For decades, coaches warned players to “never dribble through the middle, you’ll lose it and get punished on the break. Yet by 2025, the practice once deemed reckless has evolved into one of football’s most devastating weapons. Central dribbling, carrying the ball through congested middle spaces, is now central to dismantling compact defensive blocks.
From Box-to-Box to Mid-Line
I began my football journey in youth ranks in the United States as a number 8 at youth club level, and school level, shuttling between defense and attack. But my love for dribbling, particularly weaving through the heart of the midfield, inevitably pulled me forward. I transitioned into a number 10, a role where I could receive between the lines, spin off markers, and carry the game forward.
Unfortunately, injuries sidelined me for much of my High School and University career. Still, watching that instinctive, risk-on run emerge at the top level gives me validation, one decisive central run can still unravel even the most disciplined shape.
Hazard: The Prototype of Central Dribbling Glory
Few players have embodied central dribbling better as a classic number 10 than Eden Hazard during his 2014–15 peak at Chelsea:
He completed 182 dribbles that season, with an average of 4.8 dribbles per game, and created 99 chances from open play, more than anyone in the Premier League.
He earned PFA, FWA, and Premier League Player of the Year awards and helped carry Chelsea to both the Premier League and League Cup titles.
In key matches, Hazard’s dribbling shifted momentum; he logged huge runs, assisted late winners, and consistently drew fouls (booking 23 opponents across seasons) to disrupt defenses.
Reddit fans summed it up best:
➢ “Hazard’s 14/15: 182 dribbles, 4.8 dribbles/game. Prime Hazard’s a f**king beast.”
He wasn’t just a flair player, he was a structural catalyst.
Today’s Maestro: Florian Wirtz’s Tactical Destruction
Across the 2024–25 Bundesliga season, Florian Wirtz has become football’s leading central dribbling figure:
- He made 82 successful dribbles, ranking first in the Bundesliga.
- According to cumulative data, he completed 152 dribbles total, averaging 6.29 per 90 minutes, in the 99th percentile.
- His passing creativity is elite: 12 assists (0.46 per 90, 99th percentile), and an expected assists (xA) of 0.43 per 90.
- High work off the ball, 1.25 high turnovers per 90 (most in Bundesliga), and most pressures for Leverkusen in Champions League play.
- He registered 57 chances created from open play over two seasons, trailing only Salah, Odegaard, Fernandes, and Palmer across Europe’s top leagues.
Put simply: Wirtz isn’t dribbling to survive, he’s dribbling to destroy the opposition.
Why Central Dribbling Works Now
Three critical tactical forces are aligned:
- Gravity Effect – Central carriers draw multiple defenders inward, creating space wide and behind.
- Shape Collapse – As markers follow, gaps open for runners, through-balls, or explosive passes.
- Press-Support Structure – Modern teams can swarm quickly after turnovers, mitigating risk.
The result? High-value chaos, central dribbling that tilts structured defense into breakdown.
South Africa’s Hidden Weapon: Siyabonga Mabena
At Mamelodi Sundowns, Siyabonga Mabena embodies the latent potential for central dribbling in the PSL:
Debuted at 16 years, 7 months, and became the youngest ever scorer in PSL history.
Coach Rhulani Mokwena praises his balance, two-footedness, and lightning changes of direction, perfect traits for central penetration.
Though dribbling stats remain modest (by design or opportunity), the raw technical toolkit is there. With tactical backing, Mabena could become the PSL’s central dribble orchestrator.
Tactical Checklist for Coaches
To deploy central dribbling effectively:
- Wingers maintain width, stretching blocks.
- Pivot stays behind, protects, and provides recycling.
- Fullbacks underlap to offer passing outlets.
- Rest-defence holds position to prevent counters.
Proper structure transforms dribbling from reckless gamble to strategic trigger.
Risk vs Reward: A Tactical Balancing Act
- Risk: Lose it centrally, and the counter is perilous.
- Reward: Break the block in a heartbeat, one run changes the game dynamic.
In today’s tight world of compact defenses, central dribbling delivers more value than multi-pass overloads ever could, if backed by structure.
Conclusion: A Personal, Trend-Rich Take
From Hazard’s 2014–15 dominance to Wirtz’s current statistical supremacy, central dribbling remains football’s most potent disruptive tactic. As someone who transitioned from No. 8 to No. 10 because of that same instinct, and who saw my playing days curtailed by injury, it feels poetic to witness it thrive today.
And as South African footie rises, Mabena could be the next central dribble torchbearer. Structure the risk, and the reward a burst of space, a team-collapsing run will follow.