The four position groups

Eleven players per team. One designated goalkeeper. The other ten are outfield players, organised tactically into three groups:

• Defenders — the backline, closest to their own goal
• Midfielders — the middle band, linking defence and attack
• Forwards — the attacking line, closest to the opposition goal

How many players sit in each group depends on the formation the manager chooses.

Common formations

The notation reads back-to-front, defence first.

• 4-4-2: four defenders, four midfielders, two forwards
• 4-3-3: four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards
• 3-5-2: three defenders, five midfielders, two forwards
• 4-2-3-1: four defenders, two defensive midfielders, three attacking midfielders, one forward

The goalkeeper is implied — they are always there and never counted in the formation number.

Defender roles

Defenders shape the backline. The variations:

• Centre back — central defender, marks the most dangerous attackers
• Full back — wide defender on either flank, often supporting attacks
• Wing back — wider role with more attacking responsibility, common in three-defender systems
• Sweeper — a free defender behind the centre backs, less common in modern systems

Midfielder roles

Midfielders connect everything.

• Defensive midfielder — sits in front of the defence, breaks up attacks
• Central midfielder — covers ground between boxes
• Attacking midfielder — operates between the midfield line and the forwards
• Wide midfielder / winger — operates near the touchlines, supplies crosses or cuts inside

Forward roles

Forwards score and create.

• Centre forward / striker — the main goal threat
• Second striker — partners the centre forward, slightly deeper
• False nine — a forward who drops into midfield to create overloads
• Winger — wide forward who attacks from the flanks

Why only the goalkeeper has special rules

The Laws of the Game only mention one position: goalkeeper. Specific rules apply only to them:

• They can use their hands inside their own penalty area
• They have an eight-second limit on holding the ball
• They cannot pick up a deliberate back-pass from a teammate's foot
• They wear a different colour jersey

Every outfield player has identical rights under the Laws. A defender can score from anywhere on the pitch. A striker can drop back and slide tackle. The position is a tactical label — not a legal restriction.

A simple example

A team uses 4-3-3. Their right back overlaps a winger, gets to the byline, and crosses for the centre forward to score. The next minute, a counter-attack forces the same right back to slide-tackle a winger inside their own box.

Both actions are legal. The right back is just a player on the pitch — they can attack, defend, score, and tackle anywhere.

Why formations change mid-match

Managers change formations to:

• Defend a lead — drop a forward, add a defender or midfielder
• Chase a deficit — push a defender forward, add an attacker
• Cover for a red card — reorganise around ten players
• Match the opponent — shift a midfielder to mirror the other team's shape

The same eleven players can move through three or four formations in a single match. Positions are fluid because the rules do not lock anyone into a place.