Football positions explained: from goalkeeper to centre-forward
August 21, 2026 · 7 min
Goalkeeper, centre-back, full-back, central midfielder, winger, striker... Football has a map of positions that, once you understand it, makes you watch matches through fresh eyes. At Golazo Scores we go through each line of the team and what is expected of the players who fill it, whatever tactical system the manager uses.
The goalkeeper
The goalkeeper (or keeper) is the only player allowed to use their hands, and only inside their own penalty area. Their main job is to prevent goals: catching, punching clear and closing down the space for opposing forwards.
In the modern game, however, much more is asked of them: building play with their feet, playing accurate passes and acting almost as an extra defender when the team has the ball. A good goalkeeper can decide a match just as much as a prolific goalscorer.
The defence
The defensive line protects the goal. Centre-backs are the team's wall: strong in the air and in the tackle, they are responsible for stopping the strikers. Teams usually play two, although some systems use three.
Out wide are the full-backs (right and left). They defend their flank, but in today's game they also push forward, bombing down the wing to beat their man and deliver crosses. They are box-to-box players who cover an enormous amount of ground.
The midfield
Midfield is the team's engine room, the link between defence and attack. The defensive midfielder (sometimes called the 'pivot' or the 'number 6') sits in front of the defence to win the ball back and provide balance.
Ahead of them are usually the more creative midfielders, tasked with orchestrating play and threading passes through. The attacking midfielder, or classic 'number 10', plays close to the forwards and specialises in the final ball and arriving in the box to score.
The attack
In attack we find the wingers, who hug the touchlines looking to take on defenders, get past them and either cross or shoot. Their pace and dribbling are weapons for breaking down defences.
Leading the line is the centre-forward, the 'number 9'. They are the focal point, the one who moves inside the box to turn chances into goals. Some are physically strong and play with their back to goal; others are more mobile and link up with teammates. In the end, their work is measured in goals.
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