What constitutes a playmaker?



In official terms, it exclusively refers to players who are regular assisters. Two years ago, the Premier League introduced a “Playmaker of the Season” award to honour the player with the most assists. It’s been won by two Belgians: Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, with 16 and 15 respectively.



But that only refers to a specific part of playmaking. Look at it from another perspective — literally “making the play” — and it seems to refer to a different type of footballer entirely, someone who operates deeper and prompts the passing moves which eventually culminate with an assist and a goal. The term “deep-lying playmaker” covers this a little more but that specifically refers to a holding midfielder with a good passing range. What if a team’s true playmaker, the man who makes the play, is actually a full-back? Or a centre-forward?



To take account of passing contributions...