Top 10 incredible tactical innovations that revolutionised football

#6 The 3-3-1-3 formation (Ajax)

Louis Van Gaal used the 3-3-1-3 formation with a bunch of youngsters at Ajax

Back in season 1994/95, a young Ajax team consisting of would-be legends took the world by storm with their enthralling style of play. They operated in a modified 4-3-3 system that pushed the boundaries of attacking football to new extremities. Louis Van Gaal, the then-coach of Ajax, used a 3-3-1-3 system with a bunch of graduates from the club's youth academy and executed this new technique with perfection.

Like many others, this system too has its roots tracing back to the Total Football philosophy. A high defensive line and intense pressing up the pitch were the hallmarks of the 3-3-1-3 borrowed from its ancestor, but Van Gaal arranged it in a way far contrasting to that of Johan Cruyff.

While Cruyff used a wider midfield so as to protect the flanks, Van Gaal used a narrow diamond with a playmaker connecting the attack to the midfield. This system requires players to have a great technical ability and high-level concentration since even a single misplaced pass can lead to a vulnerable counter-attack situation on the flanks.

Using the 3-3-1-3 format, Ajax won the Dutch league unbeaten and scored 106 goals in the process. They also clinched their fourth European Cup title by beating AC Milan in the finals. They are regarded as arguably one of the best teams in the history of the sport.