The target man has been a popular role among managers for decades, with the effectiveness of a forward who can dominate aerially, bring others into play and still chip in with important goals never really waning over the years.
The versatility of the role means it can be equally effective for a lone striker playing with his back to goal and holding the ball up to bring wingers or midfielders into the attack, or for a powerful No. 9 playing alongside another forward in a big-man-little-man partnership.
Utilising target men is a tactic used by all sorts of teams at every level, and is one of the most common roles in football.
But what exactly is a target man? Why are they so effective and what are the best modern examples of target men?
What is a Target Man?
A striker’s primary job is to score goals, everyone knows that. However, there are occasions when a system requires their main forward to do so much more, with those systems often employing a target man instead.
Rather than be an out-and-out goalscorer, a target man will play selflessly in an attempt to bring others into play using neat passes, headed flick-ons and a usually sizable frame.
Target men are often tall, powerful forwards. They tend to offer an out-ball for defences which find themselves under siege due to their aerial brilliance, which can also lead to a few goals for their own tally when attacking crosses – think Didier Drogba.
There are different types of target men, however.
Andy Carroll and Jan Koller would be described as traditional target men, as their strengths lie in winning headers, attacking crosses and, ahem, strength.
Meanwhile, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were also target men, despite heading being neither of their strong suits. Instead, they were famed for their mesmerising first touch and close control, which allowed them to pull off neat flicks and bring team-mates into the action.
The versatility of the role means it is used by top teams as a way of keeping possession – Marco van Basten did just that for Arrigo Sacchi’s dominant AC Milan – or lesser sides who go direct as a way of turning defence into attack – Chris Wood was excellent at this under Sean Dyche at Burnley.
Which modern players play the role?
The ever-changing landscape of football means the target man is perhaps less common than it was 20 years ago, with pressing forwards becoming all the rage of late. Although that could change again should the set-piece and long-throw renaissance continue.
One of the teams who spend the most time on set-pieces and long-throws do employ a target man in fairness, with Igor Thiago taking up that role for Brentford. He is an example of a hybrid target man, however, as his clever movement led to 22 goals in the 2025/26 Premier League season.
That means Thiago has characteristics of a poacher, but his big frame and willingness to bring pacey wingers Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara into play shows he is very much a target man, too.
Manchester United have their own target man in Benjamin Sesko, showing how ball-dominant sides still see the importance of a big striker as well as the smaller teams, suggesting it is a role which will continue to be relevant for a long while yet.
