Soccer positions are key in the beautiful game which is enjoyed across every part of the world. No matter how compact a team is, it is sometimes difficult to see a team that has a perfect player for all the positions on a soccer field.
This article will make use of some of the best players in the Bundesliga to analyze soccer positions and their significance in a soccer team. Some of such players that will be used as case studies for the soccer positions include Robert Lewandowski, Jadon Sancho, Manuel Neuer, and Benjamin Pavard.
For those who are keen followers of the beautiful game of soccer, it is a known fact that every standard soccer match has 22 players, 11 from both the opposing teams. Each of these players is given specific soccer positions that come with a specific responsibility.
Below are the soccer positions and the best players for the positions in Bundesliga
Position: Goalkeeper
The goalkeeping position of any team is as key as any other position in the team. The goalkeeper is always the last hope of the team because once the opposition passes the midfield and goes through the defense, it is now left for the goalkeeper to save the team by stopping the ball from entering into the net.
The case study for this position is Bayern Munich’s first-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer. Besides the ability of the 33-year-old German international to stop shots from any angle, he has an overwhelming ability to sight his teammates and make a long pass that can start a counter-attack. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner can also use his legs as well as he can use his hands which makes him one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Position: Full-back
Another important soccer position that is being talked about across the world is the full-back position. Players who are given this role, operate on the wide side of their teams’ defense. They shield the goalkeepers and sometimes support the midfield and the attack.
The case study for this role is Bayern Munich right-back, Benjamin Pavard. The 24-year-old FIFA World Cup winner is one of the few defenders that would want to load the opposition eighteen-yard box with passes that can destabilize the opposition defense and subsequently leads to a goal.
Though the Frenchman likes creating chances and providing assists, Pavard likes to combine his defensive duties with the art of scoring fantastic goals like the one he scored against Argentina in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Position: Wing-back
The players who are given these positions act as defenders that defend from the wings. They are given the chance to overlap to support the attack. All they do most is to make crosses into opposition box-eighteen which sometimes leads to assists. It is a position that requires a lot of energy because players that are given such a role are expected to run to and fro the flanks.
The case study for this position is Bayern Munich‘s Joshua Kimmich. He is so versatile that he can play in the midfield, the defensive midfield, and as a right-back. Even though the German international is expected to run to and fro the flanks, he hardly misses in terms of controlling the ball and picking out a player to pass to.
Position: Centre-back (stopper)
The players given this role are always physically strong and ready to mark down any opposing attack.
A case study for this position is Niklas Süle. His 6.5 inches height is never a hindrance for him to speed as high as possible to catch up with attackers. The height of the Bayern Munich defender is judiciously used to clear his team’s defensive line and also to score goals.
Position: Centre-back (sweeper)
This is like a back up to the first center-back. He is meant to partner with the other center-back.
A case study for this position is Makoto Hasebe. Though the Japanese and Eintracht Frankfurt defender is 36-year-old, he remains one of the best sweeper in modern days soccer.
Position: Centre-back (quarter-back)
This position is necessary when a team decides to use a back three to execute a match.
A case study for the position is Mats Hummels. The 31-year-old Borussia Dortmund and German star is one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga in terms of winning aerial duels.
Position: Defensive midfielder (ball-winner)
The role of players given this role is to help the defense line to win the ball and make tackles before it gets to the defense line.
A case study for this role is Thomas Delaney. The Borussia Dortmund defensive midfielder uses his low center of gravity and a top speed of 21 miles per hour to keep attackers far away from his team’s defense.
Position: Defensive midfielder (deep-lying playmaker)
A player given this position is expected to distribute the ball to his teammates and try to maintain possession.
The case study for this position is former Bayern Minich midfielder, Thiago Alcantara. Before the 29-year-old Spanish footballer left the Bundesliga to join Liverpool in the 2020 summer transfer window, he was the best in terms of distributive vision and speed control in the Bundesliga.
Position: Box-to-box midfielder
The player given this role has the responsibility to join the attack and also support his team’s defense.
The case study for this position is Weston McKennie. The United States of America made the highest amount of headers for Schalke 04 in the 2019-2020 season.
Position: Wide midfielder
The player given this role is expected to support the full-backs.
The case study for this role is Filip Kostic. The 28-year-old Frankfurt and Serbian made 10 assists in the Bundesliga playing this role.
Position: Attacking midfielder
The player given this role has the responsibility to feed the attack from the midfield.
A case study for this role is Marco Reus. He is one of the most skillful and technical players in the Bundesliga. The Borussia Dortmund captain knows how to stay in the midfield and also join the attack to either score a goal or provide an assist.
Position: Winger
The player given this responsibility is expected to provide crosses into the opposition’s box-eighteen and also meet crosses in the opponent’s box.
A case study for this role is Jadon Sancho. The Borussia Dortmund and English star is arguably the best in that role.
Position: False 9
A player given this role sometimes replaces the traditional 9 and he is sometimes a creative midfielder that is converted into such a role because of his ability to score goals.
The case study for this position is, Mario Götze. The 28-year-old German star was great in that position when he was playing for Borussia Dortmund. The 2014 Fifa World Cup winner is currently playing for PSV Eindhoven.
Position: Forward
The responsibility of the player given this role is to assist the striker in scoring goals.
The case study for this role is Thomas Müller. The Bayern Munich and German World Cup star has scored 205 goals and provided 201 assists for Bayern in 548 games playing this role.
Position: Striker
The responsibility of a player given this role is just to score goals.
The case study for this role is none other than the goals machine himself, Robert Lewandowski. The 32-year-old Poland striker has scored 259 goals and provided 62 assists in 300 games for Bayern Munich. He scored 103 goals and provided 42 assists in 187 games before he left Borussia Dortmund for Bayern in 2014.
