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Associationfootballpositions
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Inthesportofassociationfootball,eachofthe11playerson
ateamisassignedtoaparticularpositiononthefieldof
play.Ateamismadeupofonegoalkeeperandtenoutfield
playerswhofillvariousdefensive,midfieldandattacking
positionsdependingontheformationdeployed.These
positionsdescribeboththeplayer'smainroleandtheirarea
ofoperationonthepitch.

CF
LW

SS

RW

Intheearlydevelopmentofthegameoutfieldplayerswere
AM
knownsimplyasforwards,halfbacksandthreequarter
backs,dependingonhowfarupthepitchtheyplayed.Inthe
LM
CM
RM
latterpartofthe19thcentury,the235formationbecame
widelyusedandthepositionnamesbecamemorerefinedto
DM
reflectthis.Indefence,therewerefullbacks,knownasthe
LWB
RWB
leftbackandrightbackinmidfield,lefthalf,centrehalf
andrighthalfandfortheforwardlinetherewereoutside
LB
CB
RB
left(orleftwing),insideleft,centreforward,insideright
andoutsideright(orrightwing).Asthegamehasevolved,
SW
tacticsandteamformationshavechangedandsomanyofthe
namesofthepositionshavechangedtoreflecttheirdutiesin
GK
themoderngame(thoughsomeoldfamiliaronesremain).
Theterm"halfback"felloutofusebytheearly1970sand
"midfield"wasusedinnamingthepositionsthatplayaround Associationfootballpositions.
themiddlethirdasincentremidfieldandwidemidfield.The
centremidfieldpositionhasevolvedfurtherwiththeattackingmidfieldanddefensivemidfieldvariants
beingrecognisedintheirownright.
Thefluidnatureofthemoderngamemeansthatpositionsinfootballarenotasrigidlydefinedasin
sportssuchasrugbyorAmericanfootball.Evenso,mostplayerswillplayinalimitedrangeofpositions
throughouttheircareer,aseachpositionrequiresaparticularsetofskillsandphysicalattributes.
Footballerswhoareabletoplaycomfortablyinanumberofpositionsarereferredtoas"utility
players".[1]
However,inTotalFootballtactics,theplayersareonlylooselydefinedintoaposition.Thistactic
requiredplayerswhowereextremelyversatile,suchasJohanCruyff,whocouldplayeverypositionon
thepitchapartfromgoalkeeper.[2]

Contents
1Goalkeeper
2Defender
2.1Centreback
2.2Sweeper
2.3Fullback
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2.4Wingback
3Midfielder
3.1Centremidfield
3.2Defensivemidfield
3.3Attackingmidfield
3.4Widemidfield
4Forward
4.1Centreforward
4.2Secondstriker
4.3Winger
5Playerstyles
5.1Goalkeeper
5.2Defensive
5.3Midfield
5.4Attacking
6Tacticalevolution
7Seealso
8References

Goalkeeper
Goalkeeperisthemostdefensivepositioninfootball.The
goalkeeper'smainjobistostoptheotherteamfromscoringby
catching,palmingorpunchingtheballfromshots,headersand
crosses.Unliketheirteammates,goalkeeperstypicallyremainin
andaroundtheirownpenaltyareaformostofthegame.Asa
result,goalkeepershaveabetterviewofthepitchandoftengive
advicetotheirdefencewhentheotherteamisontheattackor
duringsetpieces.[3]Goalkeepersaretheonlyplayersonthepitch
whoareallowedtohandletheball,butthisisrestrictedtotheir
ownpenaltyarea.Positioningisanotherimportantjobandisone
ofthehardesttomasteraskeeper.[4]

Goalkeeperdivingtokeeptheball
awayfromgoal

Goalkeepersmustalsowearadifferentcolouredkitfromtheoutfieldersandofficials.Commoncolours
includeyellow,green,grey,blackandshadesofblue.Sincethe1970s,goalkeepershavealsotypically
wornspecialisedgloves.Theyprovidebettergripontheballandprotecttheirhandsfromhardshotsand
headers,aswellmakingiteasiertopunchorpushtheballaway.Capswerecommonbetweenthe1910s
and1960s,aswellaswoollyjumpersbutthesearenotworninanyprofessionalorsemiprofessional
contexttoday.

Defender
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Defendersplaybehindthemidfieldersandtheirprimaryresponsibilityistoprovidesupporttotheteam
andtopreventtheoppositionfromscoringagoal.[5]Theyusually
remaininthehalfofthefieldthatcontainsthegoaltheyare
defending.Tallerdefenderswillmoveforwardtotheopposing
team'spenaltyboxwhentheirteamtakescornerkicksorfree
kicks,wherescoringwithone'sheadisapossibility.[6]

Centreback
Adefender(intheforeground,
Thejobofthecentreback,[7][8](orcentraldefender[9])
wearingawhiteshirt)challengingfor
(historicallycalledacentrehalf[10][11])istostopopposing
possession
players,particularlythestrikers,fromscoring,andtobringthe
balloutfromtheirpenaltyarea.Astheirnamesuggests,they
playinacentralposition.Mostteamsemploytwocentrebacks,stationedinfrontofthegoalkeeper.
Therearetwomaindefensivestrategiesusedbycentrebacks:thezonaldefence,whereeachcentreback
coversaspecificareaofthepitch,andmantomanmarking,whereeachcentrebackhasthejobof
coveringaparticularoppositionplayer.[12]

Centrebacksareoftentall,strongandhaveagoodjumping,headingandtacklingability.Successful
centrebacksalsoneedtobeabletoconcentrate,readthegamewell,andbebraveanddecisivein
makinglastditchtacklesonattackingplayerswhomightotherwisebethroughongoal.[13]Sometimes,
particularlyinlowerleagues,centrebacksconcentratelessonballcontrolandpassing,preferring
simplytocleartheballina"safetyfirst"fashion.[14]However,thereisalongtraditionofcentrebacks
havingmorethanjustrudimentaryfootballingskill,enablingamorepossessionorientedplayingstyle.[9]
Centrebackswillusuallygoforwardforsetpiececornersandfreekicks,wheretheirheightand
jumpingabilitygivethemanaerialgoalthreat,whiledefensivedutiesarecoveredbythefullbacks.
Oncethesetpieceiscomplete,theywillretreattotheirownhalf.[15]
Thepositionissometimesreferredtoas"centrehalf".Thisoriginatesthelatepartofthe19thcentury,
whenmostteamsemployedthe235formation,therowofthreeplayerswerecalledhalfbacks.As
formationsevolved,thecentralplayerinthistrio(thecentrehalf),movedintoamoredefensiveposition
onthefield,takingthenameofthepositionwiththem.[16][17]

Sweeper
Thesweeper(orlibero(Italian:free))isamoreversatiletypeofcentrebackthat,asthenamesuggests,
"sweepsup"theballiftheopponentmanagestobreachthedefensiveline.[18]Theirpositionisrather
morefluidthanotherdefenderswhomarktheirdesignatedopponents.[18]Thesweeper'sabilitytoread
thegameisevenmorevitalthanforacentreback.[19]Thecatenacciosystemofplay,usedinItalian
footballinthe1960s,notablyemployedadefensivelibero.[20]Withtheadventofthemodernoffside
rulecametheneedtoholdmoreofadefensivelinetocatchopposingplayersoffside.Useofasweeper
rolebecamelesspopularasthelastmancanplayanattackingopponentonside,whichcouldinthecase
ofthesweeperbebehindthemaindefence.[21]
FormerGermancaptainFranzBeckenbaueriscommonlyseenastheinventoroftheliberoandthebest
playerintherole.[22]However,playerssuchasVeliborVasovi[23]andArmandoPicchi[24]were
prominentsweeperspriortoBeckenbauer.SomeofthegreatestsweeperswereGaetanoScirea,Bobby
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Moore,FrancoBaresi,DanielPassarellaandElasFigueroa.

Fullback
Theleftbackandtherightback(generallyreferredtoasthefullbacks[25])arethedefendersstationed
eithersideofthecentrebackstoprovideprotectionfromattackingwideplayers.Theyoftenhaveto
defendagainsttheopponent'swingers,whowilltrytotaketheballpastthemdowntheflanksinorderto
crossorpassintothepenaltyareatotheirattackers.[26]Fullbackstraditionallydonotgouptosupport
theattackbutmaymoveupasfarasthehalfwaylinedependingonthedefensivelinebeingheld.[27]In
themoderngame,therehasbeenthetendencytoprefertheuseoftheattackingfullback(wingback)
rolethoughtheyaremoreoftenthannotstillreferredtoasrightorleftbacks.[26]
Originally,afullbackwasthelastlineofdefence,butasthegamedevelopedintheearly20thcentury,
thecentrehalfrolewasdroppedbackwardsandcametobeknownas'centreback',andthefullbacks
werethenpushedoutwidertocreatetherightbackandleftbackpositions.[28]

Wingback
Thewingback(orattackingfullback)aredefenderswithheavieremphasisonattack.Thenameisa
portmanteauof"winger"and"fullback",indicatingthegreateremphasisontheirresponsibilitiesin
attack.[29]Theyareusuallyemployedaspartofa352formation,andcanthereforebeconsideredpart
ofthemidfieldwhenateamisattacking.[30]Theymayalsobeusedina532formationandtherefore
haveamoredefensiverole.[31]Theterm"wingback"itselfisgraduallyfallingoutofuseasthereisless
ofadistinctionwiththefullbackrolesinthemoderngame,especiallywhenusedina433or423
1formation.[29][32]
Thewingbackroleisoneofthemostphysicallydemandingpositionsinmodernfootball.Wingbacks
areoftenmoreadventurousthantraditionalfullbacksandareexpectedtoprovidewidth,especiallyin
teamswithoutwingers.Awingbackneedstobeofexceptionalstamina,beabletoprovidecrosses
upfieldandthendefendeffectivelyagainstanopponent'sattackdowntheflanks.Adefensivemidfielder
isusuallyfieldedtocovertheadvancesofanopponent'swingback.[33]

Midfielder
Midfielders(originallycalledhalfbacks)areplayerswhosepositionofplayismidwaybetweenthe
attackingforwardsandthedefenders.Theirmaindutiesaretomaintainpossessionoftheball,takingthe
ballfromdefendersandfeedingittothestrikers,aswellasdispossessingopposingplayers.Most
managersfieldatleastonecentralmidfielderwithamarkedtaskofbreakingupopposition'sattacks
whiletherestaremoreadepttocreatinggoalsorhaveequalresponsibilitiesbetweenattackanddefence.
Midfielderscanbeexpectedtocovermanyareasofapitch,asattimestheycanbecalledbackinto
defenceorrequiredtoattackwiththestrikers.Theyaremoreoftentheplayersthatinitiateattackingplay
forateam.[34]

Centremidfield
Centralmidfieldersprovidethelinkbetweendefenceandattack,howfulfillinganumberofdutiesand
tendtooperatemostlyinthemiddlethirdofthepitchbetweenopposingpenaltyboxes.Theywill
supportattackingplaybytheteamandwhentheballislosttheywillendeavourtowinitbackandtryto
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breakuptheopposition'sownattackingplaybeforetheyreach
thelastthirdoftheplayingfield.Acentralmidfielderwill
endeavourtoinitiateattackingplayafterreceivingtheballout
fromthedefenceorafterwinningtheballbackandcanbe
sometimesdescribedasplaymakers.Theywillalsoofferan
additionallineofdefencewhentheteamisundersustained
attackandwhendefendingcorners.Centralmidfieldersare
alwaysbusyinagameandareoftenthereforesometimes
describedastheengineroomoftheteam.[34]
Theircentralpositionenablesthemtohaveanallroundviewof
thematch,andasmostoftheactiontakesplaceinandaround
Amidfielderplaysbetweenthe
theirareaofthepitch,midfieldersoftenexertthegreatestdegree
defenceandattack.
ofcontroloverhowamatchisplayed.[35]Itisoftensaidthata
matchiswonorlostinmidfield,meaningthatwhicheverteam
dominatesthemiddleareaofthepitchisabletodictatethegame.Acentralmidfielderisexpectedto
havegoodvision,beadeptatlongandshortpassingandhavegreatstaminabecauseofthegroundthey
coverinagame.[36]Theyalsoneedtobegoodattacklingtowintheballback.
Overtimetwoadditionalcentralmidfieldroleshavedevelopedfromthestandardrole,thoughtheir
dutiesdohaveadegreeofoverlap.Thesearetheattackingmidfieldanddefensivemidfieldrolesandare
explainedinthesectionsbelow.Dependingontheteam'stacticsacombinationofallthreerolesmaybe
deployedinmidfield.Sometimesacentralmidfielderwillbeusedinawidemidfieldroletoprovide
widthorascover.[34]

Defensivemidfield
Adefensivemidfielder(holdingmidfielderormidfieldanchor)isacentralmidfielderwhoisstationed
infrontofthedefenderstoprovidemoredefensiveprotection,thus"holdingback"whentherestofthe
midfieldsupportstheattack.Thedefensivemidfielderscreensthedefencebyharryingandtacklingthe
oppositionteams'attackersanddefenders.[37]Theyalsohelptactically,forinstance,bydirecting
opposingattackingplayersouttothewingwheretheyhavemorelimitedinfluence,andbycoveringthe
positionsoffullbacks,othermidfieldersandeventhecentrebacksiftheychargeuptosupportthe
attack.[38][39]Inthemid2000s,therolewaspopularisedbyClaudeMakll,resultingintheposition
oftenbeingreferredtoasthe'Makllrole'.Thepositionmayalsobereferredtoastheteam's'water
carrier',inreferencetoaderogatorycommentmadebyEricCantonatowardshisFrenchnationalteam
mateDidierDeschamps.[40]
Althoughthedutiesofdefensivemidfieldersareprimarilydefensive,somemidfieldersaredeployedas
deeplyingplaymakers,duetotheirabilitytodictatetempofromadeeppositionwiththeirpassing.
Sometimesadefensivemidfielderwillbepairedwithacentralmidfielderwhowillactasthedeeplying
playmaker.Wheneverthecentralmidfielderventuresforwardthedefensivemidfielderwillhold
back.[41]
Defensivemidfieldersrequiregoodpositionalsense,workrate,tacklingability,andanticipation(of
playerandballmovement)toexcel.Theyalsoneedtopossessgoodpassingskillsandclosecontrolto
holdtheballinmidfieldundersustainedpressure.[42]Mostimportantly,defensivemidfieldersrequire
greatstaminaastheyaretheoutfieldplayerswhocoverthegreatestdistanceduringaprofessional

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match.Intopfootballclubs,amidfieldermaycoverupto12kilometresforafull90minutegame.[43]
Deeplyingplaymakerstypicallyrequireagoodfirsttouchunderoppositionpressureandtheabilityto
playlongcrossfieldpassestoattackingplayersfurtherupfield.[41]

Attackingmidfield
Anattackingmidfielderisacentralmidfielderwhoisstationedinanadvancedmidfieldposition,usually
behindthestrikers.Theseplayerstypicallyserveastheoffensivepivotoftheteam,andaresometimes
saidtobe"playinginthehole",althoughthistermcanalsobeusedtodescribethepositioningofadeep
lyingforward.Thisspecialistmidfielder'smainroleistocreategoalscoringopportunitiesusingsuperior
visionandskill.Theattackingmidfielderisanimportantpositionthatrequirestheplayertopossess
superiortechnicalabilitiesintermsofpassingand,perhapsmoreimportantly,theabilitytoreadthe
opposingdefenceinordertodeliverdefencesplittingpassestothestrikers.
Someattackingmidfieldersarecalledtrequartistas(Italian:threequarterspecialist,i.e.aplaymaker
betweentheforwardsandthemidfield),knownfortheirdefttouch,abilitytoshootfromrange,and
passingprowesshowever,notallattackingmidfieldersaretrequartistassomeattackingmidfielders
areveryverticalandareessentiallyauxiliaryattackers.Whereacreativeattackingmidfielderis
regularlyutilised,heiscommonlytheteam'sstarplayer.Assuch,ateamisoftenconstructedsoasto
allowtheirattackingmidfieldertoroamfreeandcreateasthesituationdemands.Onesuchpopular
formationisthe442"diamond"(or41212),inwhichdefinedattackinganddefensivemidfielders
replacethemoretraditionalpairofcentralmidfielders.

Widemidfield
Awidemidfielder(leftmidfieldandrightmidfield,orgenerallysidemidfielder)(historicallycalledleft
halfandrighthalf,orwinghalf)isamidfielderwhoisstationedtotheleftorrightofcentralmidfield.
Thoughtheyareoftenreferredtoaswingers,notallplayersinthesepositionsarestereotypicalspeedy,
touchlinehuggingplayers.Withtheadventofthemoderngamethetraditionaloutsideforwardsknown
as"wingers"werepushedbacktowidemidfield,thoughstillcommonlyreferredtoaswingers.Asthe
gamehasdevelopedfurther,sometacticalformations(forexample,433)haveusedcentral
midfieldersdeployedinawiderpositiontoprovidewidth,moredefensiveprotectionalongtheflanks
andtohelpcompressplayintheopponentshalf.Theywillstillsupportattackingplayandsometimesbe
expectedtoactasasemiwinger.[44]

Forward
Forwards(orstrikers)aretheplayerswhoarepositionednearest
totheopposingteam'sgoal.Theprimaryresponsibilityof
forwardsistoscoregoalsandtocreatescoringchancesforother
players.Forwardsmayalsocontributedefensivelybyharrying
oppositiondefendersandgoalkeeperswhilstnotinpossession.
Themostcommonmodernformationsincludebetweenoneand
threeforwardsforexample,alonestrikerina4231,paired
strikersina442orastrikerandtwowingersina433.[45]
Coacheswilloftenfieldonestrikerwhoplaysontheshoulderof
thelastopposingdefenderandanotherattackingforwardwho
playssomewhatdeeperandassistsincreatinggoalsaswellas
scoring.Theformerissometimesalargestriker,typicallyknown
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Thestriker(wearingtheredshirt)is
pastthedefence(inthewhiteshirts)
andisabouttotakeashotatthegoal.
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asa"targetman",whoisusedeithertodistractopposingdefenderstohelpteammatesscore,ortoscore
himselfthelatterisusuallyofquickerpace,andisrequiredtohavesomeabilitieslikefindingholesin
theopposingdefenceand,sometimes,dribbling.Inothercases,strikerswilloperateonthewingsofthe
fieldandworktheirwaygoalwards.Yetanothervariationisthereplacementofthetargetmanwitha
strikerwhocanthreadthroughballs.[45]
Playerswhospecialiseinplayingasatargetareusuallyofaboveaverageheightwithgoodheading
abilityandanaccurateshot.Theytendtobethe"outlet"playerforbothmidfieldersanddefenders,able
to"holdtheballup"(retainpossessionoftheballinanadvancedpositionwhileteammatesrunforward
tojointheattack).Theytendtoscoregoalsfromcrosses,oftenwiththehead,andcanusetheirbody
strengthtoshieldtheballwhileturningtoscore.[46]
Otherforwardsmayrelyontheirpacetorunontolongballspassedoverorthroughtheopposition
defence,ratherthancollectingtheballwiththeirbacktogoallikeatargetman.Someforwardscanplay
bothoftheserolesequallywell.[46]

Centreforward
Acentreforward(mainstriker)hasthekeytaskofscoringgoalsandforthisreasonactsasthefocal
pointofthemajorityofattackingplaybyateam.Assuch,howwellastrikerisperformingtendstobe
measuredpurelyongoalsscoreddespitethefactthattheymaybecontributinginotherwaystoateam's
success.Atraditionalcentreforwardwasrequiredtobetallinheightandstrongphysicallyinordertobe
abletowintheballintheareafromcrossesandattempttoscorewitheithertheirfeetorhead,orto
knocktheballdownforateammatetoscore.Whilsttheseassetsarestillanadvantage,inthemodern
gamespeedandmovementarealsorequiredasthereismoreinterplaywhenattacking.[47]Ina442or
4411formationthecentreforwardisoftenpairedwithasecondstrikerwhomayplayaroundhimor
inaslightlywithdrawnrolerespectively,thoughitisnotunknowntoplaytworecognisedcentre
forwards.[48]
Sometimesateammayoptonamoredefensiveformationsuchas451inwhichthecentreforwardis
requiredtoplaya"lonerole"upfront.Inthesecasesateammaylookforopportunitiestocounterattack
onthebreakandthecentreforwardmayfindhimselfattackingthegoalonhisownwithjustadefender
tobeatoralternativelyhemayholdtheballupintheopponent'shalftoallowotherplayerstojoininthe
attack.Modernfootballingtacticshavemademoreuseof433and4231formations.[47]Herethe
centreforwardmaybeinvolvedmorewiththeattackingbuildupplay,supportedbywingers(whooften
comeinfield)andattackingmidfielders.Theplayusesmoreshorter,quickpasseswithmovementoffthe
ball,lookingtocreateanopeningongoal.[49]

Secondstriker
Thesecondstriker(withdrawnstrikerorsupportstriker)(historicallycalledinsideleftandinsideright,
orinsideforward)hasalonghistoryinthegame,buttheterminologytodescribethemhasvariedover
theyears.Originallysuchplayersweretermedinsideforwards.Morerecently,thepreferredtermshave
beenwithdrawnstriker,secondstriker,orsupportstriker,andareoftenreferredtoasplaying"inthe
hole"(i.e.thespacebetweenthemidfieldandthedefenceoftheopposingteam).Secondstrikerstend
nottobeastallorasphysicallyimposingasacentreforward.[50]Theyarerequiredtobemore"nippy"
andskillfulhelpingtocreategoalsopportunitiesforcentreforwards,utilisingspacescreatedinthe
opposition'sdefence,pickinguplooseballsaroundtheareaorattemptingtoscorethemselves.[50]

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ThepositionwasinitiallydevelopedbythefamousHungarynationalteamofthelate1940sandmid
1950sledbyFerencPusks.Later,itwaspopularisedinItalianfootballasthetrequartista("three
quarters"),theplaymakerwhoplaysneitherinmidfieldnorasaforward,buteffectivelypullsthestrings
forhisteam'sattack.[51]Manyplayersinthispositioncanplayasanattackingmidfielderorsometimes
onthewing.
Whatevertheterminology,thepositionitselfisalooselydefinedonesomewherebetweentheoutand
outstrikerandthemidfield.Suchaplayeriseitheraskillful,attackmindedmidfielderorastrikerwho
canbothscoreandcreateopportunitiesforcentreforwards.Attackingmidfielderscanalsoperformthis
roleeffectively.

Winger
Awinger(leftwingerandrightwinger)(historicallycalledoutsideleftandoutsideright,oroutside
forward)isanattackingplayerwhoisstationedinawidepositionnearthetouchlines.Theycanbe
classifiedasforwards,consideringtheiroriginastheoldoutsideforwardwhoplayedoutonthe"wing"
(i.e.sideofthepitch).Theycontinuetobetermedassuchinmanypartsoftheworld,especiallyinLatin
andDutchfootballingcultures.However,intheEnglishspeakingworld,theyareusuallycountedaspart
ofthemidfieldhavingbeenpushedbacktherewiththeadventofthe442formationwhichgradually
rosetoprominenceinthe1960s,giventheroleadditionaldefensiveduties.[52]Awinger'smainattribute
isusuallyspeedwhichisusedtoattackanddribblepastopponent'sfullbacksinordertogetbehindthe
defenceandtothendelivercrossesandpassesintothecentrefortheirattackers.[53]Occasionallyleftand
rightfootedwingersmayswapsidesofthefieldasatacticalmovetoenablethewingertocutinside
againsttheopposingfullbacksweakerfoot,lookingforashootingopportunityorjustasameansof
openingupthedefence.ClubssuchasBarcelonaandRealMadridoftenchoosetoplaytheirwingerson
the'wrong'flankforthisreason.[52]
Althoughwingersareafamiliarpartoffootball,theuseofwingersisbynomeansuniversal,andmany
successfulteamshaveoperatedwithoutwingers.Atthe1966WorldCup,EnglandmanagerAlfRamsey
ledateamwithoutnaturalwingerstothetitlethiswasunusualenoughatthetimefortheteamtobe
nicknamed"TheWinglessWonders".[54]AmorerecentexampleisthatofItalianclubMilan,whohave
typicallyplayedinanarrowmidfielddiamondformationorina"Christmastree"formation(4321),
relyingonattackingfullbackstoprovidethenecessarywidthdownthewings.[55]

Playerstyles
Goalkeeper
Shotstopper
Agoalkeeperknownasbeingverygoodatsavingstrikesongoal,manyatpointblankrange.Theyare
knownforhavinggreatreactions,analmostinstinctiveabilitytoanticipatewheretopositionthemselves
andtodiveorspreadthemselvesinordertoeffectasave,oftenfromashotthatmaylookimpossibleto
preventgoingin.Theycanberecognizedbyahighsavestoshotsratio.
SweeperKeeper
Withtheadventoftheoffsiderule,theroleofasweepingdefenderorliberohasbecomeprettymuch
obsolete.However,inthelastdecadesithasbecomepopularforgoalkeeperstotakethatroleinstead.A
sweepinggoalkeeperisgoodatreadingthegame,andpreventsscoringopportunitiesbyclearingpasses
andcrossesoutsideofthegoalareawithouttheuseofhishands.

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Defensive
Attackingfullback
Anattackingfullback(orwingback)isadefenderstationedontheflankwithemphasisonattackas
wellasdefense.Thenamewingbackisaportmanteauof"winger"(seeabove)and"fullback".Asthe
rolecombinesthatofthewingerandthefullback,attackingfullbacksneedtobeblessedwithgood
stamina.Whereateamsfieldsthreecentrebacks,theattackingfullbackisexpectedtoconcentratemore
onprovidingsupportforstrikersthanconcentratingontheirdefensiveduties.[56]
Libero
Thelibero(Italian:free)orsweeperisamoreversatiletypeofdefenderthat"sweepsup"theballifthe
opponentmanagestobreachthedefensiveline.Theirpositionisrathermorefluidthanotherdefenders
whomarktheirdesignatedopponents.[41]Sweepersareusuallyfasterthanthatoftheotherplayerson
theteam,andarebuiltslightlysmallerthantheothers.Thesweeper'sabilitytoreadthegameiseven
morevitalthanforacentreback.[19]Thecatenacciosystemofplay,usedinItalianfootballinthe1960s,
notablyemployedadefensivelibero.[20]
Stopper
Stoppersareskilleddefenderswhorelyontheirstrength,staminaandmanmarkingabilitiestobeableto
stoptheopposition'sattackingplaybymakingstrongtackles.Theyareusuallyuncompromisingintheir
tacklingandwouldrathergiveawayafoulthanletanoppositionplayergetpastthemwiththeball.
Stoppersusuallyplayascentrebacksorcouldbeadefensivemidfielderplayinginfrontofthedefence.

Midfield
Ballwinner
Aballwinnerisaplayerskilledatwinningtheballbackfromtheoppositionthroughtacklingand
interceptionsinthemidfieldareaofthepitch.Theyendeavourtobreakuptheopposition'sattacking
playbyregainingpossession.Ballwinnersareusuallydefensivemidfieldersorcentralmidfieldersbut
thiscanalsobeanattributeofadefender.
Defensivemidfielder
Defensivemidfieldersarecentralmidfieldplayersthatfocusmoreondefencethanattack.Theyneed
strengthtomakestrongtacklesandtheyalsoneedstaminaandsomedegreeofpassingskillastheyneed
tosupportothermidfielders.
Creativemidfielder
Creativemidfieldersaremidfieldplayersthatareabletocreategoalscoringopportunitiesfortheteam
ofteninsituationswherenothingseemslikely.Theyusuallyhavegoodballcontrol,passingabilityand
movementandwillbeblessedwithvisionandontheballintelligence.Theyareusuallyattacking
midfielders,thoughsecondstrikers,wingersandcentralmidfielderscanalsobeknownascreative
players.
Boxtobox
Boxtoboxmidfieldershelpwithalmosteveryaspectofthegame.Theyneedimmensestaminaasthey
needtocovermostareasofthepitch,aswellassomedegreeofpassingskills.Theywouldbeupone
endofthepitchassistingtheattackonemomentthenbackhelpingtodefendaroundtheirownpenalty
areathenext.Theynormallyplayascentralmidfieldersbutanyofthemidfieldplayersmayhavethis
attribute.

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Pullswideright/left
Thesearewidemidfieldersthathavepaceand/ordribblingabilitytobeabletobeatdefendersalongthe
flank.Thewillhavethehabitofrunningwidewhenevertheygetpossessionoftheballorwhentheir
teamisattacking,toreceivetheball.Theirmostimportantskillistobeabletocrosstheballintothe
penaltyboxtocreateopportunitiesforstrikers.Sometimesstrikerswillpullrightorleftasatacticto
drawadefenderoutofpositionortogetintounmarkedspace.
Playmaker
Playmakersaremidfieldersthatcontrolstheflowofattackingplay,startingoffattackingmoves.They
havegoodpassingabilityandalsogoodofftheballabilityandvisiontobeabletoreadthegameandto
seewheregoalscoringopportunitiesmaycomefrom.Playmakersusuallyplayascentralmidfieldersor
attackingmidfielders,butsomeplayasdefensivemidfielders(knownasdeeplyingplaymakers).
Midfieldgeneral
Acentralmidfieldplayerwhoabsolutelycontrolsthemidfieldarea,directingteamplayandbreakingup
theopponent'sattacks.Theyareknownforhavingthebiggestinfluenceontheirteam'soverall
performances,drivingthemforwardtoattack,puttingsustainedpressureontheoppositionandleading
byexamplewhentheteamisdefending.Theymoreoftenthannotwillbetheteamcaptain.

Attacking
Dribbler
Dribblersareplayersknownfortheircloseballcontrolabilitythatisusedtogopastdefendersby
suddenchangeofdirectionandaccelerationsometimescombinedwithgreatpace.Theskillisusedto
createopportunitiesforotherattackersortoscorethemselveshavingbrokenthroughtheopposition's
defenceusingwhatissometimesreferredtoas"trickery".Oneofthegreatspectatorsightsinfootballis
aplayergoingona"mazyrun"withtheball,twistingandturningtoavoidoppositiontackles,beatinga
numberofplayers.
Theyusuallyplayaswingers,secondarystrikersorattackingmidfielders,butinsomecases,acentre
forwardmayalsohavetheseskills.
Counterattacker
Counterattackersareanyattackingplayerthatusestheirpacetobeatdefendersandcauseunexpected
scoringopportunitiesatanytime.Theyalsoneedsomedegreeofshootingskill.Counterattacking
opportunitiesoccurwhentheoppositionarethemselvesattackingateamwithmostoftheirplayers
forward.Acounterattackhappenswhentheballiswonbackandisquicklyplayedintospacefora
counterattackingplayertorunontoorwhereaplayertakestheballthemselvesandrunswithpaceintoa
sparselydefendedoppositionhalf.
Clinicalfinisher
Clinicalfinishersareforwardsthatspecialiseintheiraccurateshootingability.Theyare"clinical"inthat
theyneedfewopportunitiestoscoreagoalbeingabletostrikeandplacetheballexactlywhereitwill
beatthegoalkeeper.Theycanbeidentifiedbytheirhighgoaltoshotsratio.Clinicalstrikersusuallyplay
ascentreforwardsthoughotherattackingplayerscanoftenbesaidtobeclinicalfinishers.
Targetman
Targetmenareforwardsthatgenerallyhaveahighdegreeofphysicalstrengthandareusuallytallin
height.Theyareabletomakespace,scoregoals,orholdupplaywiththeballwaitingforsupportno
matterhowmuchpressuredefendersareputtingonthem.Theyspecialiseintakingandcontrollingthe
ballintheairoralongthegroundoftenfromlongpasses,strengthtoholdoffdefenderswhenreceiving
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longpassesandsometimesvolleyingtheball.Theterm"target"referstothefactthatotherteamplayers
willusethemtoplaylongballsorcrossestoeventhoughtheymaybesurroundedbyopposition
defenders.Theroleisuniquetocentreforwards.
Goalpoacher
Goalpoachersareforwardswhowaitinthesixyardboxorthepenaltyareaforacross,passorloose
ballandpouncetotrytoscoreagoal.Their"poaching"referstothefactthattheywilloftenscoreagoal
outoftheslightestofopportunitiesi.e.stealagoal.Goalpoachersusuallyplayascentreforwardsor
secondstrikers.
Falsenine
Afalsenineisaplayerwhoappearstobeplayingasacentreforward(traditionallyanumbernineshirt),
butdropsdeepsorpullswidedisruptingtheopposingteam'smarking.Usuallythecentreforwardwillbe
markedbyoneofthecentrebacksbutthefalseninewilloftenmoveawayintoagreyareacausinga
dilemmaonwhetherthecentrebackfollows,isolatingthemfromtheothercentrebackorstayswhere
theyare,makingthemselvesredundant.[51]

Tacticalevolution
127formation
Inthesport'searlydays,footballwasverymuchfocusedonattackand,assuch,manyteams(e.g.Royal
Engineers,1872)playedwitha127formation(onedefender,twomidfieldersandsevenattackers).
Thesingledefenderwasknownasthethreequarterback,andhewassupportedinpartbytwohalf
backsfrommidfieldwhowouldbeinchargeoforchestratingthegamewithshortpassing.Upfront,the
sevenforwardsweresplitintofourwingforwardsandthreecentreforwards.Thewingers'maintaskwas
tousetheirpacetopickuponthelongballssentforwardbythehalfandthreequarterbacks,whereas
thecentreforwardswerechargedwithtakingtheshortpassesfromthehalfbacks.
235formation
Inordertocombattheshortpassingthreat,thechampionshipwinningPrestonNorthEndsideof1888
devisedamoredefensive235formation(twodefenders,threemidfieldersandfiveattackers),which
wouldbecomethestandardformationformanyteamsforthebestpartofthenext40years.Oneofthe
halfbackswasbroughtbackintodefence,whichsatdeeperthanbefore,makingthetwodefendersfull
backsasopposedtothreequarterbacks.Theirmainjobwastomarktheopposition'sinsideforwards
andcutouttheshortpassesinmidfield.Furthermore,twoforwardswerebroughtbackintomidfieldas
halfbackstomarktheoppositionwingersandnegatethepacethreat.Theremaininghalfbackbecamea
centrehalf,whowouldpatrolthefield,driftingfromdefencetoattackashesawfit.Thislefttwo
wingersupfront(outsiderightandoutsideleft),alongwithtwoinsideforwards(insiderightandinside
left)andacentreforward.
WMformation
Upuntilthispoint,foranattackingplayertobeonside,therehadtobeatleastthreeopposingplayers
closertotheirgoallinethantheattacker.Inthe1920s,theoffsiderulewaschangedsothatonlytwo
opposingplayerswererequiredbetweentheattackerandthegoallinefortheattackertostillbeonside.
Thismadeiteasierforattackerstoscoreagainstthetwomandefencesoftheday.Tocombatthis,
ArsenalmanagerHerbertChapmandevisedasystemthatutilisedthreedefendersasopposedtothe
usualtwo.Thissystemwascomplementedbyastrictmanmarkingregime,wherebythecentreback
whohadnowretreatedtothecentreofthethreemandefencewouldstickasclosetotheopposing
centreforwardaspossible,whilethefullbackswhohadmovedfurtherwidetoaccommodatethe
centrebackwouldmarkthewingers.Thislefttwomidfieldersinaslightlylessadvancedposition
thanbeforetoactaswinghalveswhowouldhavethedualresponsibilityoflooselymarkingtheinside
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forwardsandprovidingtheforwardswiththeball.Thiswashelpedbytheslightwithdrawaloftheinside
forwardsfromthefrontline.Chapman'sformationwasreferredtoastheWMformationduetoits
appearanceonthefieldwithalltheplayersintheirdescribedpositions.
HungarianMUformation
AvariationoftheWMformationwastheMUformationusedtogreateffectbytheHungarynational
teamagainstEnglandin1953,whentheybecamethefirstnonBritishsidetobeatEnglandattheold
WembleyStadium.ThisformationwassocalledbecauseofthedeeplyingcentreforwardNndor
Hidegkuti,usedtodrawtheoppositioncentrebackoutofposition,leavingplentyofspacebetweenthe
fullbacksfortheinsideforwardsFerencPusksandSndorKocsistoexploit.
Flatbackfour
In1958,theBrazilnationalteamwontheirfirstoffiveWorldCupstodatethankstothe"flatbackfour"
systemtheyhaddevelopedtocountertheHungarians'MU.Twocentrebackswouldmarktheinside
forwards'runsfromdeep,whilethewiderfullbackswouldnotonlycutoutthethreatoftheopposing
wingersbutalsoprovidewidthonthecounterattack.Therelativelackofnumbersinthemiddleofthe
parkmeantacreativepresencewasrequired,andfortheBrazilians,thatpresencewasprovidedinthe
formoftheirdazzlingmidfielderDidi.AlsoinMarioZagallotheyhadaleftwingeryearsaheadofhis
time,proficientatfunnellingbackandhelpingoutthemidfieldwhentheteamlostpossession.
433formation
By1962,theBrazilian424formationevolvedintoanasymmetrical433,withMarioZagallonow
playingasaleftwidemidfielderinsteadofaleftdefensiveoutsideforward/winger.
ItalianCatenacciosystem
TheadventoftheItalian"Catenaccio"(bolt)systemcamesoonafter,andwasamoredefensivevariation
ontheBrazilians'424system.Twoforwardswerewithdrawntoleavejusttwoupfront,andanextra
midfielderwasaddedtobolsterthemidfield.However,themajortacticalinnovationwiththisformation
wasthefloatingsweeper,oftenreferredtoinItalianasa"libero",or"freeman".Whilethefourmain
defenderswouldhavethetaskofstrictmanmarkingtheoppositionforwards,theliberowouldactasa
sponge,moppingupanyattacksthatmighthappentogetthroughthetightdefence.FranzBeckenbauer
ofBayernMunichgavethepositionamoreattackingroleandplayedamajorpartascaptainoftheWest
GermanynationalsidethatwontheWorldCupin1974andcamethirdin1970.
442formation
MeanwhileintheUnitedKingdomthe442formationrosetoprominenceinthe1960s.TheEnglish
alsodevelopedatacticalformationthatlookedlikea442(moreaccurately4132)butswitchedto
424or433dependingonhowtheyattacked.Theflatbackfourthathadbecomesopopular
remainedintact,butthemidfieldwasafreeflowingunitwithplayersgivenlicensetoattackasthe
scenariosawfit.Indefence,usingthe1966WorldCupsideasanexample,MartinPeters,Bobby
CharltonandAlanBallwouldallstaybacktocountertheoppositionattack.However,inattacktheyhad
twooptions:PetersandBallcouldchargeforward,creatingproblemsfortheoppositionoutwidewith
theirpaceandcrossingability,creatingeithera424formationora334formationwhenoneofthe
fullbackspushedforwardorCharltoncouldburstthroughthemiddleofthestrikepartnershipofRoger
HuntandGeoffHurstandoverloadthecentreoftheoppositiondefenceina433,providingeitheran
extramanintheboxoraneffectivelongshotalternative.TheunsungheroofAlfRamsey'sEngland
sidewasNobbyStiles,whowasthemidfieldlinchpin,whomtheteamreliedonindefencewhen
Charltonsurgedforwardinsupportofthestrikers.
Dutch"TotalFootball"
The1970ssawthecomingoftheDutch"TotalFootball"scheme.Whilenotburdenedwithaspecific,
rigidformation,thesystemreliedonextremelyversatileplayerswhowereabletofillinatanyposition
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thecircumstancesofthegamerequiredthemto.OnesuchplayerwasthelegendaryJohanCruyff,who
epitomisedtheTotalFootballideologybybeingabletoplayinalmosteveryoutfieldposition.Amajor
criticismofthisstyleofplaywasthat,fortheDutchnationalside,itneveryieldedamajortrophy,
thoughitdidhelpthemtoreachtwoconsecutiveWorldCupfinals(1974and1978).Theargumentis
somewhatnegatedbythefactthattheAjaxsidethatCruijffplayedinwonthreeconsecutiveEuropean
Cuptitlesintheearlytomid1970s.
352formation
Atthe1986FIFAWorldCup,Argentina'sCarlosBilardounveileda352formation(orperhaps,more
precisely,3511),ashisplaymaker,DiegoMaradona,alsooperatedaassecondstrikerplayinginthe
"hole".
442variation
Thelastmajortacticalevolutionoccurredinthelate1980s/early1990s,whentheMilansideplayedwith
avariationonthe442formation.Thisformationreliedextensivelyonthefourdefenders'abilityto
workasaunitinordertospringtheoffsidetraponslowerattackers,aswellasthestaminaofthe
midfielderswhowouldbeexpectedtopressuretheoppositionassoonastheygainedpossessionofthe
ball.Inattack,theteamwouldplayshortpasseswithinthemidfield,usingtheircrisppassingand
dynamicmovementtoopenupholesinthedefenceandcreateattackingopportunities.
4231formation
The2010WorldCupconfirmedageneralshifttowardabroadlycounterattacking,reactive4231
formationbythetournament'smoresuccessfulteams.[57]Indeed,ofthefoursemifinalistsinthat
tournament,allbutUruguayemployedsomevariationofthistactic.Thisshapetendstoutilisefluid
movementbetweenthefourwingplayers,withfullbacksexpectedtoprovideplentyofsupporttothe
wingersinfrontofthem.FollowingtheWorldCup,mostoftheworld'smajorleagueshaveseenthis
tacticbeingusedbyanincreasingnumberofteams.
532formation
AformationusedbymostItalianteams,thatbecameapopularchoiceamongtheteamsthatparticipated
inthe2014WorldCup.LouisvanGaal'sHollandandMiguelHerrera'sMexicowereamongtheWorld
Cupteamsthatusedsomevariationofthe532formation.

Seealso
Footballtacticsandskills

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