What is a Target Man in Football? Understanding the Role and Importance

The Target Man: A Key Offensive Role in Football

Well, if you’ve watched football for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the term "target man" thrown around. I remember when I first started following football closely, I kept hearing about this player, and I didn’t quite understand what made him so important. After a bit of digging, I realized the target man plays a crucial role in many teams' attacking strategies.

In simple terms, a target man is a forward player who acts as the focal point for attacking plays. He's often the player the team looks to when they need a strong, physical presence up top. But what does that really mean, and why is this position so essential to a football team?

What Makes a Target Man Different from Other Forwards?

1. Physical Presence and Aerial Ability

First of all, a target man is typically someone who is physically imposing, often taller and stronger than other players on the field. They excel in aerial duels, meaning they’re great at winning headers from long balls or crosses into the box. When you think of a target man, think of someone who can hold the ball up under pressure, bring others into play, and convert those aerial challenges into goal-scoring opportunities.

Honestly, I remember watching players like Andy Carroll or Peter Crouch in the Premier League—these guys weren’t just strikers; they were mountains in the air. It was almost like watching two teams battle for a long pass that would be settled by a header. And it wasn’t just about winning the ball in the air; it was about doing something productive with it.

2. Holding Up the Play

What truly sets a target man apart is his ability to hold up the play. This means that when the ball is played into him, he can maintain possession under pressure from defenders and wait for support to arrive. A target man is not necessarily the fastest player, but he is often very good at laying off the ball to teammates in better positions.

I had this one memorable conversation with a friend about Olivier Giroud, who perfectly embodies this style. We were watching a match, and Giroud was holding off defenders, waiting for his teammates to make runs, and then he’d lay the ball off to them perfectly. It’s an art form, really.

Why Is the Target Man Important in Football?

1. Creating Space for Teammates

A good target man can create so much space for his teammates, even if he's not directly scoring goals. By holding the ball up and attracting defenders, he opens gaps in the defense for others to exploit. For example, the fullbacks can overlap, the wingers can cut inside, and the attacking midfielders can make those crucial runs into the box.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Harry Kane (in his earlier years) drop back a little to play a more physical target role and then deliver a perfect ball into space for a teammate. It was as if he was playing chess while everyone else was just playing checkers.

2. The Link Between Midfield and Attack

Another key role of the target man is his ability to act as the link between the midfield and the attack. He can help transition the ball from defense into offense and maintain possession in attacking positions. This is especially important when a team is under pressure and needs someone to relieve the pressure and bring the team higher up the pitch.

When you think of some of the top teams, they usually have a player who can perform this role. For example, Romelu Lukaku does this brilliantly when he drops deep, holds up the ball, and brings teammates into play, making them all look dangerous.

Famous Target Men in Football History

1. Zlatan Ibrahimović

Okay, let’s be honest here—Zlatan Ibrahimović might not be the traditional "target man" in the strictest sense, but his presence and aerial ability are unmatched. He’s got everything: strength, flair, and the ability to hold off defenders while bringing his teammates into the game. And I’ll be honest, his goals are often works of art, whether he’s scoring with his feet, head, or even the weirdest part of his body!

2. Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba is one of the greatest target men of all time. His ability to dominate the air, hold the ball up under pressure, and score important goals in tight matches made him a force to be reckoned with. I still remember that iconic goal he scored in the Champions League final for Chelsea. That’s the kind of striker who thrives as a target man—big, strong, and almost impossible to stop in the air.

3. Andy Carroll

Okay, we can't talk about target men without mentioning Andy Carroll. Though his career has been a bit up and down, Carroll’s physicality and aerial dominance are textbook target man traits. The guy is built like a tank and can cause chaos in the opposition's box just by being there. I remember when he played for West Ham—whenever a ball was whipped in, you knew something might happen in the air. He’s not the quickest, but when it came to heading the ball, he was always a threat.

The Evolution of the Target Man

Honestly, the role of the target man has evolved over the years. While traditional target men like Crouch and Carroll used to be the focal point of their teams' attacking plans, modern target men have become more versatile. These days, they’re not just big and strong; they’re also technically gifted and can drop deeper into midfield to link up play, like Harry Kane or Timo Werner. The days of the static target man are gone, and the modern version is more mobile, with an eye for goal and creativity.

Conclusion: The Heart of the Attack

So, what’s the bottom line? A target man is crucial for holding the ball up, creating space for teammates, and acting as a link between the midfield and attack. Whether it’s a big, physical presence in the box or a versatile forward capable of linking up play, the target man remains an integral part of any team’s offensive strategy.

Next time you watch a match, keep an eye on the target man’s role—you might find it more exciting than you think!

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

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How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

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Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

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Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.