playmaker
n.a player who is very good at creating chances for their team to score. In the past, this word was used for someone who organized a play or a game.
n.a player who is responsible for initiating and orchestrating offensive plays. Historically, it referred to a person who directed or managed a theatrical performance.
“The team's success depends on its star playmaker.”
“The coach signed a new playmaker to improve the team's ability to break through the opponent's defense.”
“While the modern playmaker is often a technical specialist, the historical role required a broader understanding of stagecraft and the ability to manage a large cast of actors.”
“Futi’s player style model classifies him as a “wide playmaker”; an attacker who likes to collect the ball out near the touchline and then break lines and create for teammates.”
“Unable to shed the stench of Portugal’s World Cup, but he is the world’s finest deep-lying playmaker all the same.”
From play + maker.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.