost always the Ferencváros team's top scorer. According to Hugo Meisl himself, Dr. Sárosi was even more of an executor than, strictly speaking, a builder. Other players, like the György Orth and G. O. Smith, were more builders than executors.

In relation to more modern football, Lionel Messi, under the command of coach Pep Guardiola, played exactly this role. Although Messi was an excellent organizer, a key player in offensive creativity, he was still a formidable goal-scorer, and achieved impressive feats while playing centralized. Another name in modern football who has similar characteristics is the Englishman Harry Kane.

Also belonging to this class of centre-forwards, other players performed functions beyond creativity and completing offensive actions. Don Alfredo, for example, was the super-footballer. After all, he still played defensive roles for Real Madrid C.F., a fundamental aspect for his team, but not necessary for a centre-forward, in fact. Others, like the exceptional Johan Cruijff, also played this role during their career.


BUILDER

To conclude, there is the class in which the centre-forward plays a much more constructive role than a goal-scorer. In the vast majority of cases, they even give up scoring their own goals to provide passes and create plays from midfield. There are several to be mentioned, such as José Piendibene, Gabino Sosa, Václav Pilát, Matthias Sindelar, Adolfo Pedernera, Nándor Hidegkuti, Raymond Kopa, etc.

This centre-forward style is almost entirely focused on the organization, the gear of the team's offensive actions, thus being the thinking and scheming root of the squad. Compared to the other style, the specifically builder style scored much fewer goals. After all, they didn't usually advance much compared to their teammates. However, when they advanced, they often passed the ball to another teammate.

Different systems and styles marked the builder. José Piendibene, in one instance, played in abanico. Václav Pilát, in the old Czech style, played by sending through balls to the inside forwards. Sindelar, in turn, was a more combinative style at the vanguard.