Alex, idol of Coritiba and former midfielder of the team, recently expressed his concerns about the absence of classic socks in the world of football, especially in the Paraná club.
The player, who retired almost a decade ago, identified significant changes in the player development model, which, according to him, has impacted the presence of traditional central midfielders.
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The #10 is missing, according to Alex
The green-and-white idol highlighted that the current business model of football, focused on the development of young players for sale, has been one of the main factors for the disappearance of classic midfielders.
Alex recalled that in the past, the development of players in the youth system had the main objective of preparing athletes for the first team, without the excessive concern with future negotiations.
He noted that changes in the style of play, influenced by European football, have led to the formation of more wingers, to the detriment of classic central midfielders.
“In the past, in the youth system, you made players for your first team without the concern of making a business deal, football was not a business. There was no such thing as having a 13-year-old boy who would be prepared to be sold. That didn’t exist. As they play abroad (in Europe) with two wingers and a trio in midfield, we started to make a lot of winger players. So, when we took it to the business side, we took kids of 10 years old and brought them a little further back or a little more to the side. Because of this, the number of these players (central midfielders) has decreased,” explained the former midfielder and current coach.
The new 10 of Coxa
However, despite Alex’s criticism, Coritiba debuted in the Brazilian Serie B Championship with Matheus Frizzo wearing the number 10 shirt. Signed at the beginning of the year, the player has different characteristics from the classic midfielders who made their mark in Brazilian football.
Frizzo is a player who operates more on the sides of the pitch, using his speed and skill to reach the goal line. In 2024, the midfielder directly participated in nine of the 31 goals scored by Coritiba, evidencing his importance in the team’s offensive system.
However, he does not play centrally, as was common in the days of Tostão, another idol who wore the Coritiba 10 shirt in 1989.
In his debut with the Coxa 10 shirt, Frizzo had a regular performance, contributing to the team both in defense and attack. Despite the initial defeat, the midfielder highlighted the team’s resilience and the importance of a good start to the competition.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
The first, second and third episodes are available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for the upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
