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The No.6 continues to hold a vital position in modern football. Here’s our tactical breakdown of what the role really means today.

When we hear the number six, many fans immediately recall legendary centre-backs such as Bobby Moore, Franco Baresi, Tony Adams and Sol Campbell.

Yet across much of Europe and the wider footballing world, the No.6 isn’t usually a defender. Instead, it represents a very particular type of midfielder whose role has become crucial in shaping how teams play.

So what exactly is the job of a No.6 in today’s game, and how does this player connect with teammates wearing the No.8 and No.10 shirts? Let’s explore this together as FourFourTwo breaks down one of football’s most essential tactical roles.

I’m Jack, and for over ten years I’ve been studying football from a tactical viewpoint, analysing trends not just at the elite level but also how these ideas can be applied at grassroots level.

I’m an FA Level 2 certified coach and have written in-depth tactical analyses for various outlets. Most of my free time is spent training, playing, or fine-tuning tactical systems on Football Manager.

Traditionally, the No.6 is a deep-lying midfielder positioned at the base of the midfield line, no matter the formation. This player acts as a holding midfielder, collecting the ball in their own half and initiating attacks.

In a three-man midfield, teams may use either one or two No.6s depending on their tactical setup. For instance, a 4-3-3 formation often features a single deep No.6 with two advanced No.8s, while a 4-2-3-1 places two No.6s behind a No.10.

The clip above illustrates a lone No.6 operating in a 4-3-3 system.

This modern interpretation gained popularity through Spanish football, particularly with Xavi wearing the number for Barcelona. Interestingly, the first Premier League midfielder to don the No.6 shirt arrived only 24 seasons into the league’s history, when Paul Pogba wore it for Manchester United.

But the term itself originated in England. One of the earliest uses of numbered shirts in Europe dates back to August 1928, when Sheffield Wednesday faced Arsenal and Chelsea met Swansea.

At that time, teams typically lined up in a 2-3-5 formation, and numbers 1 to 11 were assigned accordingly. The No.6 shirt was worn by the player in the left half-back position—what we now consider a left-sided defensive midfielder.

Since its inception, the No.6’s main responsibility has been to shield the defence, particularly during transitions. While this core duty remains unchanged, the position has evolved significantly in football’s ever more strategic era, whether deployed as a single pivot or part of a double pivot.

There are different types of defensive midfielders. Some are referred to as anchors, anchormen, destroyers or ball-winning midfielders—players known for their tough tackling, breaking up play and organising the team. Think of Nobby Stiles or Claude Makelele as classic examples.

Then there are the holding midfielders, often called registas or deep-lying playmakers, whose task is to advance play from deep areas with intelligent passing.

In today’s era of high-intensity pressing, a lone No.6 has become somewhat rare due to the risk of isolation in wide open spaces. Many managers prefer two central No.6s, while others combine a midfielder with an inverted full-back who joins in possession. In a 4-3-3 system, this creates a box-shaped midfield, enhancing numerical advantage and balancing weaknesses. Having two players in this area allows each to occupy a half-space, splitting the creative and defensive workload, while doubling protection against counter-attacks.

When a team seeks to dominate possession, a No.6’s role shifts from breaking up play to dictating tempo. A player like Andrea Pirlo excelled at orchestrating attacks from deep, using his passing range to bypass the press and control the rhythm of the game. Positioned centrally, he could survey the entire field and shape every move, especially during prolonged spells of possession.

In 2013, journalist Jonathan Wilson identified the emergence of a third kind of No.6—alongside the ‘destroyer’ and the ‘creator’—calling it ‘the carrier’. He highlighted players like Bastian Schweinsteiger who advanced the ball through dribbling rather than solely through tackles or passes. While rare, this skill set added another dimension to the role, seen in players such as N’Golo Kanté who combine ball-winning with progressive carrying.

Across Europe’s top clubs today, nearly every side has at least one elite No.6, often two. Declan Rice may wear No.41 for Arsenal, but he’s widely regarded as the finest English No.6 since Michael Carrick.

At Manchester United, Casemiro’s blend of defensive awareness, agility and composure made him arguably the best No.6 in world football for much of the past decade. Similarly, Sergio Busquets was pivotal to Barcelona’s dominance during their Champions League peak. While Xavi famously wore the number, Busquets—ranked No.33 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest players ever—embodied the archetypal No.6 role.

At Newcastle United, Bruno Guimarães has emerged as one of the Premier League’s standout No.6s, though his style leans more towards dribbling and short passing—traits associated with a No.8—than the long-range distribution of Carrick or Pirlo. In fact, Sandro Tonali’s arrival in 2024/25 saw Bruno pushed further forward as Tonali assumed the deeper role.

Looking back, Roy Keane in the latter half of his career epitomised the No.6’s balance of defensive discipline and intelligent possession play.

Other notable examples include Jorginho, Falcão (the Brazilian), and Javier Mascherano—each bringing unique attributes to the position. What unites all great No.6s is their mastery of simplicity: tackling, passing, and occasionally carrying the ball to perfection.