Guides · Updated 7 October 2026
Football positions explained
Every slot on the Starting XI pitch carries a short label like CB, DM or LW. Here is what each one means, what the player in it is expected to do, and the modern variations you will hear commentators talk about.
Goalkeeper (GK)
The only player allowed to handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area. The basics are shot-stopping, catching crosses and organising the defence, since the goalkeeper sees the whole pitch in front of them.
Modern goalkeepers are also expected to play with their feet. A sweeper-keeper stands well off their line to clear balls played in behind a high defensive line, and takes part in passing moves from the back. Manuel Neuer made the style famous at Bayern Munich and with Germany; Ederson at Manchester City and Alisson at Liverpool are known for long, accurate passes that start attacks.
Defenders
Centre-back (CB)
Centre-backs guard the middle of the defence and the space in front of goal. Their core jobs are marking strikers, winning headers, blocking shots and keeping the defensive line in the right place. Most teams play two; back-three systems use three.
Today centre-backs also need to pass. A ball-playing centre-back such as Virgil van Dijk or Rúben Dias carries the ball forward and breaks the opposition's press with passes through midfield, rather than simply clearing it.
Full-backs (LB, RB)
The left-back and right-back defend the wide areas of the pitch, marking the opposing wingers. In attack they overlap down the touchline to give width, which is why so many modern full-backs, such as Cafu, Dani Alves and Trent Alexander-Arnold, are remembered as much for their crosses and assists as their defending.
Wing-backs (LWB, RWB)
Wing-backs appear in formations with three centre-backs, such as the 3-5-2. They start higher than full-backs and are responsible for the whole flank on their own. With three centre-backs behind them, they can attack more freely, but they need huge stamina to get back when the ball is lost.
Midfielders
Defensive midfielder (DM)
The defensive midfielder sits just in front of the centre-backs. Their job is to break up opposition attacks, cover gaps when team-mates move forward, and recycle possession with simple passes. They are often called the number 6, the anchor or the holding midfielder.
Claude Makélélé was so influential in this role at Real Madrid and Chelsea that it was nicknamed "the Makélélé role". Sergio Busquets at Barcelona and Rodri at Manchester City showed how a DM can also control the tempo of a whole match.
Central midfielder (CM)
Central midfielders connect defence and attack. The role varies a lot. A box-to-box midfielder, such as Patrick Vieira or Jude Bellingham, covers ground in both penalty areas. A deep-lying playmaker dictates play with passing. A number 8 in a 4-3-3 often makes late runs into the box to score.
Wide midfielders (LM, RM)
Wide midfielders play on the flanks in formations like the 4-4-2. Compared with wingers, they start deeper and carry more defensive responsibility, tracking the opposing full-back back towards their own goal. David Beckham at Manchester United is the classic example: his crossing from the right was a major source of goals, and he worked hard without the ball.
Attacking midfielders
Central attacking midfielder (CAM)
The CAM, or number 10, plays behind the striker in the space between the opponent's midfield and defence. They are the team's main creator, picking the final pass, linking with the forwards and shooting from the edge of the box. Zinedine Zidane, Kaká and Kevin De Bruyne all shone in this area.
Left and right attacking midfielders (LAM, RAM)
In a 4-2-3-1 the two wide players of the attacking three are labelled LAM and RAM. They sit in a mix between winger and number 10: wide enough to stretch the defence, but free to drift inside to combine with the CAM and striker.
Forwards
Wingers (LW, RW)
Wingers attack from the flanks, taking on full-backs one against one. A traditional winger stays wide and crosses with their stronger foot. An inverted winger plays on the opposite side to their stronger foot, such as a left-footer on the right, so they can cut inside and shoot. Arjen Robben's cut inside onto his left foot from the right wing became so famous that defenders knew it was coming and still couldn't stop it. Mohamed Salah does the same at Liverpool.
Striker (ST)
The striker, or centre-forward, is the team's main goal threat. There are several types. A target man is strong in the air and holds the ball up for team-mates. A poacher lives in the penalty area and finishes chances. An advanced forward such as Erling Haaland runs in behind the defence. A complete forward such as Karim Benzema does a bit of everything, dropping deep to link play as well as scoring.
Modern roles worth knowing
- False nine. A striker who drops deep into midfield instead of staying up front, pulling centre-backs out of position or leaving them with nobody to mark. Lionel Messi played this role for Guardiola's Barcelona, and Roberto Firmino did a similar job for Klopp's Liverpool.
- Inverted full-back. A full-back who moves into central midfield when their team has the ball, instead of overlapping down the wing. Guardiola used Philipp Lahm this way at Bayern Munich, and later João Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko at Manchester City.
- Regista. An Italian term for a deep-lying playmaker who directs the team's passing from in front of the defence. Andrea Pirlo is the defining example.
- Mezzala. Another Italian term, for a central midfielder who drifts wide into the half-space to support attacks, between a winger and a number 8.
- Libero or sweeper. A defender who plays behind or alongside the other defenders without a direct marking job, cleaning up danger and starting attacks. Franz Beckenbauer was the greatest of them. The role is rare today, but the ideas live on in ball-playing centre-backs and sweeper-keepers.
Using positions in the builder
When you select a position on the Starting XI pitch, the label tells you what kind of player the formation expects there. You don't have to stick to it. Putting a striker on the wing or a midfielder at full-back is how plenty of real managers found their best teams. Drag players around the pitch to fine-tune where they stand, and use the bench for seven substitutes. To see how these positions fit together into a team shape, read the guide to formations.