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+---- Thread: What is a Segundo Volante? (/showthread.php?tid=5408)
What is a Segundo Volante? - TomHanks - 2024-07-12
There comes a time in every footballers life where they have to ask themselves, what do I want to bring to the team? Chuck Noland had plenty of time to consider this during his time stranded on an island accompanied only by a ball named Wilson. The answer he came to after years in the hot sun eating only fruit and seafood was that he wants to be every Football Manager's maddest dream. A proper elite segundo volante.
For the purposes of this article, we will be digging into what exactly a segundo volante is, as it is a position that is often foreign to even die hard football fans. Originally, it was a fancier term for a more common role, the BWM. Over time, however, this has progressed into a role that works extremely well in a midfield three or one half of a pair of defensive midfielders alongside a deep lying playmaker.
Defensively, the segundo volante is there to be a disruptor and take advantage of any errors from the opposition close to the box. With any poor touches or passes, the player is meant to seize the opportunity and steal possession back. If defending a counter attack, the approach is a little simpler. Stop or at least slow down the oncoming forwards by any means necessary, allowing the rest of the team time to get back and support. The role also includes supporting pressing teammates by sitting back and closing off potential passing lanes, allowing the teammate more opportunity to press.
Once possession has been reclaimed, the segundo volante's job is only beginning. A facilitator at midfield, the player is typically the go between when switching to the other side of the field. Once a lane opens and the team begins moving down the pitch, in an ideal scenario for the segundo volante, the defender leaves the outside winger or wide attacking midfielder unmarked in order to try to tackle the ball away from the player. In this situation, the player will hit the open teammate. If the pass is perfect, the volante takes off and runs towards the box for a give and go strike from distance. If the give and go happens but the shot isn't there, the volante will drift back and and roam until the forwards can stretch the defense enough to create an open pass. Alternatively, if the defender stays with them, stay a little wider and provide an outlet pass option for the forwards.
This is a position that requires a tremendous amount of patience and training. You have to be able to pass, dribble, run, shoot, mark, tackle, and position yourself on and off the ball. Chuck is in no way illusioned into thinking playing segundo volante will be easy or even something he'll be able to do anytime soon, but ultimately mastering the role is the long term dream of this new player.