In a traditional 4-4-2 formation, there are 11 fairly obvious positions on a football pitch.
The way the modern game has gone, most teams have edged away from that system and a more fluid style of football is well regarded by some of the biggest managers in the world.
However, there are still some positions that are as important as ever. Starting with arguably the most important of all, the goalkeeper role, we take a look at the different positions on a football pitch.
Goalkeeper
Having a reliable goalkeeper is just as crucial as having a regular goalscorer.
The old adage ‘you can’t win games without scoring goals’ is obviously true but you won’t win many either if you are shipping two or more goals per game.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was the best in the business last season and he sets the benchmark for his peers.
The likes of Ederson, David de Gea and Jan Oblak are hot on his heels though and all four players should inspire youngsters to get into goalkeeping.
Full-back
Usually not the most exciting position on the football pitch, the full-back role requires great stamina and focus.
Often granted the chance to attack and get involved in the final third, full-backs must be willing to track back and commit to their defensive duties above anything else.
The famous phrase ‘nobody wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville’ was relevant once but the work of young players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James have helped to bring the position into a new light in recent times.
Centre-back
Quite often a natural leader, a centre-back needs to have a good understanding of the game.
Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are two of the best central defenders to grace the Premier League – and both brought their own style to the position.
Nowadays, Virgil van Dijk and Aymeric Laporte are the two standout centre-halves in English football.
Van Dijk could go down as one of the best players never to win the Ballon d’Or if he fails to get his hands on the award while Laporte is Manchester City’s main defender.
Defensive Midfield
Just watch N’Golo Kante during Leicester City’s incredible title-winning campaign and you will learn a lot about the defensive midfield role.
In a nutshell, the main role is to slow and/or stop opposing attacks, as well as sparking attacks from deep in midfield. While this player won’t score too many goals, their role is vital for a team to succeed.
We’ve seen Fernandinho do it, we’ve seen Paul Scholes do it and we’ll see many more do it again in the future – defensive midfield is by no means a walk in the park.
Box-to-Box Midfielder
A box-to-box midfielder can be the difference between success and failure – and they are usually the most influential players on a team.
Yaya Toure and Steven Gerrard were experts at taking on this particular role, with Gerrard probably the greatest ever box-to-box midfielder.
This player usually has all the skills to succeed at the highest level. Not every footballer can be a box-to-box midfielder; some can be excellent holding players or attacking midfielders but the box-to-box role is an art form.
Follow the best skills for young players to learn to become a more rounded footballer.
Attacking Midfielder
The attacking midfielder role is one of the ‘newer’ positions on a football pitch.
While some midfielders historically took on a more advanced status in a formation, attacking midfield is now a crucial position to consider. David Silva has helped to bring this particular spot to the Premier League…
Whether the attacking midfielder is playing at the head of a diamond formation or has just been granted additional freedom behind the attackers, it is a spot that needs focus – both in terms of attacking and from a defensive viewpoint.
Winger
Think back to the Manchester United team of the 1990s – what is the common factor? Wide players.
While the role of conventional wingers has changed somewhat in recent years, the winger position is still very important and some of the best players in English football ply their trade out wide.
Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are two of England’s brightest talents and both players are comfortable playing out wide - sports betting odds will have them priced to shine at Euro 2020.
Wingers are still expected to track back and help out but it isn’t as important when playing in a 4-3-3 system.
Number 10
Playing just behind the main centre forward, the number 10 has a delicate role.
They must have natural flair and an ability to link play between the midfield and the frontman, or else it just won’t work. A skilful player is an absolute must for the number 10 role.
Juan Mata was the complement in the number 10 position during his time at Chelsea but it hasn’t quite panned out that way at Manchester United.
Still, a player of his mould is exactly what you want for the footballer playing just behind the frontman.
Striker
Last but not least – we have the centre forward. Like the goalkeeper position, the role of a striker is simple but necessary.
Scoring goals is the aim of the game and a top class striker can be the difference between winning trophies and falling short.
Over the past few years, the striker role itself has started to evolve but for now most centre forwards fit into similar categories.
Roberto Firmino is perhaps the game-changer for future strikers but we are yet to see whether his unique style takes off across the world.
