(UPDATE: SUMMER 2025) Howdy folks! Welcome back to another banger of an episode (and BOY do we have a BANGER! 🔥⚽🧠). Season 4 has been going quite smoothly, and we’re about to take a look at one of the roles that has some of the smoothest players on the ball within Soccermanager.
In this episode, we’re taking a look at the ‘Deep-lying Playmaker’ role (UPDATE: The new version is now called ‘Deep Playmaker’, but I’d be “lying” if I said that am a fan of this shortened name…). From my observation, almost everyone loves watching a proper ‘Deep-lying Playmaker’ in action. The way in which they collect the ball from their defence, swivel on the ‘half turn’ and spray a 60 yard diagnoal ball towards an on- running forward is truly a thing of beauty! They are one of the more technically gifted players within any team and possess a footballing brain that is always switched on due to them having to be constantly painting pictures of the various scenarios happening during their time on the pitch.
ATTACKING PHASE
‘Deep-lying Playmakers’ tend to be a team’s main source of starting attacks (also known as a “metronome” or “conductor”) as their slightly deeper position allows them to see majority of the picture happening within the business area on the field, and since they tend to be the most technically gifted (as well as being more mobile than the their defensive teammates behind of them), ‘D.L.P’s’ are granted the responsibility of manvering the ball into the attacking third in addition to being the ensurer of possession being maintained. These types enjoy positioning themselves within areas on the pitch where they can always get the ball and aim to play more riskier passes compared to the other Midfielder types that play in a deeper position.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
Due to their techincal prowess, most ‘D.L.P’s’ tend to be less capable physically when considereing other types of DM,M(C)’s which means that they can become a liabilty when your team is defending (particularly if they are the sole Defensive Midfielder/ Pivot within your starting X1). Now, this dosen’t mean that they aren’t good defenders. As a matter of fact, majority of ‘Deep-lying Playmakers’ are quite exceptional in defensive situations due to their soccer intelligence, but what I’m trying to explain is that they tend not to be the best physcially and could end up struggling against more powerful midfield types ( like a Bellingham or a Barella, for example). Nevertheless, they are so intelligent that it’s worth taking a risk on leaving them exposed. I suggest that you pair your ‘D.L.P’ alongside a more energetic type midfielder (like a Valverde or a Rice, for example).
POSITIONAL TRAITS
The ‘Deep-lying Playmaker’ is a specialist position, so they’re only required to play as a DM(C). In order to ensure that you give a player the role of a ‘D.L.P’, you must tick the ‘use playmaker box’ as well as point that player’s arrow to ‘defending’ in order to allow him to start your team’s plays from his perferred deep areas on the pitch. (UPDATE: Now, all we have to do is choose the ‘Deep Playmaker’ option. Bare in mind that some of the formations within S.M.W won’t allow you to access the ‘D.P’ role like the 4-4-2A and 3-4-3, for example. In these cases, you should choose the ‘Playmaker’ option. Just ALWAYS remember that you must use this player as your Playmaker by choosing ‘Yes’ within your Instructions on the Tactics page).
KEY ATTRIBUTES (From SM25 and beyond)
Positioning
Dribbling
Control
Long passing
Short passing
Creativity
Composure
BEST PLAYERS OF ROLE IN SOCCERMANAGER WORLDS
(UPDATE: Don’t know if you can tell, but I am SOOOOOO excited to share this list!!! 😃 For these new updates, I’ve chosen to make a 30 man shortlist of players whom I believe are the best operators within said role and then slashing half the list and sharing with you Lot the top 15 (the most fun part is debating with myself on each player, remembering how freaking good they are, and having to painstakingly leave someone off the list… 😁).
Without further a do, the top 15 ‘Deep-lying Playmakers’ within S.M.W are as follows:
Hernández Rodri 🇪🇸
Joshua Kimmich 🇩🇪
Frenkie De Jong 🇳🇱
Ferreira Vitinha 🇵🇹
Sergio Busquets 🇪🇸
Marco Veratti 🇮🇹
Frello Jorginho 🇮🇹
Martín Zubimendi 🇪🇸
Manuel Locatelli 🇮🇹
Stanislav Lobotka 🇷🇸
Hakan Çalhanoğlu 🇹🇷
Sandro Tonali 🇮🇹
Bruno Guimarães 🇧🇷
Granit Xhaka 🇨🇭
Alexis Mac Allister 🇦🇷
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Ismaël Bennacer 🇩🇿
Leandro Paredes 🇦🇷
Ryan Gravenberch 🇳🇱
Man oh man did I have a blast updating this one!!! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did creating it…
Coming up next, we take a look at the Midfield “Generals”. Don’t miss it, Soccermanagerite! 🤞
The Soccermanager Experience 