After a long time of being judged as “outdated”, the striker is gradually asserting its position in the top football. Names like Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike are inspiring the return of number 9 in a very different way: modern, flexible and more comprehensive.
When classical striker is considered outdated
Just a decade ago, the strikers seemed to be completely wiped out. Spain won the Euro 2012 when using Cesc Fabregas “number 9 virtual” stone, and Germany was not very interested in the role of striker at the 2014 World Cup.
They use Thomas Muller as a “virtual number” until the quarterfinals, before coach Joachim Low returned to the classic plan of using Miroslav Klose. The fact that Klose was 36 years old seemed to only assert that the true striker was a “extinct species”. Yet this summer, the transfer market revolves around a roundabout of strikers.
Of course, the striker has never disappeared completely. The four players scored the most goals in the Premier League 2014/15 season including Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, Diego Costa and Charlie Austin are typical “9 numbers”.
In Serie A, Mauro Icardi and Luca Toni led the list of net, and in La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo, after completely transformed into a striker, the top scorer. However, the fact that Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Neymar ranked right after CR7 shows a variety of goals in Spain.
At that time, it was thought that the most advanced football must have a striker not only know how to score, but also know how to move smartly, link the game. The rise of wingers who scores, such as Messi in Barca, Arjen Robben in Bayern or Eden Hazard at Chelsea, inherited by Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Raphinha, shows that the goal can come from many directions.
Pep changes and arteta follows
However, the location is gradually regaining its position at the present time. Pep Guardiola, the coach, was considered “allergic” to classical striker and never really satisfied with Aguero, probably the opening of the change when Man City signed a contract with Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker forced Guardiola to adjust the game. He did not participate in the ball as other teammates, did not back down the middle line or drifting but often just waiting for the first route. This play helps Man City win the historical treble of 2022/23. But in the negative trend, it could be part of the reason for them to decline in the season 2024/25, when Haaland injured and decided in form.
At the same time, Arsenal was often criticized for the lack of a true striker and that made them 3 times in a row. Gunners need to play well to win, because no one is sharp enough to take advantage of half of the opportunity in a difficult match.
Alexander Isak seems to be the perfect choice for Arsenal, but the price of over £ 120 million is too much for them. Instead, the Gunners selected Viktor Gyokeres, a gamble. Despite being 27 years old, he only really exploded in the last 4 seasons: 2 with Coventry in Championship and 2 with Sporting in Portugal.
If Gyokeres overcome the weakness of slow handling in a crowded area, it is clear that this is the Arsenal striker need to upgrade the attack, and take another step in the “Dragon” journey with Mikel Arteta. But if Gyokeres struggled to integrate, Arsenal would have to rely on people who were not “number 9” as true as Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus (in case he was kept).
Isak & Ekitike, hot items
Although Arsenal ignored it, Isak is still too hot item on Techmart. He is a tall, agile, smart striker model and has proved the ability to score regularly in the Premier League in the last two seasons.
It is easy to understand why Newcastle wants to keep him, and it is easy to understand why he felt that he was not respected when he received only £ 120,000/week (about 6.2 million pounds/year). The contract has 3 years, so if he does not worry about him “dissatisfied”, Newcastle has nothing to sell. They can demand more than £ 140 million, enough to buy a quality name like Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.
However, it is difficult to understand that Isak only publicly wanted to leave after Liverpool bought Hugo Ekitike, who had the same style as him but was still not complete when he was only 23 years old. Chelsea may also consider Isak if they have not recruited two strikers, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Liverpool can sell Darwin Nunez or Luis Diaz for financial enough to buy more Isak. The signing of a contract with two strikers will be a turning point with Liverpool. For many years, the role of striker in Liverpool is mainly to clear the way for Salah. But now there is a big change when Liverpool prepares for the post -Salah period, who is now 33 years old.
However, Isak is not the classical striker. Alan Shearer is probably the “last model” of this type of striker in the UK. Since Marco Van Basten, through Andriy Shevchenko and Thierry Henry, the striker has become a more comprehensive model when they combine the ability to crush, run and steam goals.
Isak and Joao Pedro owns a comprehensive skill set similar to the above people. Ekitike and Sesko are in the process of finishing to reach that level.
It can be said that the strikers plugged, with a new and more versatile shape, once again becoming the trend of world football and signaling the new era for the position that was once considered … outdated. And when big teams are willing to pay more than £ 70 million for a striker, it is no longer a temporary trend but a strategic change.
In the era that football has no room for “purity”, the striker must also adapt to survive. But instead of disappearing, they are returning strongly, versatile, modern and … harder than ever.
