The Evolution of Football: How Rondos and Positional Play Changed the Game.
- Paddy King
- Feb 5, 2024
- 4 min read
Football today looks very different than it did even just 30 years ago.
The rapid, pass-heavy, possession-based game we see from the top teams in 2022 can be traced back to pioneering coaches and clubs who developed new training methodologies.
Two of the most influential innovations were rondos and positional play exercises.
Rondos are small-sided possession games, typically in a tight, enclosed space with uneven numbers.
They emerged in the 1960s at clubs like Ajax, instilled by coaches like Vic Buckingham and Rinus Michels (1). Johan Cruyff, a star player under Michels, continued emphasizing rondos as manager of Barcelona.
The basic premise involves keeping away from defenders for as long as possible.
This develops close control, passing accuracy, vision, communication and decision making.
Variations expanded on the concept, like adding multiple defenders or two touch restrictions.
Positional play refers to a structured system where players occupy certain zones and roles on the field.
It works in tandem with rondos to increase awareness, improve support angles, and establish passing options.
Coaches like Pep Guardiola exemplify the benefits of positional play in how his teams maintain controlled possession.
Origins at Ajax Michels utilized rondos to craft the revolutionary “Total Football” Ajax teams of the 1970s. Players like Cruyff, Neeskens and Krol exhibited the technical abilities honed through rondos.
They could exploit space through combination play, as discussed by author Jonathan Wilson (2).
After retiring as a player, Cruyff managed Ajax and Barcelona using these same principles. His teachings on positioning, triangles, diamonds and rondos served as the foundation for what some coaches now consider “tiki taka” football.
Misconceptions Around Tiki Taka:
Many coaches wrongly think the objective of positional play is to play tiki taka - the constant short passing and ball retention typified by Spain and Barcelona. But as coaches like Juanma Lillo argue, tiki taka is simply a byproduct of strong positional play and should not be the aim (3).
The real focus should be on creating and exploiting space to progress upfield.
Guardiola himself has noted that positional play is about breaking lines and generating chances through clean movement.
Tiki taka in itself is pointless without purposeful circulation and advancing. Keeping this strategic distinction is key for coaches.
Spain’s Possession Dominance:
When Spain won Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, they demonstrated the success of Cruyff’s philosophies focused on space and positional awareness. Players like Xavi and Iniesta were products of La Masia's positional play training. Their quick combinations and positional interchanges overwhelmed opponents.
Guardiola evolved the teachings of Cruyff after playing under him at Barcelona.
Drills emphasizing ball circulation, one-touch passing and creativity became hallmarks of Guardiola’s teams. He implemented concepts like the third man run in training at FC Barcelona.
Author Marti Perarnau describes Guardiola’s commitment to positional play and rondos. Guardiola credits them as “the essence of our football” (4).
They are integral parts of how he indoctrinates players on space orientation, off-ball movements, body shape and decision making.
Influencing Modern Tactical Approaches:
Positional play and rondos have now been adopted worldwide. Clubs implement them from youth levels up to first teams. Guardiola himself has brought these methods to his teams in Germany and England.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool use spacing and positional awareness drills to devastating effect. Their counterpressing relies on positioning and communication skills developed through small-sided games. Italian clubs like Napoli have embraced “Juego de Posicion” to dictate matches through possession and efficient circulation (5).
Elite youth academies recognize their ability to enhance technical qualities. Players who progress from La Masia (FC Barcelona) to top European clubs consistently exhibit the traits like close control, vision and passing ingrained through rondos.
Progression From Street Football Author Jonathan Wilson notes that these training games are advanced versions of childhood street football. Unstructured small-sided matches teach young players similar skills and awareness in confined spaces (6). Coaches have refined this further to accelerate player development.
Rondos and positional play have expanded the toolkit for developing intelligent, well-rounded footballers. Coaches can target specific tactical and technical skills through varied games and constraints. The formats allow high repetition of key concepts like first touch, combination play, and changing the point of attack.
Looking Ahead Football will continue evolving, but the foundations laid by pioneers of positional play and rondos will remain integral. Their innovations have been wholeheartedly embraced around the globe. Even when tactical trends shift, these exercises provide timeless benefits for improving young players. They enhance on-ball qualities while sharpening footballing intelligence and strategic thinking.
The modern, possession-based game played by elite clubs owes a debt to the rondo and positional play training developed decades ago. Coaches will keep finding new ways to reshape football, but the fingerprints of Cruyff, Guardiola and others will persist. These methodologies have fundamentally shaped football and player development.

References:
Wilson, Jonathan. Inverting The Pyramid. Nation Books, 2018.
Wilson, Jonathan. Angles and Spaces: Understanding Football Tactics. Polar Print Group, 2019.
Hughes, Rob. “The Long Interview: Juanma Lillo – Part II.” The Coaches' Voice, 16 May 2016.
Perarnau, Martí. Pep Guardiola: The Evolution. Arena Sport, 2014.
Wilson, Jonathan. The Italian Job: A Journey to the Heart of Two Great Footballing Cultures. Nation Books, 2018.
Wilson, Jonathan. The Barcelona Inheritance: The Evolution of Winning Soccer Tactics from Cruyff to Guardiola. PublicAffairs, 2018.
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