Mesut Özil was one of the most elegant playmakers of his generation. The German midfielder, a World Cup winner in 2014, made the game look effortless: a soft first touch, a drift into space, and a perfectly weighted pass that unlocked the defense. If you want to learn how to play like Özil, you need to understand his style of play: vision, first touch, finding space and always moving the ball forward.
Who Is Mesut Özil?
Özil starred for Werder Bremen, Real Madrid and Arsenal, and won the 2014 World Cup with Germany. He was famous for his assists. At his best he was one of the world’s top chance creators, and he did it with grace rather than power.
Mesut Özil’s Style of Play
1. Always moving the ball forward
Özil looked to drive at defenders or play forward whenever possible. He would roll off a defender, turn, and carry the ball into the attacking area.
2. A soft first touch
His first touch took the ball away from pressure and set up his next action, often in one movement.
3. Finding space
Özil drifted into pockets of space between the opponent’s midfield and defense, where he could receive and turn.
4. Vision and the final pass
He saw passes others didn’t, and his weight of pass was perfect, often putting teammates through on goal.
5. Disguise
Özil could even pull off a Ronaldinho-style no-look pass. In a memorable performance for Arsenal against Chelsea at the Emirates in 2016, he did just that.
Keys to Playing Like Özil
- Scan constantly so you know where the space and your teammates are.
- Receive on the half-turn so you can play forward.
- Take your first touch away from pressure.
- Look for the forward pass first.
- Weight your passes so teammates can take them in stride.
Drills to Play Like Özil
- Receive and turn (5 minutes): receive a pass with a defender behind you, turn with your first touch and play forward.
- Find the pocket (10 minutes): in a 3-zone game, the playmaker scores points by receiving between the lines and turning.
- Through-ball practice (5 minutes): play passes between two cones into the path of a running teammate.
- Disguised passing rondo (10 minutes): 4v1 or 5v2 with bonus points for disguised passes.
Common Mistakes
- Receiving square on: you can’t play forward easily.
- Heavy first touch: defenders close you down.
- Not scanning: the best playmakers know their pass before the ball arrives.
Playmaking and Ball Mastery
Özil’s elegant first touch is the result of years of practice with the ball. At Coerver Coaching we build that comfort through ball mastery and receiving drills, then apply it in game-like situations.
Want to study more playmakers? Read how to play like Iniesta, how to play like Luka Modric and how to play like Andrea Pirlo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What position did Mesut Özil play?
Attacking midfielder, the classic number 10.
What was Özil best known for?
His vision, first touch and assists.
Did Özil win the World Cup?
Yes, with Germany in 2014.
Coach it with your own team.
The Coerver Session Planner gives youth coaches ready-made practice sessions built on the Coerver method: fun, organized and packed with touches on the ball.
