The 2-3-5, affectionately known as the "Pyramid," stands as the progenitor of all football formations. Dominating the footballing landscape of the nineteenth century, its prevalence endured until the 1930s.

It was during this period that three pioneering minds in European football — Herbert Chapman, Hugo Meisel, and Vittorio Pozzo — undertook the task of reinventing this classic formation. This trio's tactical ingenuity not only modernized the game but also laid the foundation for the sophisticated systems that followed.