The second striker is a unique role in football—positioned just behind the main forward, this player blends the instincts of a goal-scorer with the vision of a playmaker.
They’re not traditional No. 9s or classic No. 10s, but somewhere in between—linking midfield with attack, drifting into space, creating chances, and scoring when it matters. In the Premier League, some of the finest attacking talents have thrived in this role.
Here’s a look at the top 10 greatest second strikers in the league during the 21st century.
10. Pedro – Chelsea (Second striker to Diego Costa)
Pedro often operated from wide areas, in several tactical setups under José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, he played just behind Diego Costa. His runs, pressing, and clever movement allowed Costa to focus on finishing, while Pedro added creativity and goals from deep.
9. Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United (Second striker to Robin van Persie)
Though his United spell was short, Kagawa’s most effective role was behind van Persie. The Japanese playmaker thrived in the space between midfield and attack, supplying passes and drifting into dangerous positions.
8. Louis Saha – Manchester United / Everton (Second striker to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Yakubu)
Saha was resourceful but excelled when playing behind a leading frontman. At United, he complemented van Nistelrooy’s poaching with sharp movement and link-up play. At Everton, he was the support act for Yakubu, often dropping deeper to knit play together.
7. Juan Mata – Manchester United ( second striker to Zlatan Ibrahimović and later Marcus Rashford)
While often deployed on the right wing, Mata was occasionally used centrally as a second striker/attacking midfielder, especially under Louis van Gaal and José Mourinho.
Played Behind or Off: Wayne Rooney Zlatan Ibrahimović Marcus Rashford Anthony Martial Romelu Lukaku in his United era’s.
6. Paolo Di Canio – West Ham (Second striker to Frederic Kanouté and Jermain Defoe)
Di Canio played with flair and unpredictability just off the main striker. He was the creative heartbeat of West Ham’s attack, often linking up with the more traditional forwards like Kanouté and Defoe.
5. Eidur Gudjohnsen – Chelsea (Second striker to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Didier Drogba)
Gudjohnsen was one of the smartest players of his era. His technique and vision perfectly complemented power forwards like Hasselbaink and later Drogba, offering balance and finesse behind the main striker.
4. Wayne Rooney – Manchester United (Second striker to Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dimitar Berbatov, Robin van Persie)
Rooney spent large parts of his career in the No. 10 role. He was the engine and link man between midfield and attack, playing off strikers like van Nistelrooy and van Persie, and often sacrificing his own goal tally for the team’s balance.
3. Eric Cantona – Manchester United (Second striker to Mark Hughes and Andy Cole)
Cantona played just off the striker, orchestrating attacks and scoring himself. His intelligence and control allowed Hughes and Cole to thrive ahead of him. He was the creative kingpin during United’s early Premier League dominance.
2. Dennis Bergkamp – Arsenal (Second striker to Thierry Henry)
A master of the second striker role, Bergkamp was the artist who set the stage for Thierry Henry. With sublime vision, technical genius, and selfless play, he made Henry even more dangerous, feeding him chances and dragging defenders out of position.
1. Carlos Tevez – Manchester United & Manchester City (Second striker to Wayne Rooney and Sergio Agüero)
Tevez was one of the greatest striker football has actually witnessed. 73 goals in 148 appearances for Manchester City, 50 goals in 96 appearances for juventus.
At United, he partnered Rooney in a deadly duo. At City, he complemented Agüero with his tenacity and ability to drop deep, making both teams incredibly difficult to contain.
