Glossary

Positions and roles

Position and role names used in football — from the basic positions on the pitch to the specialised tactical roles that have entered the modern game, including foreign-language role terms.

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Positions and roles explained

Every term in the positions and roles category, with a short definition.

Position and role names used in football — from the basic positions on the pitch to the specialised tactical roles that have entered the modern game, including foreign-language role terms.

There are 57 terms in this category. Each entry below includes a short definition and, where one exists, a link to the relevant page elsewhere on the site.

Positions and roles

Advanced playmaker

A creative midfielder who plays high up the pitch as the team's main chance creator, operating between the lines and feeding forwards with through balls and final passes.

Anchor man (also: holding midfielder)

A defensive midfielder whose primary job is to sit in front of the back line and protect it, breaking up opposition attacks and recycling possession to more creative teammates.

Attacker (also: forward)

Any player whose primary position is in the front line — centre forwards, wingers and wide forwards. Can also refer situationally to any player who is actively attacking when their team is in possession.

Attacking midfielder (also: number ten, no. 10)

A midfielder positioned ahead of the central midfielders, charged with creating chances and supporting the forwards. Sometimes called a number ten.

Auxiliary striker (also: second striker)

A forward who plays just behind the main centre forward in a two-striker setup, providing support, link play and late runs into the box.

See also: Strikers

Ball-playing centre back

A central defender whose passing is a major part of their value to the team. Comfortable building from the back, switching play, and playing through pressure.

Box-to-box midfielder

A central midfielder who covers the full length of the pitch — getting back to defend in their own box and arriving in the opposition box to attack.

Carrilero

A Spanish term for a shuttling midfielder who moves across the side of midfield to support wide areas, link play and provide defensive cover, especially in narrow formations.

Central midfielder

A midfielder positioned in the centre of the pitch, balancing defensive and attacking duties. The most general midfield role and the foundation of most midfield setups.

Centre back (also: centre half)

A central defender positioned in the back line, responsible for marking strikers, winning aerial duels, and starting attacks from deep. Also called a centre half.

Centre forward (also: number nine, no. 9)

The most advanced central attacker, traditionally wearing the number 9. Roles vary from poacher to target man to false nine.

See also: Strikers

Centre half (also: centre back)

A central defender positioned in the back line, responsible for marking strikers, winning aerial duels, and starting attacks from deep. Also called a centre back.

Cover (centre back role) (also: covering centre back)

A centre back who plays slightly behind the other to sweep up balls in behind the defensive line, often paired with a stopper who steps higher.

Deep-lying playmaker (also: regista)

A creative midfielder who plays from a defensive midfield position, dictating play from deep rather than between the lines. The Italian term is regista; famous examples include Andrea Pirlo and Pep Guardiola in his playing days.

Defender

Any player whose primary position is in the back line — centre backs, full backs and wing backs. Can also refer situationally to any player who is actively defending when their team is out of possession.

Defensive midfielder

A midfielder who plays at the base of the midfield, screening the defence, breaking up opposition attacks and providing a safe passing option.

Enganche

A South American term for a classic number ten — a creative attacking midfielder who hooks the midfield and attack together. From the Spanish for "hook".

False nine

A centre forward who deliberately drops into midfield to drag defenders out of position and create space for runners from deeper roles.

False ten

An attacking midfielder who plays the role in reverse — pushing high to occupy a defender rather than dropping into midfield to receive.

Forward (also: attacker)

Any player whose primary position is in the front line — centre forwards, wingers and wide forwards.

Full back

A defender positioned on the wide edges of the back line. Modern full backs are expected to defend and attack, providing width going forward as well as protection at the back.

Goalkeeper

The only player who may handle the ball inside their own penalty area, subject to specific handling restrictions. Wears a distinct kit to stand apart from the outfield players and match officials. Traditionally wears number 1, though this is no longer required.

Half back

A historical position equivalent to a defensive or central midfielder, used in older formations like the W-M. In modern football the term is sometimes used for a defensive midfielder who drops between the centre backs in possession to form a back three for the build-up.

Holding midfielder (also: anchor man)

A defensive midfielder whose role is to sit in front of the back line and hold the team's defensive shape. Often used interchangeably with anchor man.

Inside forward (also: inside left, inside right)

A historical attacking position between the centre forward and the wide forwards. Common in pre-1960s formations and revived loosely in modern descriptions of wide forwards who play narrow.

Inverted full back

A full back who tucks into central midfield when their team has the ball, helping to overload the centre of the pitch rather than overlapping wide.

Inverted winger

A winger who plays on the opposite side to their stronger foot — a right-footer on the left, or a left-footer on the right — so they can cut inside onto their stronger foot.

Libero (also: sweeper)

The classic Italian sweeper role — a free defender behind the defensive line, often expected to step forward into midfield with the ball. From the Italian for "free".

Mezzala

A central midfielder in a three-man midfield who plays slightly wider and higher than the others, attacking the half-spaces. From the Italian for "half".

Midfielder

Any player whose primary position is between the defence and the attack. Midfielders are commonly split into defensive, central and attacking subgroups.

No. 10 (also: number ten, attacking midfielder)

Shorthand for the attacking midfielder positioned just behind the strikers — traditionally a creative player who wears the number 10 and links midfield to attack.

No. 9 (also: number nine, centre forward)

Shorthand for the centre forward — the player who traditionally wears the number 9 and leads the line.

Number nine (also: centre forward, no. 9)

Shorthand for the centre forward — the player who traditionally wears the number 9 and leads the line.

Number ten (also: attacking midfielder, no. 10)

Shorthand for the attacking midfielder positioned just behind the strikers — traditionally a creative player who wears the number 10 and links midfield to attack.

Outside forward

A historical attacking position equivalent to a wide forward — a player who plays high and wide rather than dropping back into midfield.

Pivote

Spanish term for a holding midfielder — particularly the deepest midfielder in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 who acts as the team's defensive anchor.

Playmaker

Any creative player whose main job is to set the tempo and dictate play with their passing. Can be deep-lying or advanced depending on where they operate.

Poacher

A pure goalscoring forward who specialises in finishing chances inside the penalty area rather than building play or pressing high.

Raumdeuter

A German term — literally "space interpreter" — for a forward who reads the game and finds gaps in defences rather than relying on speed or strength.

Regista (also: deep-lying playmaker)

A creative midfielder who plays from a defensive midfield position, dictating play from deep rather than between the lines. The Italian term for a deep-lying playmaker; famous examples include Andrea Pirlo and Pep Guardiola in his playing days.

Roaming playmaker

A creative player given freedom to drift across the pitch rather than holding a fixed position, looking for pockets of space wherever they appear.

Second striker (also: auxiliary striker)

A forward who plays just behind the main centre forward in a two-striker setup, providing support, link play and late runs into the box.

See also: Strikers

Shadow striker

An attacking midfielder whose main job is to score, with the goal threat coming from late runs into the box rather than passes between the lines.

Shirt numbers

The numbers worn on the back of each player's shirt. Traditionally numbers were tied to positions, though squads now use much larger ranges.

Starting XI

The eleven players a team names to start a match. Distinct from the substitutes, who begin the match on the bench.

Stopper

A centre back who steps forward to engage attackers high up the pitch, often paired with a cover defender who stays deeper.

Striker

A forward whose primary role is to score goals. Often used interchangeably with centre forward, though striker can also describe a second striker who plays slightly behind the centre forward.

See also: Strikers

Substitute

A player named in the matchday squad but not in the starting XI, available to come on in place of a teammate during the match.

Sweeper (also: libero)

A defender positioned behind the back line, free to clean up balls in behind without a fixed marking responsibility. Common in 1960s and 1970s defensive systems.

Sweeper-keeper

A goalkeeper who plays high off their line, claiming balls in behind the defence and acting as an extra defender outside the penalty area.

Target man

A tall, physically strong centre forward who holds the ball up with his back to goal, brings teammates into play, and wins aerial duels at the top of the pitch.

Trequartista

An Italian term for a classic number ten — a creative attacking midfielder who operates in the space between midfield and attack. From the Italian for "three-quarters".

Volante

A Portuguese-Brazilian term for a defensive or holding midfielder. The word means "steering wheel" — the player who steers the team's midfield.

Wide forward

A forward who plays in a wide attacking position rather than as a centre forward — often cutting inside to attack rather than staying out wide.

Wide midfielder

A midfielder positioned on the touchline rather than centrally, balancing defensive and attacking duties down the flank. Common in 4-4-2 setups.

Wing back

A wide defender in a formation with three centre backs, expected to provide width on their flank — attacking down the outside and tracking back to defend.

Winger

A midfielder or attacker who plays in a wide position, looking to beat full backs and deliver crosses.

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