CAM stands for Central Attacking midfielder. This is a very glamorous role in professional soccer. A central attacking midfielder is usually a reserved role for the most gifted players. They are often fan favorites because of their creativity, goals, and dribbling.
Many of the greatest soccer players have been central attacking middlefielders. They include legends like Francesco Totti from Roma, Roberto Baggio, and more recently Kevin De Bruyne in Manchester City.
What does CAM stand for in soccer? The soccer position CAM stands for central attacking midfielder. They are positioned behind the striker and can focus more on the attack than a central middlefielder.
What does a CAM actually do?
The central attacking midfielder must be the link between attack and midfield, much like a central defensive middlefielder (CDM), is the link between defense midfield and defense.
A CAM is required to pick up the ball either from a player moving it forwards, or by dropping down to obtain the ball.
As tactics become more concentrated on technically talented players, a central point for attacking moves is the CAM. To do this, the player who assumes the role sits in an advanced position in the midfield and is behind the striker (or both in a two man attack). He or she sets up goals and drives forward to join in the attack.
After the CAM transitions the ball from the midfield, there are three options: give it to a striker, move the ball out wide to a winger, in the hope of a cross, or take a shot at goal. This is where the trick lies. Usually, they have to make the right decision while being stopped by an opponent.
Fans love CAMs because they are usually the last to touch the ball before the goal is scored.
What does a CAM need to succeed?
To be successful, a CAM must have specific attributes. This is particularly true in elite soccer where the role can be difficult to master and there are many new players trying to take over the role of the current CAM.
The confidence and ability to control the ball with close control, while attacking opponents, is essential for central attacking midfielders. They must also be able to take on at least one defensive opponent.
These are the 9 essential qualities of a successful CAM:
- Creativity
- Awareness
- Agility
- Speed
- Dribbling
- Passing
- Unpredictability
- Shooting Skills
- Composure
1. Creativity
Creativeness, the ability of thinking outside the box and seeing ahead of other players is one of central attacking midfielders’ most valuable skills. Creative CAMs are able to unlock even the most difficult defenses through their creativity and innovativeness. This trait makes them invaluable.
A player’s creativity is a sign of their ability to find the key pass. With so little time on the ball, a CAM who can quickly dissect defenses can be a hero for their team and give strikers the chance to score.
2. Awareness
Spatial awareness is an important attribute of a good CAM. Knowing where your teammates and the opposition players are at all times can help a central attacking Midfielder find the right space to play in.
Most fans will have heard the phrase “playing in the hole” during in-game commentary, and this refers to the CAM finding a pocket of space between midfield and attack in order to be able to look up, find a pass and then make that killer ball through.
While awareness can be taught although it is possible to lose sight of the world around you, the best CAMs often have exceptional peripheral vision which allows them to see where they are relative the flow and how to use that information.
3. Agility
The central attacking midfielder must be able turn quickly and jink past any tackle. They also need to be able handle the physical demands of being shut down by defenders and defensive midfielders.
Gym work can build up a player’s agility, through exercises such as bleep tests, where a player runs from one point to another in quick succession, this builds up speed and dexterity, allowing the player to turn faster, step aside quicker, and avoid danger through being agile enough to move away from tackles.
4. Speed
Modern soccer is all about pace. As the game gets faster and the margins between winning or losing get smaller, an attacking midfielder with speed can transform a game.
While acceleration is a trait that can be honed, natural pace is less simple to learn, either a player is a speed merchant or they aren’t. Their speed allows a CAM the ability to get past players, stretch a game by pulling people out of position, as well as terrorizing the opposition.
5. Dribbling
Fans are more excited by a central attacking middlefielder charging upfield, with the ball at his feet, on a mazy run that ends with a defense-splitting pass and a goal.
Attacking midfielders should be encouraged to practice their dribbling skills from an early age. Being able run quickly with the ball under close supervision is crucial to keep it safe and to distribute it correctly.
Running with the ball and weaving among cones in training is a great tool. The more control a player has and the faster they move with it, the harder it will be for an opponent to take possession of the CAM.
6. Passing
Creative players are able to run with the ball, see all available options and make creative plays. But being able also to pass is key. A CAM that can’t pass is a liability that teams can’t afford.
From long-range passing to tiki-taka short passes around the box, a central attacking midfielder’s sole responsibility is to get the ball out of midfield and into the final third of the pitch, and make the final pass to the strikers. As a CAM, it is important to be able to accurately and cleanly pass the ball.
7. Unpredictability
An unpredictable CAM running at the ball with the ball is what really gets the defenses’ hearts racing. When a player’s movements are uniform and predictable, a defense can plan ahead and nullify the threat, but a CAM that does the unexpected is a terrifying proposition.
Central attacking midfielders are some of the most exciting players on pitch. Their speed of thought and willingness to experiment with new things make them the most interesting players.
8. Shooting Skills
The best CAMs, from Diego Maradona and Kevin De Bruyne know how to score. The responsibility of the CAM lies in contributing to the goals of strikers who are being penalized or simply having a bad day.
Some of the most successful central attacking midfielders have had scoring records similar to those of strikers. A CAM that is able to score from long range or who likes to go unchallenged in the box can be a great asset to a team.
Practicing free kicks, long-range shots, and arriving late into the opponent’s penalty box can give a CAM the skills and confidence to try a shot when many others would be looking for a safer pass. Sometimes, you just need to give the ball a good shake.
9. Composure
Composure is the most important, although it’s not last on the list. The central attacking midfielder is limited in time and must be able to quickly make decisions and see them through.
A well-organized central attacking midfielder is able to handle pressure and be composed, and is often not flustered when being kicked up and back down for 90 minutes.
What does the future hold for the CAM role?
Manchester City has shown that the CAM’s role is more important than ever. As the traditional striker role becomes less clear, it is the goal scorer for their teams that the CAM takes over.
And this isn’t a bad thing, as defenses have to move out of their area in order to close down a deeper-lying CAM, the space opens up behind them for other CAMs to move into, either cutting in from wide or running through the center for through balls.
World-class central attacking midfielders are the future because they now have more responsibility for their teams.