Total football is a footballing system where every player can play in every other players position, so if one player moves out of position, he can be replaced by any of his team mates. In this flowing system, no player is fixed to their starting position,. Any player can successively be a defender, a midfielder and an attacker.

Total football depends on the adaptability of each player in the team if it is to work. Players must be extremely tactically aware, allowing them to change positions at a very high speed, and be comfortable being in that position. It puts a high technical and physical demand upon the players.

The concepts of total football were originally thought out by Jack Reynolds, who was manager of Ajax from 1915-1925, 1928-1940 and 1945-1947. His ideas were built upon by Rinus Michels, who played under Reynolds, and later went on to become manager of Ajax himself. He used these ideas initially in training for Ajax and the Holland National Team.

Johan Cruyff is perhaps the most famous player to have played total football. He played as a centre forward, but wandered all over the pitch, trying to create chances and score goals for the team. This resulted in the need for the Total Football system, and his team mates soon adapted themselves to Cruyff's movements, and regularly swapped positions so that there was no holes which the opposition could exploit.

Teams to have used this system include Ajax, Holland, Austria, Barcelona and Arsenal.

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