Positions

Football positions

Learn where each position sits, what players in each one actually do, and how they fit together as a team. This section explains positions in plain English, from the goalkeeper out to the front line.

Read the positions guide See the shirt numbers chart

What you will find in this section

This section explains how a football team is set up on the pitch and what each player does.

Football is played by eleven players a side. One is the goalkeeper, the other ten are outfield players grouped into defence, midfield and attack. Inside each of those areas there are a number of more specific positions, and modern football has added a handful of hybrid positions that blur the lines between them.

The pages here cover the traditional positions and the standard jobs played in each one, as well as common modern variations. A position is a player's basic place on the pitch relative to their teammates; a tactical role is the specific job they perform inside a system. Detailed role guides — what a deep-lying playmaker does in possession, for example — are explained in the tactics section.

See the shirt numbers chart

Start here

These are the best pages to read first to understand how a football team is organised.

Position guide

Football positions explained

A football team is made up of eleven players in four broad areas — goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack. This guide walks through each area and the positions within it, in plain English.

Shirt numbers

Football shirt numbers explained

Football shirt numbers used to map directly onto positions, with each number worn by the player in a specific role. Squad numbers have changed that — but the traditional link is still part of the language of the game.

Goalkeeper

The goalkeeper

The goalkeeper is the only specialist position on the pitch — and the only player allowed to use their hands inside their own penalty area. This guide explains the responsibilities of the position, how they have changed and how a modern goalkeeper helps build attacks as well as stop shots.

Defence

Defenders and the back line

The back line is the foundation of any football team. This guide explains how defenders are organised, what each one does, and the difference between a back four and a back three.

Midfield

Midfielders and the engine room

Midfielders are the players who link defence to attack. They are usually among the players who cover the most ground and help decide how a team controls the ball. This guide explains the main midfield positions and how they fit together.

Attack

Attackers and forwards

Attackers, also called forwards, are the players furthest up the pitch. Their main job is to score and create goals. This guide explains the main forward positions and how front lines are arranged in modern football.

Position guide

Modern hybrid football roles

Modern football has produced a handful of roles that do not fit cleanly into defence, midfield or attack. Some are genuinely new, while others are modern names for older ideas. They only make sense within a specific tactical system.

Detailed position guides

Once the broad areas make sense, use these guides to look more closely at the specific positions within each line of the team.

Centre backs

The central defenders who organise the back line, defend the box and increasingly start attacks from deep.

Read about centre backs

Three-man defences

A back three places three centre backs across the defence rather than two, with wing backs providing width in front of them.

Read about three-man defences

Full backs and wing backs

The wide defenders who defend the touchline, overlap, underlap and sometimes become extra midfielders.

Read about full backs and wing backs

Defensive midfielders

The number 6s who protect the defence, receive from the back line and help the team build attacks.

Read about defensive midfielders

Central midfielders

The number 8s who connect defence and attack and share work across the middle of the pitch.

Read about central midfielders

Attacking midfielders

The number 10s who play between midfield and attack and create chances for the forwards.

Read about attacking midfielders

Strikers

The central forwards and second strikers who lead the line and provide the main goal threat.

Read about strikers

Wingers and wide forwards

The wide attackers who cross, dribble, cut inside and connect with full backs and strikers.

Read about wingers and wide forwards

Where to go next

Once you know the positions, the next step is to look at how teams arrange them into formations and tactical systems.

Football tactics

How formations, roles and playing styles shape what each position is asked to do.

Tactics section

Football glossary

Definitions of the main position and role terms used across the site.

Positions glossary