What is a Double Pivot in Football?
You may have heard the term ‘double pivot’ thrown around in football. For those of you who are unsure, we answer, what is a double pivot in football? We discuss the characteristics of this position, where it originated from and some modern day examples too. Read on to learn more.
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What is a Double Pivot in Football?
A double pivot in football is a central midfield pairing that are defensively minded. They’re typically positioned in front of the centre-backs, behind attacking midfielders or forwards, and inside full-backs.
Characteristics of a Double Pivot in Football
- A central midfield or defensive midfield pairing.
- Positioned in front of central defenders, inside full backs and behind attacking players.
- Most commonly used in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
- Best used when made up of two players with contrasting skill sets. This allows the players to compliment each another.
Origination of the Double Pivot
The double pivot can be traced back all the way to 1920. Herbert Chapman introduced a W-M formation that included two half-backs who made up the double pivot. These would play in front of three full-backs (see diagram below).
Double Pivot Formations
Three of the main double pivot formations are the 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 3-4-3.
4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 formation is the most commonly used double pivot formation. This easily allows the two central midfielders to take up spaces in front of the central defenders.
4-4-2
A 4-4-2 shape can easily accommodate a double pivot. This is most effective when the wide players take up narrow positions when the team is attacking.
3-4-3
Another formation that can accommodate a double pivot is a 3-4-3. In this example, the double pivot would be positioned in front of the back three. We saw this being used by Thomas Tuchel during his time at Chelsea. His double pivot would usually feature two of the following players: Jorginho, Mateo Kovačić and N’Golo Kanté.
Double Pivot vs Single Pivot in Football
As the names suggest, a single pivot consists of a single player, whereas a double pivot is made up of two different players. A pivot, whether it’s a single or a double, operates in the space between the defenders and attackers.
Advantages of Using a Double Pivot
- A double pivot provides extra protection for the central defenders versus a single pivot.
- Retention of the ball in central midfield from loose balls/second balls is much more likely.
- Offers additional passing movements, with two options offering more movement than just the one.
- Having a double pivot allows both fullbacks to push on in attack, with the two central midfielders able to cover their positions if needs be.
Disadvantages of Using a Double Pivot
- A clear disadvantage of a double pivot is that it crowds the central midfield space for any creative players that could operate as a single pivot.
- The double pivot takes a player out of the attack. To restore that extra player in attack requires a group of intelligent players.
- You also have one less player in counter-attacks.
Modern Day Examples of Double Pivots in Football
There are lots of modern day examples of double pivots we can draw upon. We’ve picked out three teams as examples below – West Ham United, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Declan Rice and Tomáš Souček
One of the most reliable double pivots in the Premier League has been Declan Rice and Tomáš Souček. It’s hard to remember a run of games where one of these two players was out missing, allowing them to form an incredible relationship on the pitch.
What made this pairing so impressive was their ability to protect the West Ham back four through winning their individual duels. Their work rate was also brilliant, with both players being great in the press.
Furthermore, Declan Rice was able to make impressive forward runs with the ball, whereas Souček had a fantastic ability to make well-timed runs. He also offered a huge threat with his height at set pieces.
Scott McTominay and Fred
“McFred”, made up of Scott McTominay and Fred, was arguably one of the most discussed double pivots in world football. Fans believed that this pairing didn’t progress the ball up the field well enough, and this limited the chances United created. However, this double pivot had been picked for Manchester United by several managers, suggesting that they must have had enough quality.
Thiago Alcântara and Joshua Kimmich
Arguably the most impressive double pivot out of the three that we’ve chosen was Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcântara and Joshua Kimmich. These two players played together under Hans-Dieter Flick. Flick was consistent in using a 4-2-3-1 formation during his time at the club, deploying Thiago and Kimmich as a double pivot.
When Thiago signed for Liverpool, it was Leon Goretzka who took his place. He had big shoes to fill with Thiago’s creativity and vision, which left a big hole in the Munich midfield. However, Goretzka was able to bring a high level of physicality to the double pivot, something that Thiago wasn’t particularly known for.
Other Notable Double Pivots in Football
- Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice (England – Euro 2020)
- Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka (Arsenal, 2022/23)
- Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham, 2022/23)
- Xavi Alonso and Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, 2008/09)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Double Pivot in a 4-3-3?
A double pivot doesn’t exist in a 4-3-3 formation, with a single pivot being utilised instead. The single pivot plays centrally, in between the two other midfield players.
