Before **Rinus Michels** and **Total Football**, the concepts underpinning **Juego de Posición (positional play)** evolved from earlier football philosophies, particularly in the early 20th century.
1. **Danubian School and Austrian Wunderteam (1930s)**: In the 1920s and 1930s, the **Danubian School**, which included countries like Austria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, brought forward ideas focused on ball possession, movement off the ball, and spatial control. Austria's **Wunderteam** under **Hugo Meisl** in the 1930s was one of the earliest teams to implement concepts similar to positional play. Meisl's team relied on quick, intelligent passes, flexible formations, and positioning to break down opponents.
2. **Jimmy Hogan**: An influential figure in early football development, Hogan worked with several Central European teams and contributed to the Danubian style, emphasizing technical ability and spatial awareness, key elements in positional play. He had a massive influence on Hungarian football and helped shape how space and ball movement were integrated into tactics.
3. **Vittorio Pozzo's Metodo**: In Italy, **Vittorio Pozzo**, coach of Italy’s World Cup-winning teams in 1934 and 1938, developed the **Metodo** formation. This tactical system was one of the first to prioritize organized team shape, disciplined defense, and structured positioning across the field, elements that would later influence Michels’ approach.
4. **Hungarian Golden Team (1950s)**: **Gusztáv Sebes'** Hungary team of the 1950s, particularly in their famous win over England in 1953 ("The Match of the Century"), used a flexible 3-2-3-2 formation that relied heavily on positional discipline and fluid movement. Players like **Ferenc Puskás** and **Nándor Hidegkuti** were crucial in manipulating space and creating numerical superiority, concepts that directly influenced Michels' later work.
### Conclusion:
While Rinus Michels and **Total Football** are often credited with formalizing positional play, its roots can be traced back to the **Danubian School** of Central European football, **Jimmy Hogan’s** influence, and teams like Austria’s **Wunderteam** and Hungary’s **Golden Team**, which focused on controlling space and ball possession decades earlier. These developments laid the groundwork for the more refined positional systems seen in modern football.
Before **Rinus Michels** and **Total Football**, the concepts underpinning **Juego de Posición (positional play)** evolved from earlier football philosophies, particularly in the early 20th century. 1. **Danubian School and Austrian Wunderteam (1930s)**: In the 1920s and 1930s, the **Danubian School**, which included countries like Austria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia, brought forward ideas focused on ball possession, movement off the ball, and spatial control. Austria's **Wunderteam** under **Hugo Meisl** in the 1930s was one of the earliest teams to implement concepts similar to positional play. Meisl's team relied on quick, intelligent passes, flexible formations, and positioning to break down opponents. 2. **Jimmy Hogan**: An influential figure in early football development, Hogan worked with several Central European teams and contributed to the Danubian style, emphasizing technical ability and spatial awareness, key elements in positional play. He had a massive influence on Hungarian football and helped shape how space and ball movement were integrated into tactics. 3. **Vittorio Pozzo's Metodo**: In Italy, **Vittorio Pozzo**, coach of Italy’s World Cup-winning teams in 1934 and 1938, developed the **Metodo** formation. This tactical system was one of the first to prioritize organized team shape, disciplined defense, and structured positioning across the field, elements that would later influence Michels’ approach. 4. **Hungarian Golden Team (1950s)**: **Gusztáv Sebes'** Hungary team of the 1950s, particularly in their famous win over England in 1953 ("The Match of the Century"), used a flexible 3-2-3-2 formation that relied heavily on positional discipline and fluid movement. Players like **Ferenc Puskás** and **Nándor Hidegkuti** were crucial in manipulating space and creating numerical superiority, concepts that directly influenced Michels' later work. ### Conclusion: While Rinus Michels and **Total Football** are often credited with formalizing positional play, its roots can be traced back to the **Danubian School** of Central European football, **Jimmy Hogan’s** influence, and teams like Austria’s **Wunderteam** and Hungary’s **Golden Team**, which focused on controlling space and ball possession decades earlier. These developments laid the groundwork for the more refined positional systems seen in modern football.