Many modern fans would immediately think of names such as Johan Cruyff (as a player and manager), Pep Guardiola (as a manager), and Lionel Messi (as a player) as synonymous with the false nine roles.
While of course all of the above were extremely successful with the tactic, it would be a mistake to consider them to be the innovators.
The history of the false nine goes much deeper – with its roots beginning as early as the 1890s.