What Are the Soccer Positions Called? A Comprehensive Guide

Soccer positions play a vital role in team dynamics. They serve as the strategic foundation that shapes how a team operates on the field. Each position has specific duties and responsibilities that contribute to the overall performance of the team.

By assigning players to different positions, a team creates a structured framework that optimizes collaboration and coordination on a soccer field. This ensures that players know their roles and can work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.

In this guide, we’ll unravel the fundamental aspects of soccer positions, shedding light on the players who make the game come alive. Understanding these soccer positions is key to appreciating the intricate dance of teamwork and strategy that unfolds on the field.

Goalkeeper (GK)

The goalkeeper, often referred to as the GK, is a pivotal position in soccer, entrusted with safeguarding the team’s net. This position demands a unique set of skills and unwavering focus.

Role and Responsibilities of a Goalkeeper

1. Shot Stopping: The primary duty of a goalkeeper is to prevent opposing teams from scoring goals. This entails reacting swiftly to shots and making acrobatic saves, showcasing exceptional reflexes.
2. Distribution: Beyond defense, goalkeepers contribute to offense by initiating plays. They must possess accurate and powerful throws and kicks to swiftly distribute the ball to teammates.
3. Communication and Organization: Goalkeepers act as on-field generals, communicating with the defense and organizing the team’s positioning. Clear and concise instructions are essential to maintain a solid defensive structure.

Unique Attributes of a Goalkeeper

1. Handling Skills: Goalkeepers must exhibit impeccable handling skills, confidently catching crosses, shots, and high balls. Secure ball control prevents rebounds and second-chance opportunities for opponents.
2. Shot Blocking Techniques: Diving saves, close-range deflections, and one-on-one confrontations demand a repertoire of shot-blocking techniques. Goalkeepers use their body, hands, and feet to deny scoring opportunities.
3. Dealing with Crosses: Crosses into the penalty area challenge goalkeepers to decide whether to claim the ball or punch it away. Accurate judgment and assertive actions in such scenarios are crucial.

Legendary Goalkeepers in Soccer

1. Gianluigi Buffon (ITALY)
2. Iker Casillas (SPAIN)
3. Peter Schmeichel (DENMARK)
4. Edwin Van Der Sar (NETHERLANDS)
5. Tim Howard (UNITED STATES)

Embed from Getty Images

Defenders

Center Back (CB)

The Center Back (CB) is a linchpin of the team’s defensive structure in soccer. This position requires exceptional tactical awareness and physical prowess.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Defensive Anchor: The primary role of a Center Back is to thwart opposition attacks and protect the goal. They position themselves strategically to intercept passes, block shots, and challenge opposing players.
2. Organizing the Defense: Center Backs act as on-field commanders, directing their fellow defenders and coordinating the team’s defensive line. Communication and proper positioning are vital to maintain a compact defense.
3. Playing out from the Back: Modern soccer demands that Center Backs participate in building offensive plays. They initiate attacks by distributing accurate passes to midfielders, kick-starting the team’s transition from defense to offense.

Defensive Skills and Techniques

1. Tackling and Marking: Center Backs excel in well-timed tackles to dispossess opponents. Effective marking ensures that opposing players are closely shadowed, minimizing their impact on the game.
2. Aerial Dominance: Winning aerial duels is a hallmark of a skilled Center Back. They use their height and timing to dominate in challenges during corner kicks, free-kicks, and long balls.
3. Clearing Danger: When under pressure, Center Backs must swiftly clear the ball from dangerous areas. This involves decisively heading or kicking the ball out of the defensive zone.

Legendary Center Backs in Soccer

1. Carles Puyol (SPAIN)
2. Gerard Pique (SPAIN)
3. Sergio Ramos (SPAIN)
4. John Terry (ENGLAND)
5. Franz Beckenbauer (GERMANY)
6. Fabio Cannavaro (ITALY)
7. Alessandro Nesta (ITALY)

Embed from Getty Images

Full Back (RB/LB)

Full Backs, known as Right Back (RB) and Left Back (LB), play a dynamic role in both defense and offense, contributing significantly to a team’s tactical fluidity.

Defensive and Offensive Roles

1. Defensive Contribution: Full Backs are responsible for neutralizing opposition wingers and preventing crosses into the penalty area. They engage in one-on-one duels, intercept passes, and block shots to thwart attacks.
2. Overlapping Runs: An integral part of their offensive role, Full Backs make overlapping runs along the flanks to provide width and support to the team’s attack. These runs create additional passing options and exploit gaps in the opposing defense.
3. Crossing and Delivery: When in advanced positions, Full Backs deliver accurate crosses into the box, creating goal-scoring opportunities for strikers and attacking midfielders.

Tracking Back and Recovery

1. Quick Transition: Full Backs must possess exceptional speed and agility to quickly transition from attack to defense. They track back diligently to nullify counterattacks and regain defensive shape.
2. Recovery Challenges: If the ball is lost during an offensive move, Full Backs are tasked with swiftly recovering their defensive positions to prevent opponents from exploiting open spaces.

Balancing Defense and Attack

1. Defensive Discipline: While contributing offensively, Full Backs must maintain defensive discipline. This involves timing their forward runs to avoid leaving defensive gaps.
2. Anticipation and Reading the Game: Full Backs need to anticipate opposition movements, enabling them to intercept passes and make timely tackles. Reading the game enhances their overall effectiveness.

Legendary Left Backs in Soccer

1. Ashley Cole (ENGLAND)
2. Paolo Maldini (ITALY)
3. Roberto Carlos (BRAZIL)
4. Marcelo (BRAZIL)
5. Paul Breitner (GERMANY)

Embed from Getty Images

Legendary Right Backs in Soccer

1. Cafu (BRAZIL)
2. Dani Alves (BRAZIL)
3. Javier Zanetti (ITALY)
4. Carlos Alberto (BRAZIL)
5. Philipp Lahm (GERMANY)

Embed from Getty Images

Wingback (RWB/LWB)

Wingbacks, known as RWB (Right Wingback) and LWB (Left Wingback), hold a unique and multifaceted role in modern soccer. They combine defensive solidity with attacking impetus to impact both ends of the field.

Hybrid Role and Attributes

1. Defensive Vigilance: Wingbacks blend defensive responsibilities with wide midfield duties. They assist in neutralizing opposing wingers while maintaining defensive shape.
2. Overlapping and Width: An integral aspect of their role is making overlapping runs along the flanks. Wingbacks provide width in attack, stretching the opposition and creating space for teammates.
3. Box-to-Box Contributions: Wingbacks cover substantial ground, often participating in both defensive clearances and offensive buildup. Their versatility aids in transitions between defense and attack.

Balancing Defense and Attack

1. Attacking Momentum: Wingbacks surge forward to join attacks, acting as additional playmakers on the flanks. They deliver crosses, through balls, and even take shots to destabilize opposing defenses.
2. Tracking Back and Recovery: After venturing forward, Wingbacks rapidly track back to bolster the defensive line. This agility and quick decision-making prevent counterattacks.

Cutting Inside and Shooting

1. Cutting Inwards: Some Wingbacks possess the ability to cut inside from wide positions, confounding defenders and creating unpredictable attacking angles.
2. Shooting Threat: Wingbacks can unleash powerful shots from distance, catching goalkeepers off guard and contributing to the team’s goal-scoring efforts.

Modern Day Wingbacks

1. Marcos Alonso (SPAIN)
2. Reece James (ENGLAND)
3. Renan Lodi (BRAZIL)
4. Raphaël Guerreiro (PORTUGAL)
5. Ivan Perisic (CROATIA)

Embed from Getty Images

Midfielders

Defensive Midfielder (CDM)

The Defensive Midfielder (CDM) serves as an anchor between defense and attack in soccer. This position demands a unique blend of defensive prowess, tactical intelligence, and precise passing.

Shielding the Defense

1. Protecting the Backline: The primary responsibility of a CDM is to shield the defensive line, acting as a wall against opposing attacks. They intercept passes, break up play, and thwart opponents’ progress.
2. Zone Control: CDMs employ spatial awareness to position themselves strategically, cutting passing lanes and limiting the opposition’s options in the middle of the field.

Ball Recovery and Tackling

1. Timely Tackles: CDMs excel in well-timed tackles to dispossess opponents. Their ability to win duels and regain possession is instrumental in maintaining team control.
2. Pressing and Harassing: Applying pressure on the opposition forces hurried decisions and potential turnovers, showcasing the CDM’s defensive tenacity.

Distributive Passing

1. Transition Play: Defensive Midfielders initiate the team’s transition from defense to attack. They distribute accurate short and long passes to initiate offensive moves and maintain possession.
2. Recycling Possession: CDMs facilitate ball circulation, recycling possession to control the tempo of the game and dictate the flow of play.

Legendary CDMs in Soccer

1. Roy Keane (IRELAND)
2. Patrick Vieira (FRANCE)
3. Claude Makelele (FRANCE)
4. Casemiro (BRAZIL)
5. Sergio Busquets (SPAIN)

Embed from Getty Images

Central Midfielder (CM)

Central Midfielders (CM) occupy a pivotal position that bridges defensive and offensive realms in soccer. They orchestrate play, exhibit creativity, and ensure smooth transitions between various areas of the pitch.

Playmaking and Creativity

1. Distribution Mastery: Central Midfielders are maestros of distribution, delivering precise passes to initiate attacks and exploit openings in the opposing defense.
2. Vision and Creativity: CMs possess exceptional vision, enabling them to spot opportunities that others might miss. They craft intricate through balls and set up goal-scoring chances.

Box-to-Box Movement

1. Dynamic Involvement: Central Midfielders cover extensive ground, contributing both defensively and offensively. They link defense to attack, seamlessly transitioning between phases of play.
2. Defensive Contributions: CMs engage in pressing, intercept passes, and recover possession to stifle opponent attacks and maintain team control.

Defensive Awareness

1. Tracking Opponents: CMs are responsible for tracking opposing midfielders and breaking up their play. Their anticipation and positioning disrupt the flow of the opposition’s passing.

Balancing Roles

1. Control and Tempo: Central Midfielders dictate the rhythm of the game by controlling possession and adjusting the pace to suit the team’s strategy.
2. Linking Phases: CMs connect defensive and offensive lines, ensuring smooth transitions between the two. Their ability to receive and distribute the ball underpins the team’s cohesion.

Legendary CMs in Soccer

1. Luka Modric (CROATIA)
2. Xavi (SPAIN)
3. Paul Scholes (ENGLAND)
4. Steven Gerrard (ENGLAND)
5. Kevin De Bruyne (BELGIUM)

Embed from Getty Images

Attacking Midfielder (CAM)

The Attacking Midfielder (CAM) is a creative force that shapes a team’s offensive identity in soccer. This position demands flair, vision, and the ability to unlock defenses with intricate passes and precise through balls.

Linking Midfield and Attack

1. Central Hub: The CAM acts as the foundation, connecting the midfield and the forward line. They bridge the gap, ensuring seamless transitions from defense to attack.
2. Creating Space: Attacking Midfielders adeptly exploit pockets of space between opposing lines, destabilizing defenses and creating opportunities for their teammates.

Vision and Through Passes

1. Creative Vision: CAMs possess exceptional vision, spotting gaps in the defense that others may overlook. Their ability to read the game allows them to anticipate and orchestrate goal-scoring moves.
2. Precise Through Balls: They deliver incisive through balls, slicing through defensive lines to set up goal-scoring chances for strikers and wingers.

Supporting Strikers

1. Final Third Impact: CAMs thrive in the final third of the pitch, providing key assists and occasionally finding the back of the net themselves.
2. Combining and Link-Up Play: They excel in combination play, linking up with strikers and fellow midfielders to create intricate passing sequences that dismantle defenses.

Legendary Attacking Midfielders in Soccer

1. Diego Maradona (ARGENTINA)
2. Zinedine Zidane (FRANCE)
3. Iniesta (SPAIN)
4. Mesut Ozil (GERMANY)
5. Johan Cruyff (NETHERLANDS)

Embed from Getty Images

Wide Midfielder (RM/LM)

Wide Midfielders, identified as RM (Right Midfielder) and LM (Left Midfielder), are versatile players that combine offensive prowess with defensive contributions in soccer. Their ability to provide width, deliver crosses, and contribute to both attack and defense makes them essential components of a balanced team.

Flank Play and Crossing

1. Providing Width: Wide Midfielders stretch the field horizontally, creating space and opening up passing lanes for their teammates. Their positioning widens the attacking options and forces defenders to cover larger areas.
2. Precise Crossing: RM and LM deliver accurate crosses into the penalty area, capitalizing on scoring opportunities for strikers and attacking players.

Tracking Back and Defense

1. Defensive Contribution: Wide Midfielders track back diligently, supporting their full backs in defense. Their commitment to defensive duties helps maintain team balance and solidity.
2. Pressing and Interceptions: They engage in pressing to win back possession, applying pressure on opponents and forcing turnovers in advanced areas.

Cutting Inside and Shooting

1. Cutting Inward: Some Wide Midfielders possess the skill to cut inside from the flanks, creating unpredictable attacking angles and posing a threat to the opposition’s defensive line.
2. Goal-Scoring Intent: RM and LM are capable of unleashing powerful shots from distance, catching goalkeepers off guard and contributing to the team’s goal-scoring efforts.

Legendary Left Midfielders in Soccer

1. Ryan Giggs (WALES)
2. Ronaldinho (BRAZIL)
3. Pavel Nedved (CZECH REPUBLIC)
4. Luis Figo (PORTUGAL)
5. Franck Ribery (FRANCE)

Embed from Getty Images

Legendary Right Midfielders in Soccer

1. George Best (IRELAND)
2. David Beckham (ENGLAND)
3. Arjen Robben (NETHERLANDS)
4. Gareth Bale (WALES)
5. Stanley Matthews (ENGLAND)

Embed from Getty Images

Forwards

Striker (ST)

The Striker (ST) is the focal point of a team’s attacking prowess in soccer. This position demands clinical finishing, intelligent movement, and the ability to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities.

Scoring Goals and Finishing

1. Goal-Scoring Instinct: The primary objective of a Striker is to score goals. They exhibit a keen sense of positioning and anticipation to convert chances into successful finishes.
2. Clinical Finishing: Strikers display exceptional composure in front of goal, utilizing various finishing techniques to place the ball beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

Hold-Up Play

1. Target Man: Strikers serve as the team’s focal point in attack, holding up the ball to involve teammates and create goal-scoring opportunities.
2. Linking Play: They bring midfielders and wingers into the game by distributing passes and providing lay-offs, facilitating fluid ball movement.

Movement and Off-the-Ball Runs

1. Creating Space: Strikers employ intelligent movement to create space for themselves and teammates. Well-timed runs exploit defensive gaps, creating scoring chances.
2. Exploiting Defenses: They use off-the-ball runs to stretch opposing defenses and exploit positional weaknesses, making them unpredictable and difficult to mark.

Legendary Strikers in Soccer

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (PORTUGAL)
2. Pele (BRAZIL)
3. Ronaldo (BRAZIL)
4. Gerd Muller (GERMANY)
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWEDEN)

Embed from Getty Images

Second Striker (SS)

The Second Striker (SS) is a creative force positioned just behind the primary striker. This role demands a blend of playmaking skills, goal-scoring ability, and the capacity to link midfield and attack seamlessly.

Creative Forward Play

1. Playmaking Emphasis: The SS acts as a creative conduit, crafting scoring opportunities for themselves and teammates through precise passing and clever movement.
2. Assist Mastery: Second Strikers provide crucial assists, threading through balls and delivering key passes that unlock stubborn defenses.

Combining with Midfielders

1. Midfield Link: SS seamlessly connects the midfield and the attack, participating in build-up play and maintaining possession in advanced areas.
2. Midfield Overload: They overload the midfield, offering passing options to central midfielders and wingers, thus creating numerical superiority in crucial areas.

Creating Space for Strikers

1. Drawing Defenders: Second Strikers pull defenders out of position, creating space for the primary striker and wide players to exploit.
2. Exploiting Gaps: They capitalize on pockets of space between the lines, eluding defenders and destabilizing defensive structures.

Legendary Second Strikers in Soccer

1. Lionel Messi (ARGENTINA)
2. Wayne Rooney (ENGLAND)
3. Eric Cantona (FRANCE)
4. Raul (SPAIN)
5. Dennis Bergkamp (NETHERLANDS)

Embed from Getty Images

Winger (RW/LW)

Wingers, recognized as RW (Right Winger) and LW (Left Winger), are dynamic players who excel at utilizing their speed and dribbling skills to stretch defenses and create goal-scoring opportunities. This position demands flair, agility, and the ability to deliver accurate crosses.

Dribbling and One-on-One Skills

1. Dribbling Excellence: Wingers showcase exceptional dribbling ability, maneuvering past defenders and advancing into dangerous positions with close ball control.
2. One-on-One Duels: They thrive in one-on-one situations, engaging in duels with full backs to beat them and create openings for crosses and shots.

Creating Goal-Scoring Opportunities

1. Wide Attack: Wingers hug the touchline, stretching opposing defenses and creating space for themselves and teammates in the central areas.
2. Crossing Precision: RW and LW deliver precise crosses into the box, serving as key providers for strikers and attacking players seeking scoring chances.

Cutting Inside and Shooting

1. Cutting Inwards: In soccer, Wingers possess the ability to cut inside from wide positions, unleashing powerful shots or threading through balls to catch defenses off guard.
2. Shooting Threat: RW and LW can take shots from distance, utilizing their shooting prowess to surprise goalkeepers and contribute to goal-scoring efforts.

Legendary Wingers in Soccer

1. Mohamed Salah (EGYPT)
2. Sadio Mane (SENEGAL)
3. Eden Hazard (BELGIUM)
4. Robert Pires (FRANCE)
5. Garrincha (BRAZIL)

Embed from Getty Images

Tactical Variations Affecting Soccer Positions

Tactical variations in soccer encompass an array of formations and positional strategies that teams employ to adapt to different opponents and match situations. These variations play a crucial role in shaping a team’s style of play and capitalizing on strengths.

Formations and Positional Play

1. Team Shape Importance: Formations dictate the arrangement of players on the field, influencing defensive solidity, attacking patterns, and overall team structure.
2. Interactions Among Positions: Formations influence how players interact with one another on a soccer field, affecting passing triangles, player movements, and coverage of different areas.

Role Adaptation

1. Positional Flexibility: Teams may modify positions’ roles within a formation based on player attributes and tactical needs, enhancing adaptability and unpredictability.
2. Adjusting to Tactical Changes: Coaches strategically alter formations during matches to exploit opponent weaknesses or nullify their strengths, showcasing tactical astuteness.

FAQs About Soccer Positions