Football positions explained
Eleven players, four kinds of job: keep goal, defend, link the play and score. Every position is a version of one of those. Here's what each one does, the numbers that traditionally go with them, and how it all shrinks for 5-a-side and 7-a-side.
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In short
- Every team has a goalkeeper, then defenders, midfielders and forwards; the formation says how many of each.
- Defenders: centre-backs in the middle, full-backs or wing-backs on the sides.
- Midfielders: holding, central and attacking midfielders, plus wide midfielders or wingers.
- Forwards: a striker or centre-forward, sometimes with a second striker or wingers.
- Traditional numbers run 1 for the keeper, 2 to 6 for defenders and holding players, 7 to 11 for the attack.
Goalkeeper
The only player allowed to handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area. Beyond saving shots, a good keeper organises the defence, claims crosses and starts attacks with throws and passes. Traditionally number 1.
Defenders
- Centre-back: in the middle of the defence, wins headers and tackles and marks the striker. Usually two, sometimes three.
- Full-back (right-back and left-back): defends the wide areas and overlaps to join attacks.
- Wing-back: a full-back who plays further forward, used when a team has three centre-backs.
- Sweeper: a spare defender behind the others. Rare in the modern game, common in friends' games without offside.
Midfielders
- Defensive (holding) midfielder: sits in front of the defence, breaks up attacks and keeps passing simple.
- Central midfielder: covers both boxes, passes, tackles and runs. The engine of the team.
- Attacking midfielder: plays behind the striker and creates chances. The classic number 10.
- Wide midfielder or winger: works the touchline, crosses and cuts inside to shoot.
Forwards
- Striker (centre-forward): scores the goals and holds the ball up for others. The classic number 9.
- Second striker: drops between midfield and attack to link play.
- Wingers in a front three: attack the full-backs, cross and score from wide.
Positions and numbers
Shirt numbers once matched positions. Professional squads now have fixed squad numbers, but the old pattern is still how people talk about roles. A common British version, from the days of 4-4-2:
- 1: goalkeeper.
- 2: right-back. 3: left-back.
- 4: centre-back or holding midfielder. 5 and 6: centre-backs.
- 7: right winger or right midfielder. 11: left winger or left midfielder.
- 8: central midfielder. 10: attacking midfielder or second striker. 9: striker.
Positions in 5-a-side and 7-a-side
Small-sided games use the same jobs with fewer people. In 5-a-side the common shape is a keeper, one at the back, two wide and one up front (the diamond); in 7-a-side, a keeper, two defenders, three in midfield and one striker. Everyone defends and everyone attacks, so fitness matters more than the label.
The lineup builder draws every common shape from 5-a-side to 11-a-side with your names on it, and the 7-a-side formations guide explains when to use which. Picking who plays where is easier once the teams are fair: the team generator splits the players first.
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What are the positions in football?
Goalkeeper, defenders (centre-backs, full-backs, wing-backs), midfielders (holding, central, attacking, wide) and forwards (striker, second striker, wingers).
What are the soccer positions by number?
Traditionally 1 is the goalkeeper, 2 and 3 the full-backs, 4 to 6 centre-backs or holding midfielders, 7 and 11 the wingers, 8 a central midfielder, 9 the striker and 10 the attacking midfielder.
What position is number 10?
The attacking midfielder or second striker: the creative player behind the main striker.
What is a centre-back?
A central defender. Centre-backs mark the opposing strikers, win headers and tackles, and usually play in pairs.
What are the positions in 5-a-side?
Usually a goalkeeper, one defender, two wide players and one forward, though everyone defends and attacks.