he goalkeeper is the most specialised position in football.

A goalkeeper's job is mainly

defensive: to guard the team's goal from being breached (to not let the other team score).
Goalkeeper is the only position defined in the Laws of the Game. Goalkeepers are the
only players allowed to touch the ball with their hands and arms, however they are
restricted to doing so only within their penalty area; for this reason, they must wear
jerseys that distinguish them from other outfield players and the referee. If a goalkeeper
is sent off or injured, and there is no substitute goalkeeper available, an outfield player
must take the goalkeeper's place and put on the appropriate identifying uniform.[3]

The discipline of goalkeeping is so specialised that it is very rare in the professional game
for a goalkeeper to play in any other position. One notable exception is Jorge Campos of
Mexico, who played effectively as a striker when called upon.[4] A goalkeeper with good
technical skill may opt to take his team's penalties and free kicks though this is rare as the
goalkeeper would be caught out of position if possession is conceded immediately after
the kick. José Luis Chilavert (now retired) of Vélez Sársfield and Paraguay, and Rogério
Ceni of São Paulo and Brazil are well-known free-kick and penalty specialists with over
60 goals to their names. Hans-Jörg Butt is the goalkeeper to have scored in the most
different competitions, having scored in all of Germany's top four divisions, the German
cup and the UEFA Champions League.[5][6][7]

Physical strength, height, jumping ability and judgement are valued qualities for
goalkeepers to have in order to deal with aerial balls and agility, quick reactions and a
good positional sense are all needed for shot stopping.[8][9] The standard football skills
of ball control, tackling, passing and dribbling are not usually required in a goalkeeper,
although the introduction of the back-pass rule in the early 1990s has necessitated
improvement on such skills.[10]
[edit] Defenders
Main article: Defender (association football)
A defender (in the foreground, wearing a white shirt) challenging for possession

Defenders or backs play behind the midfielders and their primary responsibility is to
provide support to the goalkeeper, and to prevent the opposition from scoring a goal.
They usually remain in the half of the field that contains the goal they are defending.
Taller defenders will move forward to the opposing team's penalty box when their team
takes corner kicks or free kicks, where scoring with one's head is a possibility.
[edit] Sweeper/Libero (SW)
Main article: Sweeper (association football)

The Sweeper or libero (Italian: free) is a more versatile type of centre back that, as the
name suggests, "sweeps up" the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive
line. Their position is rather more fluid than other defenders who mark their designated
opponents. The sweeper's ability to read the game is even more vital than for a centre-
back.[11] The catenaccio system of play, used in Italian football in the 1960s, notably
employed a defensive libero.[12]
Many centre-backs have the ability to bring the ball out of defence and begin counter-
attacks for their own teams, thanks to tactical (game reading, anticipation, positioning,
tackling) and technical (passing, vision on the pitch) capabilities.

Former German captain Franz Beckenbauer is widely accepted as the inventor and one of
the best players of the role.[13]
[edit] Centre-back (CB)

The job of the centre-back,[14][15] also called centre-halves[16][17] or central defenders,

[18] is to stop opposing players, particularly the strikers, from scoring, and to bring the
ball out from their penalty area. As their name suggests, they play in a central position.
Most teams employ two centre backs, stationed in front of the goalkeeper. There are two
main defensive strategies used by centre backs: the zonal defence, where each centre
back covers a specific area of the pitch, and man-to-man marking, where each centre
back has the job of covering a particular opposition player.

Centre-backs are often tall, strong and have a good jumping, heading and tackling ability.
Successful centre-backs also need to be able to concentrate, read the game well, and be
brave and decisive in making last-ditch tackles on attacking players who might otherwise
be through on goal. Sometimes, particularly in lower leagues, centre-backs concentrate
less on ball control and passing, preferring simply to clear the ball in a "safety-first"
fashion. However, there is a long tradition of centre-backs having more than just
rudimentary footballing skill, enabling a more possession-oriented playing style.[18]

The position was formerly referred to as "centre-half". In the early part of the 20th
century, when most teams employed the 2-3-5 formation, the row of three players were
called halfbacks. As formations evolved, the central player in this trio (the centre-half),
moved into a more defensive position on the field, taking the name of the position with
them.
[edit] Full-back/Right-back/Left-back (FB/RB/LB)
While their duties are primarily defensive, fullbacks and other similar players have a long
tradition of attacking. Brazil's final 1970 World Cup goal by fullback Carlos Alberto,
illustrates the potential of defensive players when they move up to attack

Full-backs take up the wide defensive positions, one on each side of the field. Their main
task is to prevent opposition players crossing or cutting the ball back into the penalty
area. In some defensive systems, full-backs mark opponents. Most full backs are also
expected to provide an attacking dimension by getting upfield along the wings and
providing crosses.[19]

Traditionally, full-backs played a role today occupied by the central defenders. As the
game evolved, with the old centre half taking over the central defensive role, full-backs
have migrated out to the flanks and the position now requires a slightly different set of
skills. The modern full back is usually pacey, strong in the tackle and with good stamina
to get up and down the field. Because of the experience gleaned from the use of their
chosen foot, full backs often make good free kick or penalty takers. The role of the
modern full-back was essentially created by Giacinto Facchetti under the guidance of
Helenio Herrera. Originally an attacker, Facchetti had the skills and pace of a typical
winger, but due to his build, Herrera switched him to a left-back. This move proved to a
be master-stroke, as Facchetti quickly mastered the art of defending, but at the same time
retained his attacking instincts. He was subsequently nicknamed 'the spider', due to his
long legs and ability to cover the flank with lightning speed.
[edit] Midfielders
Main article: Midfielder
A midfielder plays between the defence and attack (Steven Gerrard pictured)

Midfielders are players whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers
and the defenders. Their main duties are to maintain possession of the ball, taking the ball
from defenders and feeding it to the strikers, as well as dispossessing opposing players.
Most managers field at least one central midfielder with a marked task of breaking up
opposition's attacks while the rest are more adept to creating goals or have equal
responsibilities between attack and defence. Midfielders can be expected to cover many
areas of a pitch, as at times they can be called back into defence or required to attack with
the strikers.
[edit] Defensive midfielder (DM)

A defensive midfielder, holding midfielder or midfield anchor is a central midfielder who

is stationed in front of the back defenders for defensive reasons, thus "holding back" the
freedom of the opponents to attack. The defensive midfielder screens the defence by
harrying and tackling the opposition teams' attackers and defenders. They also help
tactically, for instance, by directing central attacking players out to the wing where they
have more limited influence, and by covering the positions of full-backs, midfielders and
even the centre-backs as they charge up into attack.

Although the duties of defensive midfielders are primarily defensive, some midfielders
are deployed as deep-lying playmakers, due to their ability to dictate tempo from a deep
position with their passing. As they are not defensive specialists, they are typically
supported by a more defensive holding midfielder.

Defensive midfielders require excellent positional sense, work rate, tackling ability, and
anticipation (of player and ball movement) to excel. They also need to possess excellent
passing skills and close control to hold the ball in midfield under sustained pressure.
Most importantly, defensive midfielders require great stamina as they are the onfield
players who cover the greatest distance during a professional football match. In a typical
Premier League football match, a midfielder may cover up to 12 kilometres for a full 90-
minute game. Deep-lying playmakers typically require a good first touch under
opposition pressure and the ability to play long crossfield passes to attacking players
further upfield.
[edit] Wingback (WB/RWB/LWB)

The wingback is a modern variation on the fullback with heavier emphasis on attack. The
name is a portmanteau of "winger" (see below) and "full-back". They are usually
employed in a 3-5-2 formation, and could therefore be considered part of the midfield. As
the role combines that of the winger and the fullback, wingbacks need to be blessed with
good stamina. As they have the support of three centre-backs, they are expected to
concentrate more on providing support for strikers and less on their defensive duties.[20]

Brazil has a long tradition of using wingbacks.[21]

[edit] Centre midfielder (CM)

Central midfielders play several roles on the field of play, depending on their particular
strengths and the tactics of the team. They are the link between defence and attack, and
must also defend when the opposition are in possession. Their central position enables
them to have an all-round view of the match, and as most of the action takes place in and
around their area of the pitch, midfielders often exert the greatest degree of control over
how a match is played.[22]

Some centre midfielders are capable of playing from "box to box" and, as the norm rather
than the exception, use their strength, their passing ability, and their work rate to affect
their team's game play.
[edit] Winger or Wide Midfielder (LM/RM/LW/RW)

A Winger is an attacking midefielder who is stationed in a wide position effectively

hugging the touchline.[23] Wingers used to be classified as forwards in traditional W-
shaped formations, but as tactics evolved over the last 30 years, wingers have sometimes
dropped to deeper field positions to play as wide midfielders.[24] Wingers are usually
classified as part of the forward, usually in 4-3-3, 3-4-3 or as attacking midfielders 4-2-3-
1 formations (although a more defensive version of the 4-3-3 formation - 4-5-1 - gives
the wingers a more modern 'wide midfielder' role).

A winger is normally fast and/or tricky and enjoys 'hugging' the touchline, that is,
running downfield close to the touchline and delivering crosses. However, players with
different attributes can thrive on the wing as well.

Like all attacking players, wingers need to have 'off-the-ball' intelligence, by being able
to read passes from the midfield that give them a clear crossing or scoring opportunity.
Traditionally, right-footed players are played on the right wing and left-footed players on
the left as a matter of familiarity and comfort. However, in the modern game, coaches
usually demand wingers to be able to play on both flanks and to switch flanks during play
regularly as a quick change of tactics. For instance, a right-footed winger who plays on
the left flank is more comfortable cutting into the middle, which suits the styles of
playmaker forwards who can cause a threat both by shooting from distance, dribbling
towards goal, or sliding through passes to other forwards. Another advantage is that the
winger can cut inside, towards the weaker foot of the full-back. Clubs such as Barcelona
often choose to play their wingers on the 'wrong' flank for this reason.

Although wingers are a familiar part of football, the use of wingers is by no means
universal. There are many successful football teams who operate without wingers. A
famous example is AC Milan, who typically play in a narrow midfield diamond
formation or in a Christmas tree formation (4-3-2-1), relying on full-backs to provide the
necessary width down the wings. Also, in the 1966 World Cup, England manager Alf
Ramsey led a team without natural wingers to the championship. This was unusual
enough at the time for the team to be nicknamed "The Wingless Wonders".[25].
[edit] Attacking midfielder (AM)
Strong, flexible midfield play is essential to all successful teams. Here, English
midfielder Alan Mullery scores on a spectacular 'one-two' pass against Germany in the
1970 World Cup. Mullery also defended against Pelé with some effectiveness during the
Brazil - England encounter. The high-scoring Brazilian side was held to one goal

An attacking midfielder is a central midfielder who is stationed in an advanced midfield

position, usually behind the strikers. These players typically serve as the offensive pivot
of the team, and are sometimes said to be "playing in the hole", although this term can
also be used to describe the positioning of deep-lying centre-forwards. This specialist
midfielder's main role is to create goal-scoring opportunities using superior vision and
skill. The attacking midfielder is an important position that requires the player to possess
superior technical abilities in terms of passing and, perhaps more importantly, the ability
to read the opposing defence in order to deliver defence-splitting passes to the strikers.

Attacking midfielders are playmakers, known for their deft touch, ability to shoot from
range, and passing prowess. Where an attacking midfielder is regularly utilised, he or she
is commonly the team's star player. As such, a team is often constructed so as to allow
their attacking midfielder to roam free and create as the situation demands. One such
popular formation is the 4-4-2 "diamond" (or 4-1-2-1-2), in which defined attacking and
defensive midfielders replace the more traditional pair of central midfielders.
[edit] Forward
Main article: Forward (association football)
The striker (wearing the red shirt) is past the defence (in the white shirts) and is about to
take a shot at the goal. The goalkeeper will attempt to stop the ball from entering the goal

Strikers or forwards are the players on a team in the row nearest to the opposing team's
goal (note: the term attacker is also sometimes used to describe strikers/forwards but is
now more commonly used to describe any player on the team currently in possession of
the ball). The primary responsibility of strikers/forwards is to score goals. Good examples
of strikers are noted for their fantastic goal scoring ability. Other duties can include
setting up goals for other players (usually another forward, but sometimes midfielders as
well) and holding the ball up so that other players may join the attack. Modern player
formations include between one and three strikers; two is most common, as in the 4-4-2
formation. Because they score more goals than other players, forwards are often among
the best-known and most expensive players on their teams.
[edit] Centre forward (CF) or Striker (ST)

The centre forward, has one main task: to score goals. Coaches will often field one striker
who plays on the shoulder of the last opposing defender and another attacking forward
who plays somewhat deeper and assists in creating goals as well as scoring. The former is
usually a large striker, typically known as a "target man", who is used either to distract
opposing defenders to help team mates score, or to score himself; the latter is usually of
quicker pace, and is required to have some abilities like finding holes in the opposing
defence and, sometimes, dribbling. In other cases, strikers will operate on the wings of
the field and work their way goalwards. Yet another variation is the replacement of the
target man with a striker who can thread through-balls.

Players who specialise in playing as a target are usually of above-average height with
good heading ability and an accurate shot. They tend to be the "outlet" player for both
midfielders and defenders, able to hold the ball up and allow other players time to enter
the game. They tend to score goals from crosses, often with the head, and can use their
body strength to shield the ball while turning to score.

Other forwards may rely on their pace to run onto long balls passed over or through the
opposition defence, rather than collecting the ball with their back to goal like a target
man. Some forwards can play both of these roles equally well.
[edit] Secondary Striker (SS)

Deep-lying forwards or Secondary striker have a long history in the game, but the
terminology to describe them has varied over the years. Originally such players were
termed inside forwards, or deep-lying centre forwards. More recently, the preferred terms
have been "withdrawn striker", "Second striker", "supporting striker", or playing "in the
hole" (i.e. the space between the midfield and defence of the opposing team).

The position was initially developed by the famous Hungary national football team of the
late 1940s and mid-1950s led by Ferenc Puskás. Later, it was popularised in Italian
football as the trequartista ("three-quarters"), the playmaker who plays neither in midfield
nor as a forward, but effectively pulls the strings for his team's attack. Many players in
this position can play as an attacking midfielder or sometimes on the wing. These players
usually hang off the last man so they can beat him for pace.

Whatever the terminology, the position itself is a loosely-defined one somewhere

between the out-and-out striker and the midfield. Such a player is either a skilful, attack-
minded midfielder or a striker who can both score and create opportunities for centre
forwards. Attacking midfielders can also perform this role effectively.
[edit] Player Styles
[edit] Defensive

Libero. The Sweeper or libero (Italian: free) is a more versatile type of defender that
"sweeps up" the ball if the opponent manages to breach the defensive line. Their position
is rather more fluid than other defenders who mark their designated opponents. The
sweeper's ability to read the game is even more vital than for a centre-back.[11] The
catenaccio system of play, used in Italian football in the 1960s, notably employed a
defensive libero.[12]
Former German captain Franz Beckenbauer is widely accepted as the inventor and one of
the best players of the role.[26]

Stopper Stopper's is a physically skilled defenders who rely on their strength, stamina and
man marking abilities to be able to stop (hence the name) the oppositions attacking play
by making strong tackles, stoppers usually play as centre backs or as defensive full-
backs.

Wingbacks The wingback is a defender stationed on the flank with heavy emphasis on
attack and defense. The name is a portmanteau of "winger" (see below) and "full-back".
As the role combines that of the winger and the fullback, wingbacks need to be blessed
with good stamina. As they have the support of three centre-backs, they are expected to
concentrate more on providing support for strikers while concentrating on their defensive
duties.[20]
[edit] Midfield

Ball Winners A ball winner is a technically skilled player at making strong tackles, ball
winners have to be good at tackling and they can also be good at headering as it can stop
the opposing team's attacking play. Ball winners are usually Defensive Midfielders or
Central Midfielders but can also play as defenders

Defensive Midfielders Defensive Midfielders are Midfielders that focus mainly on

defense. They need strength to make strong tackles and they also need stamina and some
degree of passing skill as they need to support other midfielders.

Box to Box Box to Box Midfielders are midfielders that help with almost every aspect of
the game. They need immense stamina as they need to cover most areas of the pitch, as
well as some degree of passing skills. They normally play as Central midfielders but
some play as defensive or attacking, and others can also play on the flanks

Pulls wide right/left These are wide midfielders that have pace and/or dribbling ability to
be able to beat defenders along the flank. Their most important skill is to be able to cross
the ball in to the penalty box to create opportunities for strikers

Playmaker Playmakers are midfielders with good on-the-ball control and good passing
ability but also good off-the-ball ability to be able to read the game and to seek goal-
scoring opportunities. Playmakers usually play as attacking midfielders, but some play as
defensive or central midfielders (deep-lying playmakers). Some also play on the flank
usually on their weaker side as that gives them the opportunity to cut infield.
[edit] Attacking

Dribblers Dribblers use either their pace and/or dribbling ability to beat defenders, their
main task is to create opportunities for other attackers to score using dribbling skills pace
and ball control to beat defenders. They usually play as wingers or secondary Strikers but
in some cases they play as centre forwards.
Counter Attackers Counter Attackers use their pace to beat beat defenders and cause
unexpected scoring opportunities at any time, they also need some degree of shooting
skill.They can play in any forward position but rarely as wingers.

Clinical Strikers Clinical Strikers are attackers that specialize in shooting ability hence
scoring goals, they also need some degree of pace to beat defenders. Clinical strikers
usually play as centre forwards

Target men Target men are attackers that specialize in the ability to score goals from
close range no matter how much pressure defenders are putting on him, they specialize in
ball control, strength to hold off defenders, and volleying when receiving long passes.
They should only play as centre forwards.
[edit] Tactical evolution

In the early days of association football, the game was very much focused on attack and,
as such, many teams (e.g. Royal Engineers, 1872) played with a 1-2-7 formation (one
defender, two mid-fielders and seven attackers). The single defender was known as the
¾-back, and he was supported in part by two half-backs from mid-field who would be in
charge of orchestrating the game with short passing. Up front, the seven forwards were
split into four wing forwards and three centre forwards. The wingers' main task was to
use their pace to pick up on the long balls forward by the half- and ¾-backs, whereas the
centre forwards would have been charged with taking the short passes from the half-
backs.

In order to combat the short-passing threat, the championship-winning Preston North End
side of 1888 devised a more defensive 2-3-5 formation (two defenders, three mid-fielders
and five attackers), which would become the standard formation for many teams for the
best part of the next 40 years. One of the half-backs was brought back into defence,
which sat deeper than before, making the two defenders full-backs as opposed to ¾-
backs. Their main job was to mark the opposition's inside forwards and cut out the short
passes in mid-field. Furthermore, two forwards were brought back into mid-field as half-
backs to mark the opposition wingers and negate the pace threat. The remaining half-back
became a centre-back, who would patrol the field, drifting from defence to attack as he
saw fit. This left two wingers up front (outside-right and outside-left), along with two
inside-forwards (inside-right and inside-left) and a centre-forward.

Up until this point, for an attacking player to be onside, there had to be at least three
opposing players closer to their goal-line than the attacker. In the 1920s, the offside rule
was changed to mean that there only had to be two opposing players between the attacker
and the goal-line for him to still be onside. This made it easier for attackers to score
against the two-man defences of the day. To combat this, Arsenal manager Herbert
Chapman devised a system that utilised three defenders as opposed to the usual two. This
system was complemented by a strict man-marking regime, whereby the centre-back -
who had now retreated to the centre of the three man defence - would stick as close to the
opposing centre-forward as possible, while the full-backs - who had moved further wide
to accommodate the centre-back - would mark the wingers. This left two mid-fielders in a
slightly less advanced position than before to act as wing-halves who would have the dual
responsibility of loosely marking the inside forwards and providing the forwards with the
ball. This was helped by the slight withdrawal of the inside forwards from the front line.
Chapman's formation was referred to as the M-W formation due to its appearance on the
field with all the players in their described positions.

A variation of the M-W formation was the Hungarian M-U formation used to great effect
against England in 1953, when they became the first non-British side to beat England at
the old Wembley Stadium. This formation was so-called because of the deep-lying
centre-forward Nándor Hidegkuti, used to draw the opposition centre-back out of
position, leaving plenty of space between the full-backs for the inside-forwards Ferenc
Puskás and Sándor Kocsis to exploit.

In 1958, the Brazilians won their first of five World Cups to date thanks to the flat back
four system they had developed to counter the Hungarians' M-U. Two centre-backs
would mark the inside-forwards' runs from deep, while the wider full-backs would not
only cut out the threat of the opposing wingers but also provide width on the counter-
attack. The relative lack of numbers in the middle of the park meant a creative presence
was required, and for the Brazilians, that presence was provided in the form of their
dazzling midfielder Didi.

The advent of the Italian "Catenaccio" (bolt) system came soon after, and was a more
defensive variation on the Brazilians' 4-2-4 system. Two forwards were withdrawn to
leave just two up front, and an extra midfielder was added to bolster the midfield.
However, the major tactical innovation with this formation was the floating sweeper,
often referred to in Italian as a "libero", or "free man". While the four main defenders
would have the task of strict man-marking the opposition forwards, the libero would act
as a sponge, mopping up any attacks that might happen to get through the tight defence.
Franz Beckenbauer of Bayern Munich gave the position a more attacking role and played
a major part as captain of the West Germany side that won the World Cup in 1974 and
came third in 1970.

Meanwhile, the English had also developed a tactical formation that lay somewhere
between a 4-2-4, a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3. The flat back four that had become so popular
remained intact, but the midfield was a free-flowing unit with players given license to
attack as the scenario saw fit. In defence, using the 1966 World Cup side as an example,
Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Alan Ball would all stay back to counter the
opposition attack. However, in attack they had two options: Peters and Ball could charge
forward, creating problems for the opposition out wide with their pace and crossing
ability, creating a 4-2-4 formation; or Charlton could burst through the middle of the
strike partnership of Roger Hunt and Geoff Hurst and overload the centre of the
opposition defence, providing either an extra man in the box or an effective long-shot
alternative. The unsung hero of Alf Ramsey's England side was Nobby Stiles, who was
the midfield linchpin, whom the team relied on in defence when Charlton surged forward
in support of the strikers.
The mid- to late-1970s saw the coming of the Dutch "Total Football" scheme. While not
burdened with a specific, rigid formation, the system relied on extremely versatile players
who were able to fill in at any position the circumstances of the game required them to.
One such player was the legendary Johan Cruijff, who epitomised the Total Football
ideology by being able to play in almost every outfield position going. A major criticism
of this style of play was that, for the Dutch national side, it never yielded a major trophy,
but it did help them to reach two consecutive World Cup finals (1974 and 1978), which is
no mean feat. The argument is somewhat negated by the fact that the Ajax side that
Cruijff played in won three consecutive European Cup titles in the 1970s.

The last major tactical evolution occurred in the late 1980s/early 1990s, when the Milan
side played with a variation on the 4-4-2 formation. This formation relied extensively on
the four defenders' ability to work as a unit in order to spring the offside trap on slower
attackers, as well as the stamina of the midfielders who would be expected to pressurise
the opposition as soon as they gained possession of the ball. In attack, the team would
play short-passes within the midfield, using their crisp passing and dynamic movement to
open up holes in the defence and create attacking opportunities.

These days, the 4-4-2 formation is very much the predominant tactic in world football.
However, this does vary from country to country, such as in the Netherlands, where the
4-3-3 formation is favoured, and even division to division within some countries. Some
teams prefer a more defensive option, packing the defence in a 5-3-2 formation, while
others will exploit the opposition's defensive incapability by deploying their speedy
wing-backs in a 3-5-2 formation. Other formations, such as 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1, etc.,
do exist, but the 4-4-2 formation remains the dominant tactic.