What Is a Box to Box Midfielder?

Midfielders can have a wide range of playing styles, from a wide midfielder who plays with a lot of flair to a central defensive midfielder who is an engine and makes a tonne of tackles. One term that is widely used is the ‘box to box midfielder’. So what exactly is a box to box midfielder? 

In this Elastico article, we’re going to discuss the role, the responsibilities in and out of possession for these types of players, and also share some of the best box to box midfielders to play the game.

What Is a Box to Box Midfielder?

A box to box midfielder is a footballer with a dynamic set of skills that helps their team in both attacking and defending sequences of play. As the name suggests, these midfielders operate in the space between both team’s penalty boxes.

Traits of a Box to Box Midfielder

Stamina

The main trait associated with a box to box midfielder is having a high level of stamina. As these players usually cover the most distance during 90 minutes of football, it’s vital that they have a high level of stamina to allow them to do this.

Playing a box to box midfielder who doesn’t have a good level of stamina can be a bad decision, as they won’t be able to complete all the tasks allocated to this kind of player. Ideally, a box to box midfielder won’t stop running for the whole 90 minutes (or more), so stamina is a must.

Wide Passing Range

A box to box midfielder operates between both boxes, and because of this, they’ll need to have a wide passing range. They’ll be required to start counter-attacks, helping their team move up the pitch as quickly and efficiently as possible. This might require long, accurate passes up the field.

They’ll also need to be able to play precise short passes in and around the opposition’s box. This makes them great at operating in tight spaces. Essentially, a box to box midfielder should be able to make a whole host of different passes on a football pitch.

Strength

Box to box midfielders will find themselves at the forefront of midfield battles. Because of this, having physical strength is a great trait for this type of player to have. They’ll be on the receiving end of many tackles from opposition midfielders, as well as making plenty of their own.

A strong box to box midfielder can make the difference when wanting to win those midfield battles. It’s worth noting that this doesn’t entirely come down to the size of the player, as some smaller players can be incredibly strong.

Ability to Press

The modern game requires most players to have the ability to press, and this links nicely to the stamina we spoke of previously. The best box to box midfielders will use their strength, stamina and pace to press the opposition intelligently.

Giving opposition midfielders limited time on the ball means that your midfielders can win the ball back quickly and turn defence into attack. This means that a modern box to box midfielder must demonstrate the ability to press well.

Which Formations Suit a Box to Box Midfielder?

4-3-3

The modern day 4-3-3 is one of the best formations for a box to box midfielder to operate in. Having a midfield three allows them to have the freedom to travel up and down the pitch, knowing that they have two other central midfielders covering the spaces behind them.

İlkay Gündoğan is a prime example of a box to box midfielder operating in this formation for Manchester City. He usually plays in front of Rodri and alongside Kevin De Bruyne in a central midfield three. You’ll see him make lots of tackles, completing defensive duties, but you’ll also see him arrive late in the box for chances up the pitch.

4-4-2

Another formation that suits a box to box midfielder well is the traditional 4-4-2. With two central midfielders operating in this system, it’s easy for one of them to take up the box to box midfielder role while the other plays more defensively.

Some examples of box to box midfielders playing in a 4-4-2 are Premier League icons Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Is the Box to Box Midfielder Role Still Used?

The shift towards more possession based football has meant that the need for box to box midfielders has decreased in recent years. That isn’t to say that the box to box midfielder role has died a death, though.

Not too long ago, the 4-2-3-1 formation was favoured to compliment the shift towards more possession based football. The two central midfielders (double pivot) in this system were needed for their defensive work rather than their attacking ability. This has made it harder to accommodate an outright box to box midfielder.

In Possession Responsibilities of a Box to Box Midfielder

When in possession, a box to box midfielder will have a number of responsibilities. One of their main responsibilities is to drive their team up the pitch, turning defence into attack. They can do this by either dribbling at pace to gain yards up the pitch, or by playing medium to long range passes to their teammates.

Not only are box to box midfielders for launching attacks, they’ll also be responsible for chipping in with goals and assists. A prime example of this kind of player would be ex-England midfielder Steven Gerrard. He scored and assisted many goals for Liverpool and England when playing the box to box midfielder role.

Out of Possession Responsibilities of a Box to Box Midfielder

Out of possession, a box to box midfielder will be required to press their opponents. These players should be agile, full of energy and strategic with their press to limit the amount of time the opposition players have on the ball.

A box to box midfielder will also be required to make lots of tackles. They’ll be one of the most likely players to win the ball back from their opponents when out of possession. This responsibility goes hand in hand with their pressing duties.

Do Teams Play Without a Box to Box Midfielder?

Yes, many teams play without a box to box midfielder. Some teams command possession so well during a match that their central midfielders won’t be required to carry out the responsibilities of a box to box player.

Best Box to Box Midfielders

Now that we’ve answered ‘What is a Box to Box Midfielder?’, you’re probably wondering who some of the best box to box midfielders are. We’ve compiled a list of them, both past and present, who we believe have been some of the best.

Yaya Touré

The first player that comes to mind when thinking about the best box to box midfielders is Yaya Touré. During his time at Manchester City, Touré asserted himself as one of the best box to box midfielders the game has ever seen.

His power and drive from midfield helped Manchester City mount hundreds of attacks, with opposition players struggling to get the ball back from him. He was able to do everything required of this role, chipping in with goals and assists, while breaking up play and playing an incredible range of passes.

Paul Pogba

A box to box midfielder who divides opinion is France’s Paul Pogba. Pogba has had a rocky career, mainly defined by his turbulent spells at Manchester United. He has also had some incredible runs of form, being at the heart of the French midfield when they won the World Cup in 2018. He scored a goal in the final of the competition too.

Like Yaya Touré, Pogba, when at his best, has the incredible ability to break up play. His height, athleticism and strength allows him to do this. He can turn defence into attack quickly and is a powerhouse when he carries the ball up the pitch.

Steven Gerrard

We can’t talk about box to box midfielders without mentioning Steven Gerrard. The complete all round midfielder, Gerrard scored 211 goals from central midfield, which demonstrates his attacking prowess.

His passing ability was undeniable, too. He’d often break up the opposition’s play and mount an attack by playing a 50 yard pass to one of his Liverpool teammates. Furthermore, he’s played in numerous different formations and been successful as a box to box midfielder in all of them for club and country.

Luka Modrić

As of 2022, Croatia’s captain Luka Modrić is 37 years old, and he’s still playing at the very top level. He’s played over 150 games for his country, as well as over 750 club appearances across top level teams including Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

A classy box to box midfielder, Modrić can do a bit of everything. He has a great engine, proven by his ability to play at the top level at an older age, he scores goals and assists his teammates, as well as having an impressive passing range.

Jude Bellingham

Potentially one for the future, although it feels like he’s already arrived. As of 2022, Jude Bellingham is one of the hottest prospects in world football. At the ripe age of 19, he has already played over 100 games in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund and has introduced himself to the rest of the world by being one of the breakthrough stars of the Qatar World Cup.

Bellingham is a modern day box to box midfielder, having an incredibly well-rounded skill set. He can play any of the midfield positions, and some claim that his number 22 shirt is symbolic to the fact that he can play as a 4, an 8 or a 10.

He covers every blade of grass with his high energy, presses opponents and makes tackles. Not only that, but he’s also capable of creating attacking opportunities, turning defence into attack with his wide passing ability. He’s also able to score different types of goals.

Bellingham has the potential to be one of the best box to box midfielders we’ve ever witnessed.