Guide to soccer positions and formations | OneFootball

Like any great sport, football (soccer) relies upon the passion of players and fans on game day to bring a real sense of occasion. However, it takes more than just human spirit to get across the line when it really counts.

This is where tactics come into play. With 11 players on the pitch for each team, managers and coaching staff will look to analyse every position to try and work out how to best navigate a path to success.

And so, if you want to truly understand the sport, it’s helpful to have an idea of just what formations could be employed during matches. With that in mind, GIVEMESPORT has written up a guide to football positions and formations for you to enjoy below.

Discussing each area of the pitch (GK, DEF, MID, ATT)

As mentioned before, there are 11 players per team in a match and they are divided into four main areas. These are Goalkeeper, Defence, Midfield and Attack.

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper is the only player on the pitch who is allowed to touch the ball with their hands while it is still in play. However, they can only do so when inside their own penalty box. They are the last line of defence and their main priority is to keep the ball from going into the back of their net. In the modern game, they can also help control the game in terms of possession, by passing, punting or throwing accurately to teammates with the ball at their feet or hands from goal kicks and in open play.

Defence

The defence is made up of centre-backs, who play in the middle, and fullbacks (or wingbacks) who play on the flanks. Centre-backs tend to be a bit more physically imposing while fullbacks may have more athleticism with their speed and stamina (although there are exceptions to this). They are tasked to work as a unit together to primarily frustrate the opposition when they come forward to try and score goals. From time to time, when appropriate, they can also sometimes come forward to contribute to the attack. However, this is very much a secondary focus.

Midfield

The midfield is also made up of footballers who operate in both central positions and further out wide, and they will be expected to try and dominate and control things from the middle third of the pitch with their passing ability as well as ball-winning skills such as tackling and interceptions. Whether operating centrally or out wide on the flanks, midfielders are asked to both push forward into attack and to drop deeper to help out the defence when required.

Attack

The attack understandably has the main burden upon them to try and create and score as many goals as possible. Depending on the formation used, a number of players will start in either central or wide attacking positions and when compared to defenders and midfielders, these forwards tend to have more freedom to move anywhere across the attacking zone to try and find the space to make a difference. They are made up of both creative and clinical players, who have the composure and quality to unlock opposition defences with moments of great skill or impressive efficiency.

Detailed breakdown of each position

Goalkeeper (GK)

Alternative names: Goalie, Shot-stopper, 'Keeper, Number One

As mentioned before, a goalkeeper wants to stop the other team from scoring by any means. If they do so, they would have successfully kept a clean sheet. This position requires the most unique set of skills on a football pitch, which is why they very rarely ever play in any different position and why you also never see an outfield player go in goal unless as some sort of emergency cover (after an injury or a red card). Although goalkeepers can only use their hands when they are inside their own box, they are allowed to leave that area whenever they like.

Key Skills

Best examples of goalkeepers

Some of the best examples of modern players include the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, and Jan Oblak – who are remarkable shoot-stoppers. While others such as Alisson Becker and Ederson are also exceptional with the ball at their feet on top of possessing the more traditional skills. Oliver Kahn and Iker Casillas are names of the prior generation, revered for their goalkeeping skills too.

Positional subtypes

As alluded to before, some goalkeepers are better known for their ability to make brilliant saves, while others are happier to get involved in possession. Most current goalkeepers are also expected to play a Sweeper Keeper role, which involves coming off their line, often way outside of the penalty box, to clear the ball to safety or regain possession when the opposition attack tries to get in behind the defence.

Depending on which side of the defence the fullback plays on, they will be known as either a left-back or a right-back. For the most part, this will be decided by which is the player's strongest foot, but there are examples where a left-footed player can play at right-back or vice versa. While a fullback's main duty will be to defend, they will also be expected to attack. Depending on their skill set and the tactics of their team, some fullbacks are asked to attack more than others.

Key Skills

Best examples of fullbacks

Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dani Carvajal are some brilliant right-backs, while Alphonso Davies, Andrew Robertson and Jordi Alba have been some of the best left-backs of the modern era. João Cancelo is an example of a player who is right-footed but can play on either the left or the right side of defence.

Positional subtypes

Inverted Fullbacks are often used in the modern game as a way of getting a defender to step into more central positions while in possession – Oleksandr Zinchenko at Arsenal is an example of this. While a No-nonsense Fullback is someone who has little interest in attacking and instead plays more like a centre-back but just in a wider position.

Wingback (WB)

A wingback is essentially a more attacking version of a fullback. They are often used when a manager decides to play a formation with three defenders at the back, such as a 3-5-2. They are able to provide the width for their team, but have the extra responsibility of patrolling their flanks alone, without the support of a teammate. This means they must have exceptional stamina to get up and down the pitch without leaving too many gaps in front or behind them.

Key Skills

Best examples of wingbacks

Achraf Hakimi is probably the best wingback in the world right now, he usually operates on the right. Denzel Dumfries and Leonardo Spinazzola are also fine options for the role. Ivan Perisic is a good example of a more attack-minded player who was converted into a wingback. He did so under manager Antonio Conte who often plays with wingbacks in his formations.

Positional subtypes

There aren't too many different ways to play as a wingback really, but depending on which player is being asked to play the role, they can do so in either a more defensive or more attacking nature. Somebody like Perisic, for instance, will be expected to get forward and play almost as an attacker whenever possible as he has spent a significant part of his career operating as a more traditional left winger.

Centre-back (CB)

Alternative names: Central Defender, Centre-half, Left Centre-back, Right Centre-back

Centre-backs often play as a pair, although sometimes there will be a trio – with one down the middle and then a player on either side, as seen in a 3-4-3. Their main duty is to stop the other team by winning the ball back and then giving it to teammates in more advanced positions who can set off on attacks. They tend to be physically imposing (either in height, strength or both), capable of leaping high to win headers and holding their ground when bumping shoulder-to-shoulder with attacking players.

Key Skills

Best examples of centre-backs

In the past few decades, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, and Virgil van Dijk have stood out as some of the best central defends. The trio are all good on the ball, in the air, and physically strong. They are all over six feet tall as well. But someone like Fabio Cannavaro – who the Ballon d'Or award in 2006 after lifting the World Cup with Italy – is only 5ft 9, showing you don't necessarily have to be tall to be a great centre-back.

Positional subtypes

Most traditional defenders just focus on stopping attacks, but some Ball Playing Defenders are tasked especially with playmaking from deeper positions, to put their team on the front foot at all times when in possession while also dictating the pace of the game if needed. A Sweeper, or Libero, may also be used by managers who like to have a centre-back sitting deeper than most central defenders so they can sweep up any loose balls in behind the main defensive line. This role has mostly fallen out of the game now with goalkeepers expected to help cover that duty by coming off their lines more often.

Central Defensive Midfielder (CDM)

Alternative names: Holding Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Deep-lying Playmaker, Anchor, Number Six, Pivot

A defensive midfielder will sit at the base of the midfield, just ahead of the defenders. While other midfielders will be expected to make an impact higher up on the pitch, the holding player will stay back to protect the space in front of the defence. They are also often used as a way of controlling the tempo of the game in possession, either with a conservative pass selection to nearby teammates, or progressive balls through the lines to try and work the ball forward with a little more risk.

Key Skills

Best examples of defensive midfielders

Rodri at Manchester City is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world right now. Not only is he exceptional at winning the ball back for his team with tackles and interceptions, he also is great in possession, remaining calm under pressure and finding teammates with progressive passes.

Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso are two other players who have played variations of the role brilliantly in the past few decades. While they were better known for their ability on the ball, players like Claude Makelele and N'Golo Kante were great off it, working tirelessly to win possession back for their team.

Positional subtypes

As alluded to above, some players will be expected to be ball-winners, while others will be expected to be playmakers or tempo-setters. A Regista is another way to play the latter role, this involves acting as a key link between defence and attack by getting on the ball and passing forwards frequently almost like a quarterback. And if you have two deep-lying players together, they could be referred to as a Double Pivot.

Central Midfielder (CM)

Alternative names: Centre-mid, Number eight

Central midfielders have to be pretty good all-rounders, happy to chip in with defensive and attacking work, both on and off the ball. They must have the technical ability to control possession under intense pressure, and then robustness to dominate in key areas of the pitch. Stamina and physicality are a key part of the job, to make sure they don't get overrun in the middle of the park. They often end games having covered the most ground as they make sure they are always open to receive a pass, or pressing the opposition to win the ball back.

Key Skills

Best examples of central midfielders

Steven Gerrard, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Xavi Hernández all spring to mind when you think of true central midfielders. Although they all played the game in different ways, they had big personalities to take the game by the scruff of the neck when needed. Pedri of Barcelona and Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos of Real Madrid are three current players, at different stages of their careers, who also best exemplify the role. Their high technical ability allows them to control games and create openings for more attack-minded teammates.

Positional subtypes

You can also have Box-to-box Midfielders. They have the stamina to charge from one end of the pitch to the other with great frequency and effectiveness, to the point where they do the role of a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder all rolled into one. Beyond this, a Mezzala is another option. This is a dynamic role which sees the central midfielder drift into wider areas to find, exploit, and create more space for the team.

Attacking midfielders are given the license to hang around in the final third of the pitch, closer to the strikers and wingers as a way of creating and scoring goals. They will try and pick up spaces in between the opposition midfield and defence to cause havoc. Some tend to focus more on the creative part of the game by claiming assists, while others are more natural goalscorers. The best tend to have a blend of both those skills. In the modern game, a good work rate is also required of this role to try and press opposition defenders into losing the ball, when that wasn't demanded so frequently of playmakers in the past.

Key Skills

Best examples of central attacking midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard are three top players who currently stand out as some of the best attacking midfielders in the world right now. Of the former generation, Zinedine Zidane and Frank Lampard both excelled in the role, while Diego Maradona is perhaps the greatest Number 10 of all time.

Positional subtypes

A Number 10 is perhaps even a touch more attacking than a normal attacking midfielder, and tends to be given little defensive responsibility, asked to instead conserve their energy to create moments of magic. This role is essentially the same as a Trequartista, while an Enganche tends to be more stationary, acting as a focal point for the attack.

Wide Midfielder (WM)

Alternative names: Right-midfielder, Right-mid, Left-midfielder, Left-mid, Flanker, Wide-Man

Wide midfielders will stay close to the touchline, with the main responsibility to get forward and attack on the flanks. Some may cut into more central areas to shoot or create, especially if they are a left-footer playing on the right, or vice versa. But others prefer to keep the width and get to the byline to put in lots of crosses, especially if they are playing on the same side as their strongest foot. Either way, every wide-man will be expected to track back and defend, offering defensive support to the fullback playing behind them.

Key Skills

Best examples of wide midfielders

Traditional wide players aren't so common these days, with most teams preferring to play with wingers but somebody like David Beckham is a pretty good example of a right-midfielder who worked hard up and down the flank, with great shooting and crossing ability. Ryan Giggs who played in the same team (Manchester United), at the same time, but on the opposite flank, also fits the bill when trying to outline an archetypal left-midfielder.

Positional subtypes

There aren't so many positional subtypes for this role, but certain players will have their own way of playing the game. As referenced before, some wide-men like to cut in and shoot, while others stick out wide looking to create with crosses. Some can be pacey, while others rely on their high technical ability and good work ethic to make them great options on the flank. But you can get Wide Playmakers, who like to start near the sidelines and drift inwards to find the space to unpick opposition defences with clever passes.

Wing Forwards (WF)

Alternative names: Wingers, Right-wing, Left-wing

Wingers play high up, essentially alongside the strikers but are pushed out to either flank and don't have to do as much defensive work as a normal wide midfielder would. It's interesting to note that in the modern game, the role of the winger has evolved to the point now where these players are often their team's main goalscorers – as we see with Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. In the past, wingers would have been viewed as more creative players, with a secondary focus on goals. Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made their names as wingers before moving centrally later on in their careers, and perhaps this explains why the role now demands more goals to be scored.

Key Skills

Best examples of wingers

Salah, Vinicius Junior and Bukayo Saka are among the best wingers in the world right now. Kylian Mbappe is another name, who may well top the list, although he can also play as a striker, while the others are much less likely to do this on a regular basis. Of the previous generation, Luis Figo, Ronaldinho and Arjen Robben stand out. And even before that, there was Garrincha of Brazil.

Positional subtypes

An Inverted Winger will look to also cut inside to either shoot or pass, while letting an overlapping fullback or wingback run into the space vacated out wide. Inside Forwards do a similar job but will have even less intention to create and more desire to score. A Raumdeuter – meaning 'space investigator' in German – is a sort of winger who possesses traits closer to a striker. They are like a wide poacher, hoping to go unnoticed, taking up seemingly harmless positions out wide before finding the perfect moment to arrive in and around the box to score or assist.

Centre-forward (CF)

Alternative names: False 9

While a centre-forward may lead the line and start as the highest up the pitch in terms of formation, they tend to play a little bit deeper than traditional strikers. They are happy dropping further away from the goal to link up with midfielders and create space for wingers to bomb forward into. Although they are expected to contribute to the goalscoring, this may be through assists and general link-up play, as opposed to being solely focused on getting themselves on the scoresheet. They often take up positions just outside the penalty box and can make an impact from there with a combination of passing, dribbling and shooting.

Key Skills

Best examples of modern players

Karim Benzema was a great example of a centre-forward at Real Madrid, especially when he played alongside Ronaldo. The Frenchman's clever movement, often distracted defenders, allowing Ronaldo the space to get into dangerous areas to score. Wayne Rooney and Roberto Firmino are other more modern centre-forwards who played the role with distinction for Manchester United and Liverpool respectively. Both knew how to find the back of the net, but could operate as creative hubs for their teams as well.

Positional subtypes

An alternative to the centre-forward is the False Nine, this player drops even deeper to add confusion to opposition defenders who may be drawn out of position to try and win the ball off the attacking player. Messi did this for a period for Barcelona and arguably played the role better than anyone else in history. A false nine always plays the central role alone, with wingers on either side, but not with another strike partner.

Second Striker (SS)

The Second Striker will line up alongside another striker, but play in the deeper role. Like a centre-forward, they have less responsibility to score all the goals. They often try and support the attacking play, instead of being the main focal point of every attack. They are often very technical players who look to be creative for the sake of the team, getting on the ball in deeper areas, and aiming to set up opportunities for the other striker in the team.

Key Skills

Best examples of second strikers

Under Arsene Wenger, Dennis Bergkamp played the role for Arsenal in a 4-4-2, acting as the deeper second-striker, allowing Theirry Henry the freedom to score most of the goals as a striker. Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid plays the role brilliantly (also in a 4-4-2), while Lautaro Martinez worked excellently in tandem with the more advanced Romelu Lukaku when the duo were both at Inter Milan.

Positional subtypes

One slightly different way of playing this role is to do so as a Deep-lying Forward. They naturally drop deep, but then look to hold up the ball, waiting for support. They can drop it back to midfielders or shift it out wide to the wingers on the flank. If given space to turn, they will also look to thread passes through to their strike partner.

Striker (ST)

Alternative names: Forward, Poacher, Target Man

A striker leads the line and, for the most part, will be the furthest up the pitch. Their primary role in the team is the simplest in theory but the most difficult in practice. Indeed, they are tasked with putting the ball in the back of the net. They are less likely to drift around as much as centre-forwards, as they try and focus more on just being in the right place at the right time to score goals.

Key Skills

Best examples of strikers

Alan Shearer is the greatest ever goalscorer in Premier League history, his 260 goals show just how great he was leading the line for his clubs. In more modern terms, Erling Haaland is the purest striker in the world right now. At Manchester City, he isn't asked to worry about getting involved in the build-up, but rather just focuses on being in the right position to finish off attacks by scoring as many goals as possible. Outside of English football, Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona, and Victor Osimhen of Napoli, are both good examples.

Positional subtypes

A Target Man is a type of striker that has a great physical presence. They allow the team to play directly, using their strength and aerial ability to win the ball high up the pitch, to create opportunities for themselves or their teammates, Poachers tend to lurk as close to the goal as possible, often playing on the shoulder of the last defender, hoping to be the first to the ball when it breaks inside the box. They tend to finish with just one touch of the ball.

Basic soccer formations with position charts

4-4-2

The 4-4-2 is the most traditional formation used in football, even if it has fallen a little bit out of fashion in modern times. It uses four defenders (two central and two fullbacks), four midfielders (two central and two wide players), and two centre-forwards.

Its strengths are that it helps evenly spread players across the pitch, so there is a lesser risk of being outnumbered in multiple areas, while the middle bank of four can either drop deep to defend or spring forward to attack in good numbers. However, if the opposition play a three-man midfield, such as a 4-3-3, they can sometimes overrun the two central midfield players in a 4-4-2.

4-3-3

The 4-3-3 is one of the most popular formations in the game, and some variant of it is used by many managers in the modern game. This uses a back-four as you get in a 4-4-2, but then employs three men in the midfield, and three more in attack.

It's up to the coaches where those three midfielders sit parallel across the pitch, or if one sits slightly deeper or more advanced, etc. But up top, you tend to have one central striker down the middle and two wingers on either side.

3-5-2

The 3-5-2 formation position can often be viewed as a rather defensive set-up as you have three central defenders. They are then protected by a bank of five in front of them. The wide players in that five are known as wingbacks and they can drop alongside the back three if required.

However, this formation also can be used in a pretty attacking manner, with those wingbacks given the freedom to bomb forward and attack as wingers. This leaves three central midfielders and two strikers to also contribute going forward. It's a popular formation as it gives managers the flexibility to be either extremely attacking or extremely defensive.

3-4-3

This is another formation which starts with a base of three central defenders but it takes one player out of the midfield and sticks them up front. This allows more support to be given to the central attacker, as they have a winger to link up with on either side.

The midfield four then spaces out a bit more, to help cover the width in a defensive sense, but also provide overloads on each flank when going forward by outnumbering the opposition out wide. However, this does then run the risk of the team being a little too thinly stretched in the middle of the park or defensively out wide.