What they do: Full-backs play on either side of a defense. Image of Manuel Neuer: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 Full-back And Wingback Key Skills: Shot stopping, catching, punching, organization, communication, agility, reflexes, anticipation, passing and kicking.įamous players in this position: Ederson, Allison, Thibaut Courtois, Manuel Neuer, Oliver Kahn, Iker Casillas, Peter Schmeichel, Gianluigi Buffon, Gordon Banks, and Lev Yashin. Most present-day coaches try to play possession-based football, where the whole team passes around the opposition from one end of the pitch to another, and this all starts with the goalkeeper. In the Premier League, it’s known as the ‘Golden Glove’.Īs well as their goal-stopping capabilities, goalies are also increasingly required to have high-level passing skills.
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If a keeper can stop the opposition from scoring for the whole game, this is known as a ‘clean sheet’, and in most major tournaments and leagues, there are awards for goalkeepers that achieve the most. They do this by stopping or ‘saving’ shots from opposition players, reading the game and clearing any balls that are played in behind their defenders, or catching or punching crosses. What they do: Goalkeepers are primarily responsible for preventing the opposition from scoring goals. We will look at each of these positions and their different variations below, but it’s important to understand that soccer is a highly nuanced sport, especially at the professional level. While soccer positions are constantly evolving, and may vary from team to team, they are traditionally grouped as: Within these categories, there are different specialist positions with a variety of roles, responsibilities, and names. Players are grouped into four categories in a soccer roster (or squad). Ready? It’s time for kick-off… What Are The Positions In Soccer?
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We’ll also cover formations and any abbreviations you ought to know. In this guide, we’ll look at all positions in soccer, including the required skill sets, responsibilities, names, and associated numbers. Welcome to the definitive guide on soccer positions.