Table of Contents
- What is a carrilero in soccer?
- How is a carrilero different from a regista?
- What are the benefits of deploying a carrilero in soccer?
- Example of a carrilero in soccer
- Who are the best carrileros in soccer?
- Recap: The carrilero in soccer
The artistry and flair associated with Spanish soccer has been a joy to watch for decades, producing some of the best the game has offered.
One role which is perhaps less about flair and more about functionality is the carrilero. But what is the role? And why do teams use it?
This article will examine how a carrilero operates and what it can bring to any side.
What is a carrilero in soccer?
A carrilero is a type of central midfielder who focuses on moving horizontally across the field rather than vertically as a box to box midfielder would.
There is dispute regarding where the role originated, but soccer fans in South America will tell you that a carrilero is of Argentine roots. ‘Carril’ means ‘lane’ in Spanish, alluding to the horizontal zone where the player in this role will perform their tasks.
One of their main duties is to link the play from defense or defensive areas to wide players or those possessing more creativity.
They are rarely risk-takers, instead entrusting their more creative teammates with the incisive passing often associated with created chances.
Carrileros tend to be efficient passers and able to sniff out loose or errant balls in the middle of the field to retrieve possession for their team.
Because they are often situated out in wider positions on the field when the opposition has the ball, thanks to them moving side to side on the pitch, they are adept at hassling their rival off the ball before passing to a teammate.
How is a carrilero different from a regista?
One of the key differences between the two roles is how much creative license is granted to them.
A regista is viewed as more of a playmaker than a carrilero, splitting the lines of a midfield or a defense with their incisive passing.
This isn’t a task that is strictly asked of a carrilero, who’s assigned with spraying the ball wide from central positions and roaming the field laterally. A regista is somewhat of a quarterback of the team, starting attacking moves from deep and nearly everything goes through them.
It would be more apt to compare a carrilero to a mezzala, but a mezzala is certainly more attacking. If you want to learn more on the regista in soccer, read another of our articles dedicated to the role.
What are the benefits of deploying a carrilero in soccer?
If you require a player to do the basics and keep the tempo of play as your manager wants it then it makes sense to deploy a carrilero.
The role isn’t quite as metronomic as a regista but a carrilero can rhythmically shift the ball from A to B and keep the flow of the match to how your team wishes without being defined as a playmaker.
Defensive midfielders, like where a regista would be positioned, are great at stopping opponents through the middle of the pitch. However, a carrilero will conduct these tasks across the width of the pitch without venturing forward or spraying the ball about as much.
This means that you have a player dedicated to stopping attacking threats across the entire width of the field, not just in the middle of the pitch.
It also makes it quicker for the ball to go to the feet of your wide players if the ball is won in the area of the field, not requiring a longer pass played from the middle.
It’s a unique role in its own right because of how synonymous with soccer in the 90s and 00s the box-to-box midfielder became. A carrilero isn’t quite as talked about as other roles on the field but their duties are very important to the success of a side.
Example of a carrilero in soccer
Although box-to-box midfielders, registas, and mezzale are perhaps more popular than the carrilero, numerous teams have made use of the role to varying degrees of success.
In Ligue 1, serial winners Paris Saint-Germain deployed former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera in the role to good effect.
Their attacking talents are obvious but using a player that isn’t asked to join attacks or become the playmaker for the side can offer balance. A ball-winner on the flanks who is lucky enough to have seemingly endless talent alongside them who can instigate attacking moves can devastate opponents.
Similarly, Juventus often play with a carrilero. When they face a very good side in either Serie A or the Champions League, having a player with relentless tenacity and careful passing make them a much more difficult side to face.
Who are the best carrileros in soccer?
N’Golo Kante is a prime example of how best to perform the carrilero but also proved that it doesn’t exclusively limit those in the roles to solely deeper areas of the field.
The Frenchman has been lauded as one of the best midfielders of this decade because he can do it all. While this is true, his title-winning campaign at Leicester City and his first season at Chelsea in particular typified how good a carrilero this man is.
As if Real Madrid weren’t spoilt for choice enough in midfield, they have up and coming superstar Eduardo Camavinga who is made for the carrilero role.
When they signed the youngster from Stade Rennais, they were hopeful he could fulfill some of his potential quickly and become a regular for Los Blancos soon, which is exactly what happened.
Carrying out the role has been asked of Camavinga on numerous occasions and he rarely disappoints when doing so.
Recap: The carrilero in soccer
It might not be the most flashy role on the field, but having a carrilero in midfield offers so much when you’re attempting to neutralize an opponent’s attack from wide.
Instead of a mezzala or regista in your side, consider a carrilero instead, who can sniff out and sweep up errant danger in their zone.
Do you know your trequartista from your false nine? Learn more about some other unique roles on the soccer field in our helpful guides.