How Many Positions of Players on a Football Team?

Each football team consists of 11 players whose primary purpose is to score a goal while avoiding conceding one. How many variations of positions of players on a football team? The team’s coach assigns the 11 players to various positions, divided into four categories: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward. The goalkeeper’s role is to prevent goals from being scored. When the opponent attacks, the defenders’ responsibility is to defend the team. Midfielders serve as a link between defenders and attackers. Midfielders are in charge of carrying the ball forward and creating opportunities for the forwards. The job of the forward is to score goals for the team. After that, the coach assigns players to various positions based on their tactics and formations.

Goalkeeper

A goalkeeper is a team’s last man standing. The goalkeeper’s job is to keep opposing players from scoring and make saves. Agility and quick reactions are required for this. They must always be prepared. He is the only player on the field who is permitted to make saves with his hands.

Alisson Becker, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Jan Oblak are well-known goalkeepers.

Sweeper

A sweeper is typically a defender tasked with carrying the ball forward. His job is to sweep the ball forward from the back. Libero is another name for this position. A sweeper is granted some leeway on the pitch and is permitted to drag the ball forward. However, this is no longer widely employed, and the job is nearly obsolete in modern football.

Franz Beckenbauer, Ronald Koeman, Gerard Pique, and Sergio Ramos are famous sweepers.

Centre Back

A center-back, sometimes known as a CB, is a defender who defends in front of the goalie. His job is to win the ball back for the team by making tackles, clearances, and interceptions. Their job is to protect the opposing team’s forwards.

Virgil van Dijk, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, and Aymeric Laporte are famous center-backs.

Full Back

A full-back is a defender who can play on both sides. The full-back on the left is referred to as a left-back (LB), whereas the full-back on the right is referred to as a right-back (RB) (RB). They’re positioned on the wings, with center-backs sandwiched in between. As the center-backs cover the central ground, their job is to defend the wings. They are also permitted to advance and provide opportunities for the forwards by crossing or passing balls.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordi Alba, Marcelo, and Andy Robertson are well-known full-backs.

Wing Back

A wing-back combines the skills of a winger and a full-back. A wing-roll back is similar to a full-back, except that they are allowed to focus more on attacking than defending. They are mainly free of defensive responsibilities. However, they do defend themselves during counter-attacks. Wing-backs are typically utilized in a three-person defense, allowing the wing-backs to move higher up the pitch. The left wing-back is known as a left wing-back (LWB), and the right wing-back is known as a right wing-back (RWB) (RWB).

Defensive Midfielder

Defensive Midfielder (DM) – A defensive midfielder (DM) serves as a pivot for the team. They’re also known as holding midfielders or pivots. Defensive midfielders serve as a barrier between the defense and the goalkeeper. They serve as a link between the defense and the midfield, and most attacks begin there. A defensive midfielder’s position is known as the number 6 Position of players on a football team. After that, their job is to perform all the dirty labor so the midfielder can move forward and create opportunities for the attackers. They frequently sit in their half and use aggressive tackles and interceptions to break up opposition attacks. They usually have a great sense of the game and are very aware of their surroundings.

Casemiro, Sergio Busquets, Fabinho, and Rodri are well-known defensive midfielders.

Central Midfielder

Midfielders serve as a link between the defense and the attacking players. They must be physically stronger and fitter than the other players on the pitch because they are the ones who run the most throughout the game. When the opposition team holds the ball, they should penetrate the opposing team’s area and ensure that they are defended.

Left Midfielder & Right Midfielder

For the instance, left and right midfielders play similar roles to central midfielders but are more wing-oriented. Similarly, their job is to generate chances for the forwards by playing long balls and making good crosses. Left Midfielder (LM) refers to the player on the extreme left-wing, while Right Midfielder (RM) refers to the midfielder on the extreme right-wing (RM).

Wing Forward

Wing Forward – A winger is a forward who plays wide on both flanks and moves inside once the attack gets going. They are usually quick and have excellent dribbling skills. Therefore, they also pass the ball well to the other forwards. However, their job is to create opportunities for the squad and score goals. They provide support from the wings for the attack. Right Wing Forward (RWF) refers to the winger on the right, while Left Wing Forward (LWF) refers to the winger on the left (LWF).

Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez, and Gareth Bale are famous right-wingers.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden Hazard, and Sadio Mane are famous left-wingers.

Striker

The striker is the team’s target man and is responsible for most of the team’s goals. They are goal poachers with excellent positional skills, allowing them to make the most of their services. They’re also known as center-forwards. Therefore, they have a good combination of speed, strength, and power. The defenders of their opponents are on the lookout for them. In football, this position is known as the number 9 position. Hopefully, we have to explain to you the positions of players on a football team in detail.

Luis Suarez, Robert Lewandowski, Roberto Firmino, Sergio Aguero, Kylian Mbappe, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all famous strikers.