Hey everyone, do you remember me? The people's chief is back. I've been coaching the U11 team here in Minnesota and continuing the youth soccer revolution, but my boss told me to take a break from these lessons to understand that I'm not actually the coach of Minnesota United. I said I wanted it. At least not yet.
I must have done a good job of convincing him that I understood the image, because I had been given the green light for a return to full-blown, head-on (respectfully, of course) first-person action. Take off the blindfold and go a little wild. Oh, I missed this. Don't worry, the first lesson is all about numbers, but there's little to no math involved.
If you've ever watched a soccer broadcast or read enough soccer media, you've probably heard players referred to by their number rather than their position or name. Often these numbers don't even match the numbers on the back. This must definitely look like a terrible mistake to anyone who hears it. Everyone makes mistakes, but I think I encountered something a little different in this case.
There are 11 traditional roles played by players on the pitch. Naturally, different formations utilize players differently, but the basic concepts these 11 roles represent effectively cover any position no matter what formation you create. As it happens, the 11 roles come together to form him a 4-3-3, so for illustrative purposes we'll compare them to the Loons players best suited for each role. The rest of this article uses the diagram below as a reference point, so please take a close look.
Let's start at the very beginning. It's a very good place to start. When we read, we start with ABC, but when we sing…I'm sorry, but the analogy is wrong. If you need music tips, ask Julie Andrews. No, we'll start at number one. That's the goalkeeper. Its basic job is to keep the ball away from the net and redistribute it when the match returns to the goal. For the Loons, it's none other than Dane St. Clair, and while I'm not bragging, he's one of the best players in the league at his job. If you want to learn how to be a keeper, watch me do him before you listen to me.
Next up are 2nd and 3rd place. Whether you call them fullbacks, outside backs or simply tired, they are the unsung heroes of this game. We tend to use 2 on the right and 3 on the left, but these positions are just mirrors of each other. The likes of Joseph Rosales, DJ Taylor and (occasionally) Devin Padelford fill these roles, looking to protect the wings and run down the sideline to add dimension to the attack. Although often a thankless job, the role of the full-back cannot be underestimated when trying to build an effective team.
Numbers 4 and 5 represent the right and left centre-backs respectively. Miguel Tapias will be MNUFC's first choice in fifth place, while Boxy will occupy fourth place. The job of a center back is easier to explain than to perform. Don't let your opponent find space in dangerous areas. Not only do they play a lot of one-on-one defense, they also communicate a fair amount with the team to organize collective defensive shapes.
Now let's move on to the fun stuff. In midfield, the position is less pressing than elsewhere on the pitch. There are no auxiliary lines to explain the structure, and without general guidelines, you can easily get lost in the action swirling around you. That's why we have his 6, 8, and 10 positions, to divide up the responsibilities and make sure everyone knows what they're doing.
At the bottom of the midfield triangle is the number six, commonly known as the defensive midfielder. I'm talking about Will Freak Trap, baby, the legend himself. Number 6 is a ball winner, defensive shielder, and transition master. They are the organizers who keep everything from falling apart, plug holes, and do the dirty work that needs to be done. They tend to fall back a bit, sweeping from side to side to defend the last line and advance the game.
At the other end of the midfield spectrum is the number 10. This is his No. 10 position: brilliantly tricky, endlessly funny, and a romantic loved by everyone. They are the flashy quarterbacks, the creative sparks that make the beauty of the game, say, tenfold, and the reason so many people fell in love with this sport. Loon fans have seen Robin Rodd fill in for the role for the start of 2024, bringing his unique and effective approach.
The number 10 sits high up the pitch, directly behind the striker and, depending on the player, is rarely asked to go far back for defensive duties. The role is intentionally ambiguous and is often completely creative to allow talented players to express themselves uniquely as they seek to break through defenses with fancy footwork and visionary passing. It gives you freedom. Everyone plays it a little differently, but the goal is the same. It's about connecting teams and creating opportunities.
I saved 8 for last because that's the best part, right? The box-to-box midfielder is a jack of all trades and is probably the best in the entire team. Consider Alejandro Blanc and Hassani Dotson. They put SHIFT every time they step on the pitch. The number eight is responsible for filling gaps, contributing to the attack and linking the team when needed. Basically, they do everything he 6 and 10 do, only to a lesser degree. In many ways, they reduce the burden on professional responders and serve as the driving force for any team.
Front three but not number three
Proceed towards the front line. Only three numbers remain. Do you remember which one is which? well done. 7, 9, 11. Why was the order of the midfield messed up? When the numbering system was first devised in the 1920s, tactics were a little different and the 2-3-5 system ruled the day. Adjustments were made as the 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 came into prominence and have remained in place ever since.
The left wing wears the number 11 on the back and the right wing wears the number 7 on the back. Similar to fullbacks, these players are meant to extend the field and combine athleticism and passing to give the team width and create chances. Large area. Bongi and Sambin do a great job in these roles and even show a willingness to step back and assist the fullbacks in defensive duties.
Finally number 9. Although this position can be played in many different ways, we tend to think of the number 9 as a traditional striker, goalscorer and threat in the opposition box. Teemu Pukki plays this role to a tee. Watching him play is better than any description I could give on paper.
So why do we tend to use certain numbers more than others in conversation? I'm glad you asked. Honestly, this is just a matter of preference, but I'll try to explain it in a little more detail. If you are trying to understand positions, the first thing you need to decide is which area on the field (defense, midfield, forward) you are looking at. From there, some roles are more cut and dry than others.
For example, if you are a center back, your role does not change much whether you play on the right, left, or in the middle of a back three. Therefore, we tend to refer to centre-backs simply by their title or position relative to their partner. Similarly, if we're talking about fullbacks, the main differentiator is the side of the pitch they play on. So add right or left to the name.
The forward position works in much the same way, with wingers following the same pattern as fullbacks. Strikers are commonly referred to as number nines to easily explain that they play centrally, but the two terms are interchangeable.
But when you get to midfield, you can just call someone center mid and see where things can go wrong. what are they doing there? How do they work with their teammates? Why are all three of them doing the same thing? Therefore, to avoid confusion, these fields tend to use numerical job titles. Sure, you could just say attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, or box-to-box midfielder, but that's a poor explanation and easy to understand. Numbers are more fun, confusing, and honestly, way cooler than words.
This is one of those things that is hard to understand until it is explained to you. Because numbering is fairly arbitrary and requires some context to understand. But that's why I'm here. Pass on my knowledge, guide me with it and speak up if I don't get it right on the first try.
Just kidding; I'm not much of a yeller. Please try your best. You might impress a few people at your next viewing party by sorting the players by ranking. Or it might confuse everyone. Either way, be sure to embed my article so I can share more soccer tips for years to come.
