I once worked with a promising wide midfielder who insisted his future was centrally behind the striker. He had the vision and attacking intent, but lacked the subtleties of a true number 10: the first touch to open angles, the tempo control, and the spatial awareness to operate between opposition lines. Over ten focused sessions, we re-mapped his skillset. What follows is the concentrated, practical conversion plan I would use again — and the questions it answers about whether you can realistically turn a wide midfielder into a championship-calibre number 10 in just ten sessions.

What does “number 10” actually mean?

Before training, we must agree on the role. A modern number 10 is not just a creative passer; they are a tempo manager, a pocket attacker, and often the link between midfield and forward line. Key attributes I target:

  • Spatial awareness: finding and occupying pockets between defence and midfield.
  • First touch under pressure: to turn, release or shield instantly.
  • Progressive passing: short combinations, line-breaking passes and timed through-balls.
  • Decision-making & tempo: when to speed up play, when to hold possession.
  • Finishing & late runs: threat in and around the box.

    • Why 10 sessions? Realistic expectations

    Ten sessions won’t fully change a player’s footballing DNA. What it will do is deliver targeted neurological and tactical shifts: introduce new movement patterns, rewire decision-making under game-like pressure, and build a small but impactful repertoire of technical and positional tools. If the player already has baseline technical ability and a coachable attitude, 10 focused sessions can produce visible improvement and a clear pathway to become a viable number 10 for a championship-level squad.

    Session plan overview (10 sessions)

    Each session is 75–90 minutes and follows this structure: 15 minutes warm-up with technical emphasis, 25–35 minutes focused drill work, 20–30 minutes game-like scenarios, 10 minutes reflection and homework assignment.

    Session Main Focus Key Drill
    1 Positioning & spatial awareness Pocket-finding rondo with shifting gates
    2 First touch & tight control Pressure first-touch relay + directional turns
    3 Pass variety (short, medium, break lines) Progressive passing matrix
    4 Combination play & back-to-goal play 3v2 overloads, back-to-goal receiving
    5 Decision-making under pressure Time-restricted possession games
    6 Through balls & vision training Split-field vision passing with mannequins
    7 Late runs & finishing Arrival runs to finish drill
    8 Transition play & pressing triggers Counter-press/transition small-sided games
    9 Full-role game templates 11v11 or 8v8 with tactical restraints
    10 Assessment & personalised action plan Match simulation + video review

    Selected drills explained

    I want to highlight three drills I use repeatedly because they accelerate transfer to match play.

  • Pocket-finding rondo with shifting gates — A 6v2 rondo where small gates (1.5m) represent pockets. The 6 must move the ball to occupy different gates on the coach’s signal. This develops scanning, footwork to enter small spaces, and passing weight to exploit tight pockets.
  • Progressive passing matrix — Set out cones forming short, medium and long passing lanes. The number 10 is the hub; tasks: play two short passes, then a medium, and finish with a line-breaking pass. Rotate pressure defenders in each round. This builds pattern recognition for when to escalate ball progression.
  • Arrival runs to finish drill — From deeper midfield, the player times diagonal runs into the box to meet cutbacks or threaded through-balls. Add a defender to influence timing. Repetition of late runs improves both finishing and the ability to read game flow.

    • Physical and cognitive markers to track

    To measure progress I track tangible metrics. Use a phone/camera and a simple notepad or an app like CoachNow.

  • Touches in the pocket per 15-min session: aim to increase frequency by session 5.
  • Successful line-breaking passes per drill: baseline and target +30% by session 8.
  • First-touch control under pressure: percentage of positive second actions in pressured drills.
  • Decisions per minute in small-sided games: higher decisions are good but quality matters — track successful vs unsuccessful choices.

    • Common hurdles and how I address them

    Expect resistance in three areas:

  • Comfort zone: Wide players are used to linear runs. I introduce half-session lateral and backward receiving under low pressure to rewire movement patterns.
  • Overthinking: Players trying too many flashy passes. I implement constraints (time or touches) that force cleaner choices and reward simple rhythm-maintaining passes.
  • Physical adaptation: Central midfield requires different physical collisions and balance. I add short strength & core sessions and low-volume plyometrics to help withstand central duels.

    • Equipment and tech I recommend

    Nothing exotic, but a few items speed learning:

  • Multiple coloured cones and mini-gates to mark pockets and lanes.
  • Mannequins or lightweight poles for vision drills.
  • A decent action camera or phone tripod for quick playback (CoachNow, Hudl Assist).
  • Wearables (optional): GPS or heart-rate to monitor work-rate changes across sessions.

    • How I integrate feedback and ensure long-term transfer

    My sessions end with a short video review — 3–4 clips: a good sequence, a mistake, and a decision to discuss. Then a simple homework task: 10 minutes daily with a ball (wall passes, direction-change first touch) and a short mental rehearsal of pockets and triggers. Progress is not just skill but the cognitive map of the role. If the player practices movement and decision templates outside sessions, the gains stick.

    When this becomes “championship calibre”

    Reaching championship level requires weekly game time against high-level opponents, consistent tactical coaching, strength and conditioning, and periodised load management. The 10-session plan sets the blueprint and jump-starts role-specific skills. If the player continues targeted work, gets competitive minutes, and maintains professional habits (nutrition, recovery, video study), the conversion can certainly mature into championship readiness within a season.

    If you want, I can share a printable 10-session PDF, a template for session notes, or a short video library of the drills. I’ve tested this structure with semi-pros and academy players — it’s concise, repeatable and, when paired with honest feedback, it builds the foundation a modern number 10 needs.