Right-backs – (RB, 2)įor every team that is set to play on the pitch, is an essential part of a team’s defensive structure. Another defensive position that is less known in soccer is the stopper. The job of a sweeper is to sweep up the ball or counter any attack that might get past the defensive backs, even though it’s not been used anymore with modern tactical preference and innovation now the order of the day with three center-back and wing-backs. The term ‘Sweeper’ has existed since the 19th century, when it was first used to denote any ball that gets past the other defender. When the team is on the ascendency attacking-wise, one of the center-back, more often than not, goes upfield to help the team get a goal via a set-piece and also track back to do his primary assignment, which is to protect the opposing team from scoring. In a 4-4-2 soccer formation, the two center-backs are usually very important to a team’s defensive fluidity and prowess because they serve as the soul of a team defensively lining up in front of a goalkeeper. In typical soccer number positions for the centre-backs are numbers 4 and 5.ĭefenders include the two center-backs and two fullbacks in every team, and with this personnel on the pitch, their sole responsibility is to protect the goalkeeper, block the attacking threat of the opponent, and also cut the free-flow passing of the opponent. You can find out the best goalkeepers in the world. However, then the basic standard and trait of that position remain unchanged. With modern soccer now moving away from the traditional numbering, we’ve seen goalkeepers don a different number on their jersey. The goalie, as some will call them, are the only player permitted to use their hands and arms to block the shots and pick up the ball while the game is in play in a designated area according to the rules of the game. In soccer, the goalie is the last line of defense that stop the opposing team from scoring the player’s role on the pitch is to protect the team from conceding when the opponent attack. The soccer number position for a goalkeeper is number 1.

These are the major soccer defensive positions and the numbers usually associated with them: Goalkeeper – (GK, 1) Left midfielder or Left winger Positions & Roles In SoccerĪs enjoyable as the game of soccer is, every soccer position and player operating in that role on the pitch has a different job they must carry out while on the pitch for the team to achieve the needed result. The conventional numbering standard 1-11 system in soccer:ġ1. Yet the stark reality about the classic shirt numbering and role still remains the same because it’s what forms the basis of the game’s conventional numbering standard of the 1-11 system, even though modern soccer has moved away from the traditional numbering with players now adopting unconventional and unorthodox number. The beautiful game of soccer has existed for many decades, with different tactical preferences and innovations adopted by managers all come and gone. Soccer numbering is implemented to classify each player’s role from one another, with each number on a player’s shirt signifying a player’s important role or responsibility on the pitch.

Position number in soccer team