Jesus Emmanuel B.

Pelayo 11-29

SOCCER PLAYER POSITIONS

Soccer has many different positions and many different names that come along with
them.
Each player position has his own very specific task, from defending against opponent
attacks to scoring.
To simplify, we will categorize the football positions into four: the goalkeeper, defenders,
midfielders, and forwards.

Goalkeeper (GK)

The goalkeeper is simply known as the guy with gloves who keeps the opponents from
scoring. He has a special position because only him can play the ball with his hands
(provided that he is inside his own penalty area and the ball was not deliberately passed
to him by a team mate).
Aside from being the last line of defense, the goalkeeper is the first person in attack.
That is why keepers who can make good goal kicks and strategic ball throws to team
mates are valuable.

The goalie has four main roles: saving, clearing, directing the defense, and distributing
the ball. Saving is the act of preventing the ball from entering the net while clearing
means keeping the ball far from the goal area.

The goalkeeper has the role of directing the defense since he is the farthest player at
the back and he can see where the defenders should position themselves.
Distributing the ball happens when a goalkeeper decides whether to kick the ball or
throw it after making a save. Where the keeper throws or kicks the ball is the first
instance of attack.

Some of history’s finest goalkeepers are Lev Yashin, Gordon Banks, Dino Zoff, Peter
Schmeichel, and Gianluigi Buffon.

Defenders
A defender’s task is to keep the ball away from the keeper, prevent opposing attackers
from passing or receiving, and block shots. Defending requires a player to be well-fit,
hard-working, and quick at anticipating the movement of the opponents.

Defenders must protect the keeper: they should think of the goalie as an important
person that opponents are not allowed to get near to. Typically, teams play with four
defenders.

Center-back/center-half/central defender (CB)

In a four-player defense, the center-backs are the two defenders in the middle. They are
erroneously called center-halves, because in an obsolete football formation called the 2-
3-5, the “3” players are designated with that name. As tactics evolved, the “3” dropped
to “center-back” but still retained the name “center-half.”

A center back must be strong, fearless, and good at timing tackles. Being tall is an
advantage for a center-back as it allows him to win the ball in the air, an essential skill in
corner kick situations. Ronald Koeman, Fabio Cannavaro, and Franco Baresi are some
of the greatest center backs of all time.
 

Full-back (LB, FB)

A full-back is a defender positioned on the side. They are either classified as left back
(LB) or right back (RB). The defenders positioned between them are called center
backs.

The full-back is tasked to prevent opponents from attacking on the sides. He must be
quick and must be able to prevent opponents from making a cross. He is often assigned
to mark the opposing winger.

Wing-back (LWB, RWB)

A wing-back is a full-back that advances up to the opponent’s goal end. He runs the
whole length of the football pitch: he defends the flanks like a dedicated full-back and
attacks like a winger.

This is the most physically demanding position on the field. Cafu and Roberto Carlos
are two of the best wing-backs ever.

A sweeper is located at the back of the defensive line, just in front of the keeper. This
position is no longer popularly used in the modern game but was popular in the past
especially with the catenaccio system of Italy.

A sweeper’s task is to clear the ball in case it breaks through the defenders. He does
not man-mark an opponent so he can collect loose balls or go upfield to bring the ball
forward in attack. The German football legend Franz Beckenbauer is the most
remarkable of all sweepers.
 

Midfielders
Midfielders link the offense and the defense: they bring the ball up to the forwards in
attack and prevent the ball from reaching the defenders when not in possession. You
can think of them as the telephone line that connects two people.

Without a solid midfield, it is very difficult for the forwards to score and the defense is
often put at risk of the opponents’ attacks. Below are the many types of midfielders and
the roles they perform.

Defending/Holding midfielder (DM)

A defending or holding midfielder is stationed just in front of the defensive line. His
responsibility is to prevent the ball from reaching the defensive line. He must be skilled
at intercepting passes, tackling the ball, and positioning themselves strategically.

Claude Makelele and Dunga are two of the great holding midfielders.

Central/Box-to-box midfielder (CM)

The attacking midfielder is an advanced midfield player who is primarily inclined to

attack. He must have excellent ball control abilities and tactical awareness.

A playmaker occupies the same position as an attacking midfielder but performs a

different role. This guy is considered the brain of the team, the most skilled player who
orchestrates the attack and distributes the ball. A playmaker must be good in decision-
making and as the football saying goes: when you don’t know what to do with the ball,
you pass it to him.

The playmaker often wears the number 10 jersey. Some of the most famous
playmakers in football are Zico, Zinedine Zidane, and Juan Riquelme.
Wide midfielders/wingers (LW, RW)

The winger plays the same role as the attacking midfielder but he focuses his attacks
from the side. This position is often utilized in “odd” formations like 4-3-3 and 4-5-1.

Since the winger often plays between the midfield and the offensive line, he is
sometimes classified as a forward. A player who occupies this position must be fast,
have excellent dribbling abilities, and accurate with passes.

A modern winger is typically flexible and can attack from the center, which makes him
take over the role of a forward. Ryan Giggs and Garrincha are two excellent examples
of wide midfielders.

Forwards
Forwards are the most celebrated players in the team because they are often the ones who score
goals. Since there are many ways to score a goal, there are also many types of forwards.

Accuracy, head ability, and ball control are the typical qualities of a forward. A forward does not
have to as much work as the midfield or defense but he must be able to convert when his
teammates give him the ball.

Center-forward/striker (CF)
The withdrawn striker plays behind the forward. It is typical in attacking football
strategies to put him as the main scorer while the person in front of him serves as
decoy. The deep-lying forward is often utilized in the 4-4-2 formation.

A deep-lying forward must have excellent passing skills as he is expected to feed the
striker and at the same time possess technical abilities with the ball as he often receives
back passes from the striker. Pele played as second striker during his illustrious career.

Other types of forwards

Some strikers are further distinguished by their playing style, not just by where they stay
on the field.

The “off-the-shoulder” striker is a center-forward who is very skilled at breaking the

offside trap and frees himself to face one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He is called such
because he often positions himself parallel with the opposing defenders’ shoulders (in
line with the second-to-the-last defender). Davor Suker of Croatia and Thierry Henry of
France are off-the-shoulder strikers.

The goal poacher is a type of striker who often scores goal from inside the opponent’s
penalty area. He does not create his own opportunities but relies on passes and
second-chances to score goals. The poacher often capitalizes on the mistake of the
defense. Examples of goal poachers are David Trezeguet and Pippo Inzaghi