Coaching Deep Runs From Midfield – Tactical Theory

Much has been written about the benefits of making runs in behind the last line of defence, with most of this directed at attackers or players on the last line of the defence.

This is a perpetual action for these players, and regardless of whether or not they always receive the ball, they should continue making these actions.

When it comes to runs from players in deeper positions of the field, the same cannot necessarily be said, as these players play significant roles regarding the defensive stability of the side in counterattacking situations.

Nevertheless, when executed at the right times, runs from players in deeper areas of the pitch have many benefits, such as these players remaining unmarked because they are coming from deeper positions.

This tactical theory piece will look to provide an analysis of the tactics teams, such as previous Napoli sides as well as Brazils former womens team, look to utilise runs from players and some of the general factors that the players making runs from deep consider before executing this action. 

How teams incorporate deep runs in their unique game models will also be evident.

Therefore, the drills and training methods mentioned in this piece should not be used in a session without considering the profiles of certain squad members and the teams style of play.

As a result, readers should feel free to modify any of the proposed practices to suit the needs of their players and teams. 

What Makes Deep Runs So Effective? 

When designing practices, one of the first questions that should be asked is what makes particular concepts in the game compelling.

The best way to answer this question is through experience coaching these concepts and analysing teams that could execute these actions consistently (it is also wise to analyse groups that do not).

Effectiveness in this regard may be creating shooting opportunities or crossing opportunities directly for the player making the run or the other players around them. 

In the case of making deep runs in attack, as mentioned earlier, one of the main factors that should be considered is how players can make these runs without leaving the side susceptible to counterattacks.

Because of this, players making these runs need to consider factors such as when they should make their runs.

Within this are a host of other sub-factors that play a part, such as which players should look to make runs, which area of the pitch should the ball be in when making their runs, and how they time their runs. 

An exciting team to have watched in this regard was Maurizio Sarris Napoli, especially throughout the  2016/17 Serie A season.

Sarris Napoli looked to rotate and move to create vertical passing opportunities and provide support options for players receiving vertical passes.

As a result, the side regularly made use of the third-man principle in possession but would also, at times, incorporate runs from deeper positions within this.

The image below shows an example of one of the positional rotations that would occur regularly in the side.

In this case, the image shows former Napoli star, Marek Hamšík, deliberately drifting towards the wide area in order to drag the opposition midfielder out of position to create a passing lane that would give Kalidou Koulibaly access to Lorenzo Insigne who moves from the wide areas into a deeper and  central area.

Insigne then receives the ball and plays it to Piotr Zieliński.

Before Insigne played the pass, Hamšík would begin to advance forward, initially to support Insigne.

However, after Insigne played the pass to Zieliński, this pass into the central area triggered Hamšík to continue his run and attack the last line.