The Football Soccer Midfielder
29th April 2011

In football you are either attacking or defending. If your team is in possession of the ball you will be attacking, and when you haven’t got the ball you will be defending. Players who are the link between attacking and defending are the midfielders. These central players need to act both as attacking players supporting and providing a service to the strikers, and also coming back and defending, helping out the defence when needed. 

In junior football, teams normally play in a 4-4-2 formation, meaning there will be two central and two wide midfielders. Occasionally teams play five midfield players, and use three central midfielders. 

The two wide midfield players are positioned to provide width, attacking the wide areas of the pitch and attempting to have possession of the ball in behind the defence, with the purpose of supplying the ball to strikers from wide attacking positions. The role of the central midfielders is to link play from defence to attack, provide the ball to the wide players, support the forwards in attacking situations and provide a screen in front of the defence.  

Generally a team playing with five midfielders is set-up to provide extra cover for the defence, with the additional player taking up a position between midfield and defence, and is placed there to pick up any loose balls or challenge any players breaking through the centre with the ball.

The central players normally hold their positions in the middle of the pitch. It’s important for these players to keep their shape and position and provide both cover and act as a link between the strikers, wide players and defence. In a five man midfield the central players are encouraged to play further up the field earlier in the phase of play, though they must be ready to switch back into defensive mode quickly.  

The central midfielder is required to win the ball and provide penetrating passes, opening up positions for attacking players to exploit. The centre midfield player also must play a range of passes, feeding the wide midfielders and helping them to get behind the defence. When a telling ball has been played the central player needs to time a run to be available for a return ball in a dangerous position. 

The wide midfielders have the most ground to cover along the flanks of the pitch. It is their role to take the ball to the opposition by-line and deliver the ball into areas for the strikers to attack. They need to have the attacking flair to take players on and go past them with skill and speed. The wide players must also help the full backs, doubling up on attackers when defending. When the ball is furthest away from them, the wide player is required to provide defensive cover for their side of the pitch. 

In junior football young midfield players must link play, though they have a tendency to hog the ball, take too many touches and try to run through the opposition midfield. More often the central midfielders in a youth team is considered the most skilful player, though this is at times the wrong tactics, because this player fails to bring his team mates into play, and will lose the ball. Wide players howver should be encouraged to use their skill to take players on and go past them.  

If you enjoyed this article read another:

• Defensive football jockeying

• Communication on the pitch

• Football Soccer Warm-up

• Football Soccer Warm Down