playmaker

In association football, a playmaker is a footballer who controls the flow of the team's play, and is often involved in offensive and defensive passing moves which lead to goals, through their vision, technique, ball control, creativity and passing ability. They are sometimes called the "number 10" of the team, as they often wear the number 10 jersey.

In English football, the term overlaps somewhat with an attacking midfielder, although playmakers are not necessarily constrained to a single position. Several playmakers can also operate on the wings or as a creative, supporting striker; some can also function in a more central midfield role, alternating between playing in more offensive roles and participating in the build-up plays in the midfield. Other players still function as deep-lying playmakers, in a free role, behind the midfield line. Playmakers are not usually known for their defensive capabilities, which is why they are often supported by a defensive midfielder. As many midfielders and forwards have the aforementioned creative and technical attributes, they tend to be the playmakers of a team.