Soccer known as football is the beautiful game. It’s estimated that more than 250 million people play the sport around the world. Some play on-field and some play fantasy football.

However, whether a player is associated with the on-field or playing fantasy football league, he/she needs to understand who is doing what, and where, when the 22 players take to the field? So, let’s explore the position of footballers in the field and what their roles are:

Goalkeeper

The most defensive position in soccer

Major role is to stop goals of opposition

Also organises the defence and builds play from the back

Wears gloves, and a distinct coloured jersey from teammates

Only player who can use their hands in 18 yard box

Full-back

Lines up either side of the defence

Marks opposition wingers

Provides support for the wide midfielder ahead of them

May overlap and send crosses into the opposition box

Often takes throw-ins

Wing-back

Modern variation of the full-back

Overlaps and sends crosses into the opposition box

Still marks opposition wingers when needed

Expected to stay on their touchline

One of the most physically demanding positions

Centre-back (stopper)

Shuts down opposition attackers

May employ zonal or man-marking strategies

Brings the ball out from the back

Often tall and physically strong

Bravery and heading ability desirable, for use in either box

Centre-back (sweeper)

A safety net for the stoppers alongside them

Races to cover gaps when defence is breached

Less concerned with man-marking

Reads the game from deep

Joins midfield build-up when in possession

Centre-back (quarter-back)

Same, central defensive position as the stopper

Also more likely to be used in a back three

Keeping the ball as important as winning it back

Confident in possession

Greater onus on long, accurate passes

Defensive midfielder (ball-winner)

Sits in front of the defence

Wins the ball back with tackles and interceptions

Covers teammates when they go forward

Harries opposition attackers

Physically fit and tenacious

Defensive midfielder (deep-lying playmaker)

Sits in front of the defence

Creative play-maker from deep

Distributes to teammates, near and far

Sets the team’s tempo

Capable of tackling, though a secondary task

Box-to-box midfielder

Lines up in the middle of the field

Equally adept at attacking and defending

Maintains possession

Tracks back to tackle and block shots

Breaks into the opponent’s box and tries to score

Wide midfielder

Provides width in midfield

Gives full-backs defensive protection

Compresses play in opponents’ half

May cross from deeper positions than wingers

Combines speed and stamina

Attacking midfielder

Provides width in midfield

Gives full-backs defensive protection

Compresses play in opponents’ half

May cross from deeper positions than wingers

Combines speed and stamina

Winger

The widest attacking player

Takes on opposition defenders

Provides crosses into the box

Meets crosses from the opposite wing

Often the fastest player on the field

Inverted winger

Same starting position as the traditional winger

Left-footers on the right and vice versa

Cuts inside to shoot or create chances

Drags opposition full-backs out of position

Also meets chances at the back post

False 9

Starts up front near the opposition goal

Replaces the traditional striker in most formations

Drops deep to pull opposition defenders out of position

Often a converted midfielder

Dribbles and creates chances

Forward

Plays between midfield and attack

Assists the striker in scoring goals

Elusive and difficult to mark

More versatile than the target-man

Vision, technical skill and creativity

Striker

Closest player to the opponent’s goal

Responsible for scoring goals

Holds the ball up until teammates can join the attack

Harries opposition defenders

Physically strong

Enjoy reading and playing online football!