Forwards
Poacher
Finds the decisive touch inside the box.
Player examples
Filippo Inzaghi · Ruud van Nistelrooy
07 / BERKALOG
Player types
Roles describe a player’s responsibilities, rather than just their position.
⚽ / SCOUTING
Forward roles guide
Eight attacking profiles, from movement in the box to link-up play and pressing.
Explore this role
Forwards
Target man
Gives the team an outlet and time to advance.
Player examples
Didier Drogba · Olivier Giroud
Forwards
Complete forward
Links, creates and finishes across the front line.
Player examples
Karim Benzema · Harry Kane
Forwards
False nine
Leaves the front line to create a marking dilemma.
Player examples
Lionel Messi · Roberto Firmino
Forwards
Pressing forward
Sets the direction and intensity of the press.
Player examples
Luis Suárez · Darwin Núñez · Lautaro Martínez
Forwards
Counterattacking striker
Turns space behind the defence into a threat.
Player examples
Jamie Vardy · Kylian Mbappé
Forwards
Deep-lying forward
Connects midfield with the attack.
Player examples
Francesco Totti · Wayne Rooney
Forwards
Modern hybrid No. 9
Adapts the role to the phase and match plan.
Player examples
Erling Haaland
⚙️ / SCOUTING
Midfield roles guide
Nine ways to influence the game from midfield. Roles overlap and a player’s responsibilities change with the team’s approach.
Midfield
Defensive midfielder (DM)
The shield in front of the defence.
Player examples
Claude Makélélé · N’Golo Kanté · Sergio Busquets
Midfield
Holding midfielder
The team’s reference point in possession.
Player examples
Rodri · Xabi Alonso
Midfield
Deep-lying playmaker (Regista)
The architect of attacks from deep.
Player examples
Andrea Pirlo · Toni Kroos
Midfield
Box-to-box midfielder
Connects both penalty areas with repeated runs, duels and support play.
Player examples
Steven Gerrard · Patrick Vieira · Frank Lampard
Midfield
Central midfielder
A connector between defence and attack.
Player examples
Luka Modrić · Paul Scholes
Midfield
Attacking midfielder (No. 10)
Creates danger in the final third.
Player examples
Zinedine Zidane · Mesut Özil · Kevin De Bruyne
Midfield
Advanced playmaker
Shapes the attack rather than only searching for the killer pass.
Player examples
Andrés Iniesta · David Silva
Midfield
Mezzala (Half-space midfielder)
A central midfielder who moves into the half-spaces and wide channels.
Player examples
Bernardo Silva · Kevin De Bruyne
Midfield
Wide midfielder
Works the full flank: provides width in attack, supports the full-back and tracks runners when defending.
Player examples
David Beckham · Park Ji-sung · James Milner
🛡️ / SCOUTING
Defensive roles guide
Eight centre-back profiles: duelling, covering, build-up and positional rotations. Roles can overlap within the same player.
Defence
Stopper
Confronts danger through duels and decisive interventions.
Player examples
Nemanja Vidić
Defence
Ball-playing centre-back
Breaks pressure through passing and carrying from defence.
Player examples
Virgil van Dijk
Defence
Sweeper
Provides cover behind the defensive line.
Player examples
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Defence
Libero
Covers defensively and initiates play with freedom.
Player examples
Franco Baresi
Defence
Aggressive man marker
Restricts a direct opponent through close marking.
Player examples
Claudio Gentile
Defence
Modern hybrid centre-back
Combines defending, composure and anticipation.
Player examples
Rúben Dias
Defence
Centre-back covering at full-back
Shifts wide to support the team’s build-up rotation.
Player examples
John Stones
Defence
Centre-back / midfielder
Steps out of defence to help create in midfield.
Player examples
Franz Beckenbauer
Other player types
Inverted winger
Moves inside from a wide starting position to combine, shoot or attack central spaces.