Soccer. A fast game that is hard to keep up with.
Especially for us Americans, it can be a little hard to understand what’s going on! While being the most predominant sport in the world, it hasn’t quite reached the same popularity levels here in the States as you might find in Europe or Asia.
A soccer team is typically divided into 11 field positions with three main categories (defenders, midfielders, and forwards), with each player having a defined role during the match. But at the highest levels, soccer can become a very intricate game with a team’s tactics and formations influencing where each player will position themselves on the field meaning it can get a little technical…
But don’t fret! If you’re wanting to watch more MLS or even start playing yourself, this guide will give you the basics of who does what on the soccer pitch. We will cover the different types of soccer positions, what their role on the pitch is, and the physical and technical characteristics required to play in each role.
Let’s kick off and get right into it starting with…
Defensive Positions
The Goalkeeper - Number 1
Aaah… The Goalkeeper, first of his name, King of the Box, Lord of the Defense, and Protector of the Goal.
You get it, I like goalies… There’s no one on a soccer field under more pressure than the goalkeeper. There is no such thing as an unforgiving mistake for them and a single slip-up can ruin the whole game.
Goalkeepers are the only player allowed to use his/her hands within the box to defend the goal. Plus goalies will also wear a different color kit from the rest of the team, to tell them apart, and will usually wear a pair of gloves to help protect their hands.
Goalkeepers are usually:
- Agile and quick.
- Gifted with great hand-eye coordination.
- Souple as cats.
- Have great reaction times.
- Also good with their feet.
- Can punt the ball a mile
The Left & Right Fullbacks - Numbers 2 and 3
Let’s get something out of the way, a full back is first and foremost a defender.
Also known as a “right back” and a “left back”, not because they’ve been ‘left-back’ in the changing rooms… But because they typically provide support either side of the central defenders in a 4-man backline formation. They will mark and cover attackers coming in off the wings towards the box.
As one of the most skilled soccer positions on the pitch, the fullback must be able to read the game, knowing when to get forward and attack or when to drop back and defend. But it’s important to remember that their first job is to defend and support their center backs.
Defensively they must be quick on their feet to track and tackle players, but when in control of the ball they need to be able to break and deliver some killer crosses into the box.
Fullbacks have:
- Physically strong.
- Great stamina.
- Brilliant passing accuracy.
- Good acceleration.
- A good ability to read the game.
The Wingbacks - Also Number 2 & 3
This is where soccer gets technical.
A wingback is a slightly more attacking version of a fullback and will play usually in teams operating a 3-man backline formation, as opposed to a fullbacks 4-man backline.
As soccer has become a faster game, the modern-day role of the fullback has evolved to become a more attacking presence on the pitch.
This has revolutionized the way soccer is played. If you’ve ever watched Premier League teams like Liverpool or Manchester City, their full-backs act like extra wingers, sitting high up the pitch and break forward quickly to whip killer balls into the box.
The key characteristics of a good wingback are:
- Can read the game well knowing when to get forward or drop back.
- Have brilliant passing accuracy.
- Have great acceleration.
- Have great stamina.
The Center-Backs - Numbers 4 & 5
A great center-back may never know glory. Do you know how rare it is for a central defender to win the “Ballon d’Or”?
Defenders are not often the stars of the show, but they are the spine of the team, and having a solid defense is what wins championships.
An excellent center-back relies on their ability to read the game to identify and eliminate an offense’s attack to stop the threat before it gets close to the goal. These unsung heroes are confident, physical, and can stop attackers while also having great reactions to quickly clear dangerous goal-line situations. Whether on the ground or in the air, a center back is a dominant force to be reckoned with.
Natural defenders should be:
- Big and strong, and can win physical contests against big forwards.
- Confident and intelligent; knowing when to make a tackle, or hold back and wait is key.
- Great at clearing the ball and making long passes.
- Effective communicators to organize their team.
- Tireless, relentless, and mentally tough.
Midfield Positions
As of the most versatile positions on the pitch, you will come across many different types of midfielder, but here are the main three you should know about.
Defensive/Holding Midfielder - Number 6
Another unsung hero of any soccer team.
Akin to a center-back, your typical defensive midfielder is strong in defense but also has great soccer skills. They are also one of the fittest players on the pitch, having to cover a lot of ground to support attackers, but also drop back to defend when needed.
In a nutshell, they are a sweeper. Sitting behind the central midfielders, their key job is to break up any opposition attacks coming through on goal, regain possession, and redistribute it to one of the team’s attacking players, so that the team can counter-attack quickly. If you ever wanted to see a great holding midfielder in action, take a look at Claude Makélélé’s highlights reel.
The best defensive midfielders should be:
- Strong but have great stamina.
- Have a great passing accuracy.
- Able to read the game to know when the next attack is coming.
- A great defender as well as an attacker.
Centre midfielder - Number 8
The perfect all-rounder.
Playing in central midfield is arguably the hardest position on the pitch. They are the powerhouse of the side but can also be one of the most creative and influential roles on the pitch depending on what sort of midfielder you are.
For example, a box-to-box midfielder flies from one end of the pitch to the other, shutting down opposition passes, winning the ball back, and playing passes forward to their attackers.
You also have the deep-lying playmakers, also known as the “Regista.” Regista in Italian translates to ‘director’ and similar to your Tom Brady, these guys orchestrate the show. A good Regista will sit deep, look for space, and will deliver killer passes to attackers making a break on goal.
The top midfielder attributes:
- Need to be out-and-out player; great control, passing accuracy, and have some skill too.
- Midfielders need to be strong on the ball.
- Be able to both defend and attack.
- Have a creative mind and the ability to create some killer passes.
- Have great stamina.
Attacking midfielder - Number 10
Also known as the “Trequartista”, translating to the ‘third-tier specialist’ in Italian. They primarily sit high up in the final third of the pitch, or what’s commonly known as the ‘hole’ occupying the area behind the striker.
As the creative link behind the attack, their job is to either deliver killer passes that rip defenses apart, enabling their attackers to get through on goal, or even have a shot at goal themselves.
Key attributes of a great trequartista:
- Must have amazing ball skills.
- A creative soccer brain.
- The ability to create chances out of nothing.
- Good dribbling ability.
- Excellent passing ability.
- Must have accurate and powerful shooting ability on them.
Forward Positions
Wingers - Numbers 7 and 11
Fast and full of flair. These guys are the stars of the show.
A winger is typically the most skillful player on the pitch, with excellent footwork and skills to pay the bills. Take a look at Christiano Ronaldo if you needed an example of the perfect winger. Dribbling past defenders, fizzing crosses into the box, and scoring wonder goals.
Sounds easy right?
Well, combining speed, control, and decision making all at once is no mean feat. That is why the top wingers like Ronaldo get paid the big bucks. A good winger can change the game in minutes either by setting up a goal or scoring themselves. That’s why they are an integral part of any team.
A great winger must be:
- Fast and have great acceleration.
- Be light on their feet.
- Have great control and be able to dribble with the ball.
- Have an awesome set of skills in their locker.
- Be able to create chances from nothing.
- Have a very accurate shot on them.
Strikers - Number 9
Having a good defense might be the most important part of building a great team. That’s true. But to win games, you need to score goals!
It is almost equally important to have an out-and-out match-winner ready to convert chances and score great goals.
There are a couple of different types of strikers, but each must have a good eye for goal.
The Center-Forward
Typically, the center forward will sit high up the pitch and make darting runs into the box to unsettle defenders, break the defense apart, and score goals.
A good center-forward is physically strong and acts as a target man. Their fabulous aerial presence in the box allows them to win contests against opposition center-backs and head in goals.
Aside from being physical, they also need to have an explosive turn of pace to break the defensive line, collect a pass, and take a shot on goal. It is a complex skill to master, but a world-class center-forward who can bag your team 20 goals per season is priceless.
Top center-forwards are:
- Strong on the ground and in the air.
- They can hold and control the ball.
- Have an accurate yet powerful shot on them.
- They are quick and have an explosive turn of pace.
- Great headers of the ball.
The False 9
Unlike a center-forward, the false 9 drops back, sitting away from the defensive line. This allows them to receive the ball in space, pull defenders out of their line, play killer balls into other attackers in space, or have a pop at goal themselves.
A great false 9 has to be decisive and know when it’s right to pull the trigger and shoot or play a pass into a teammate through on goal. They are technical geniuses with the ball at their feet but don’t give them too much space. The best false 9’s can also shoot from long distances.
The top traits of a false 9 are:
- Able to draw defenders out of their line.
- Have an explosive turn of pace.
- Great control of the ball with excellent passing and shooting accuracy.
- Great decision-making abilities.
The Final Whistle
The beautiful game is played worldwide by many people in the streets, on beaches, and in giant stadiums. One of the great things about soccer is that it offers something for everyone. Whether small and fast or big and strong, there’s a position for all!
So if you want to lace up your boots and start playing or are looking to support a new team, you will hopefully have an idea of the different soccer positions on the pitch and some of the tactics associated with each position.
One thing’s for sure, though: soccer is an ever-changing game, with coaches always thinking up new and exciting positions. So make sure you return in a few years to see if we’ve added any more new soccer positions to this list!
