Soccer (Football)
Ever wondered what those soccer position numbers actually mean? From goalkeepers making acrobatic saves to strikers scoring game-winning goals, let’s break down what everything means.
By the numbers, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. There are more than 250 million players worldwide, across 200 countries, with players starting to train as young as three. That doesn’t even account for the fans, which total about 3.5 billion worldwide!
Some say the “beautiful game” attracts so many because it costs so little to play, while others say it’s because the sport is so easy to learn. But if you ask a star player like Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, the beauty is also in the teamwork.
“As long as everyone does their part — the attackers score the goals, and the defenders keep the clean sheets — then you can't go too wrong,” Arnold says.
So, what are the 11 positions in soccer? Below you’ll find the details you need to know about soccer positions and their responsibilities on the field.
Soccer Numbers and Positions
01
1 – Goalkeeper
The goalkeeper or “keeper” is perhaps the most important position on the field because they serve as the last line of defense for their team. They must be smart, have good reflexes, and have the ability to make good quick decisions. While a keeper’s main objective is to prevent the other team from scoring goals, they also serve as the first line of attack by distributing the ball after it has been saved.
A goalkeeper is always positioned centrally in goal; their role remains consistent across formations. But in high-pressing setups, they may need to act as a “sweeper-keeper” by playing higher up to attack and support the defense. Take Carlos Coronel, for example, who has over 300 goalkeeper saves to his name.
Certain gear is also essential to the most important position if they want to prevent the opponent from scoring. Gloves, shin guards, cleats, and headgear like a headguard, should all be in a goalkeeper’s bag. If keepers want extra protection, they’ll also pack arm sleeves, padded undershirts and shorts, glove glue, knee guards, cleat insoles, and protective leggings.
Unlike the other players, goalkeepers are the only players on the field allowed to use their hands. Others are only allowed to use their hands on throw-ins. It’s a very physical position, meaning to prevent a goal, a keeper will use everything they have: bodies, heads, legs, feet, and hands.
Key skills
- Goal prevention: Goalkeepers need to be able to stop the ball from making it into their net.
- Kicking and catching: To stop the ball, keepers need to be able to catch it without accidentally dropping it into the goal. After preventing a goal, keepers need a strong kick to get the ball as far away from their goal as possible.
- Accurate distribution: Goalkeepers need to use their kicking and catching skills to properly put the ball back into play. The trick is to make sure the ball ends up with their own teammates, not the opponent.
02
2 & 3 – Right / Left Backs
The right and left backs are known as the outside defenders. They position themselves on the outer right and outer left portion of the field. These players need to possess a good amount of athleticism and stamina. Their main job is to defend the opposing team’s wide wingers. Backs must have really quick feet and play with physicality. Oftentimes they’re put in one-on-one situations where they must take the ball, force a pass or they’ll risk putting their keeper in a compromising situation.
Formations that utilize backs take advantage of their defensive strengths. For example, the attacking 4-3-3 formation gathers backs, midfielders, and forwards, with backs providing protection on the overlap. Backs are also involved on offense sometimes. The right-back will join the offensive attack if their team is attacking the right side of the field, and the left back will join if the attack is on the left side of the field.
To be a defender, you’ll need to wear thicker and longer shin guards to handle the impact when you get aggressive chasing the ball.
Key skills
- Passing and receiving: Successful passing and receiving of the ball are key to a strong defense. A well-timed pass to a teammate in an offensive position could be all that’s needed to win the game.
- Dribbling: When you’ve got the ball, that means the opposition is headed your way, creating tight spaces. Dribbling allows for backs to have close control of the ball with other players rushing toward them.
- Heading: When a player shoots the ball too high up to kick, backs use their head to take control of the ball before their opponent.
03
4 & 5 – Sweeper & Central Back
These two positions are known as central defenders, and they are the most critical defenders on the field after the keeper. They position themselves on opposite sides of the penalty line close to the keeper. Sweepers and centrals need to make sure their equipment bag includes extra protective shin guards, just like their defender counterparts.
The main job of the central defenders is to protect the center of the field by preventing players from getting the ball there. They’re tasked with intercepting passes, tackling attackers, blocking shots, stealing the ball in one-on-one situations, and much more.
A sweeper is often used in older formations, positioning themselves between the goal and defensive line, sweeping up balls that get past the defensive backs. Center-backs stay in the middle of the field and act as the rear of the defensive line.
Central defenders don’t always have huge roles offensively, but they do play a role when it comes to gaining and keeping possession. They need to be able to possess the ball and make passes to their attackers after they steal or intercept the opposing team’s passes.
Key skills
- Interceptions: Central backs need to be able to read the play in progress, so they can strike when most effective and steal the ball from their opponent.
- Heading: Just like the left and right backs, this skill is an essential part of a center back’s defensive strategy when the ball goes flying high.
- Passing: Backs need to get the ball to their teammates quickly and efficiently to keep it moving and out of the opponent's reach.
04
6 – Defensive Midfielder
Defensive midfielders need to be smart, physical, and have good stamina. Their main role is to slow down the opposition from attacking the middle of the field and gaining possession. They do this by tackling attackers, gaining possession of loose balls, and forcing the ball laterally as opposed to allowing attackers to attack down the center of the field.
Defensive midfielders take the front formation right in front of the defenders to keep the ball away from their zone and in the opponent's section — they serve as the pivot between defense and attack.
Offensively, defensive midfielders are also solid passers. While it’s unlikely a defensive midfielder will score a goal, they play a huge role in advancing the ball into the defense’s territory. Midfielders often use a forward pass, which is a pass that goes through the opposing team's midfielders and puts the offense in a good position. This type of pass requires pinpoint accuracy. Midfielders have to have good judgment because if there is nothing open down the field, they have to get creative and pass it backward or sideways.
Just like their teammates, defensive midfielders need cleats, shin guards, and comfortable shorts, jersey tops, and soccer socks.
Key skills
- Direction: The defenders need to corner their opponent out to the wing, limiting the amount of space they have to make big moves that could end in a score.
- Being adaptable: Things might not always go as planned, meaning defensive midfielders need to adapt and do their best to prevent the opposing team from advancing.
- Sturdiness: Defensive midfielders need to be strong enough that when everyone comes for the ball in their possession, they can maintain control and not let the other team push them over.
05
7 & 11 – Wingers
There are also two wingers on each team. Wingers are positioned along the left and right touch lines of the field. Wingers main goals are spacing, creating scoring opportunities for others, pushing the ball up the field, and scoring themselves. Wingers position themselves on the touch lines to create space naturally. Opposing teams have to have a defensive player accountable for both wingers.
Wingers have to be really good all-around players. They’ll need to be skilled passers, have great footwork, solid shooting skills, stamina, speed, and be able to handle the ball well. Wingers travel along the boundary, dribbling the ball and looking for good pass entries for others in the middle of the field.
A lot of scoring in soccer comes from the middle of the field, but most of those assists come from the outside. Wingers stay wide on the field to keep the opponent’s defensive efforts toward the outside and always aim to pass the ball to their teammates.
It might seem like all soccer equipment can be cross-applied to each position, but unlike backs, wingers will want to have lighter shin guards compared to longer, thicker ones. They need to make sure their cleats are also light since wingers need to move fast through their running, dribbling, kicking, and pivoting. Barış Alper Yılmaz is a winger who uses his cleats to move fast, helping him rack up seven goals in the 2023-24 season.
Key skills
- Dribbling: Wingers should be able to dribble the ball past the other team. This opens an opportunity to make a goal shot or pass the ball.
- Shooting: Once a winger has the chance to kick the ball toward their target, they need to accurately shoot and score.
- Speed: All players need speed, but wingers especially have to get past the opposing team — and they can’t do this without moving quickly.
06
8 – Central Midfielder
Central midfielders are the center between defense and attacking with major responsibilities on both offense and defense. They position themselves in the center of the field. Offensively, midfielders are responsible for controlling the offense at times. They often dictate the speed and pace of the game. They also bring the ball from the back and put it in play for their offense.
In order to bring the ball back, central midfielders typically find themselves in the 4-4-2 formation. Here, they counter-attack their opponent and reclaim the ball. The commonly used 3-5-2 formation, however, has three central midfielders in defense mode, allowing for better ball control. Then there are five midfielders and two attackers who act as the defense and strikers.
Central midfielders potentially sprint more than any other player on the field. They need to possess stamina, speed, great passing skills, tact, good dribbling, and excellent footwork. Defensively, central midfielders do a variety of things depending on the defensive formation, including dropping back to help protect the goal. Other times they have to push up and put pressure on the ball carrier.
Central midfielders will typically wear the same gear as defensive midfielders. While Dominik Szoboszlai might wear the same clothes as his other teammates, this box-to-box midfielder knows how to show off with his scoring.
Key skills
- Ball control: To have ball possession, midfielders first need control — especially in close quarters when the opposition is closing in.
- Vision: This might seem obvious, but it can be easy to lose track of the ball. Central midfielders must spot their teammates' runs and any opponents trying to intercept.
07
9 – Striker
Strikers, or forwards, pose the biggest threat to the opposing team’s keeper. They position themselves deep in the opponent’s territory, right outside of the opposing team's penalty box. Strikers are often the best all-around shooters on their team with a main objective of scoring goals.
The 3-5-2 formation opens up an attack position for strikers to enjoy the perfect goal-scoring opportunity. In the 4-4-2, a two-striker partnership allows for more direct attacking play and link-up opportunities. But the 4-2-3-1 formation has the lone striker hold up play and finish attacks.
Strikers need all the protective gear their teammates have, like shin guards to protect the lower legs and ankles. But unlike other positions on their team, strikers don’t hold defensive responsibilities, meaning they aren’t asked to run back and help. Strikers need to have stamina and good dribbling ability but most of all they must be skilled and efficient shooters. To see how powerful forwards can be with determination in their eyes, watch Trinity Rodman in her comfort zone — aka the field.
Key skills
- Shooting: Forwards need to strike (pun intended) when the time is right and the goal is in sight.
- Hold-up play: On top of scoring goals, strikers should have the power to pass the ball to their teammates only at the right moment. They dribble the ball, keeping it away from the opposition, until their own teammate is open.
08
10 – Central Attacking Midfielder
Center-attacking midfielders are mainly offensive players. They’re positioned between the forwards and center midfielders. They must be skilled dribblers because they’ll often find themselves in one-on-one situations. They’ll also need good vision, awareness, decision-making, and great passing skills. Attacking midfielders are often tasked with dribbling or passing the ball deep into their territory for a goal.
Key formations like 4-2-3-1 have them operating behind the striker, creating chances for scoring. But in 4-4-2, this role is often sacrificed for an extra central midfielder or striker. The attacking midfielder Jaedyn Shaw, for one, is a versatile defender who uses those changes, along with her playmaking skills, to gain ball possession.
The most common attacking midfielder is the advanced playmaker. The position is important because they do all of their work in the heart of their opponent's territory. They’re tasked with connecting the midfield to the attack with elite passing and dribbling. And don’t forget midfielders need shin guards to protect the lower leg, just like central and defensive midfielders.
Key skills
- Tackling: The attacking midfielder needs to act by performing standing or sliding tackles to regain ball possession and outpace their opponent.
- Interceptions: Reclaiming the ball is never more important than when the opponent has possession. Central attacking midfielders need to be able to steal the ball back and prevent the opposition from moving through the field.
- Spatial awareness: Attackers need to see where the ball is and who has it. If the opponent has the ball, then they attack, but if a teammate has possession, then attackers need to block the opposition.
Squad goals: How every position makes soccer shine
From the keeper to the striker, every soccer position on the field has an important job as it relates to the team's overall success. Some players need to possess great one-on-one outplay moves, some need elite stamina, and some need the ability to play with physicality. It's the coordination of all the players that makes soccer so much fun to watch.