I think this starts to some extent with Juventus using Marchisio and Vidal as box-to-box midfielders to cover for Pirlo. Typically, the more creative midfielder is further forward, but Juve’s formation allows Pirlo more freedom.

There is Inter’s use of Freddy Guarin as a number 10, of course Milan’s more successful use of Kevin-Prince Boateng as a number 10 (for example against Barcelona last year), this trend started in Italy. Even Roma, to some extent, have used Michael Bradley as the furthest-forward midfielder.

It’s interesting that some of the most successful performances of the big, powerful 10s have been as a reaction to Pirlo’s deep lying playmaker role, where the manager wants a disciplined, powerful, energetic player that can both nullify Pirlo in the defensive phase and still have enough energy to counterattack when his team has the ball.