4-5-1 Formation Soccer: A Comprehensive Guide
As someone who played soccer quite well in his early formative years, formations were not a thing at the grassroots. My peers and I just knew how to play soccer and get on the pitch to enjoy ourselves. Soccer fuels our direction. With more education about soccer and growth, I learned about formations – a […]
Midfielder in Soccer: Roles, Skills, and Training Tips
Just as a top-performing car requires a powerful engine to operate at its peak, a successful soccer team needs a strong midfield to excel on the field. The role of a midfielder in soccer is quite simple: be the team’s driving force. If you look at any of the best teams in soccer history, they […]
False 9 in Soccer: History, Strategy, and Top Players
What if I told you that a single player could completely redefine the way a soccer game unfolds? You might wonder whether it’s possible. That was my first reaction when I watched a football game in 2009 and saw this different figure, known as the False 9. I instantly knew this tactical innovation I was […]
Left-Back in Soccer: Roles & Top Players
Soccer is an interesting sport on its own, but the instructions and executions carried out by players in different positions on the pitch can make a lot of difference in terms of the outcome. Goals determine games a whole lot and as someone who has played the game before, I know what it means when […]
Defensive Midfielder in Soccer: The Ultimate Guide
Eight out of ten soccer coaches will tell you that the center defensive midfielder is the most important player in a soccer team. Pep Guardiola started as a soccer defensive midfielder. His manager at the time, the late great Johan Cruijff, wanted a midfield pivot who was great at winning duels but even better at […]
Right Back in Soccer: The Ultimate Guide
Do you know what the exciting thing about soccer is? No, it is not the goals, the saves, the trophies, or the dribbles. It is the professionalism that players exhibit in their roles. Among outfielders, the full-backs soccer coaches field are the epitome of this professionalism. The center-forwards and midfielders can be more aesthetically pleasing […]
Youth Soccer Positions: Roles and Responsibilities
My first youth soccer game was a match between children aged 12 and under (known as under-12 or U12). The teams had nine players each (one goalkeeper and eight outfield players). As a long-time fan of the beautiful game, I was confused. I asked the coaches whether youth soccer is mostly played in a nine-player […]
Winger in Soccer: A Comprehensive Guide
Imagine you’re sprinting up the sideline, ball at your feet, as defenders rapidly close in from behind. You take a deep breath and decide your next move. Did your instinct guide you to pass or drive you to cut inside and shoot? In the high-paced role of a winger in soccer, split-second decisions are constant, […]
Center-Back Soccer: Responsibilities and Skills
When you think about soccer’s superstars, it’s usually the flashy moves and goal-scoring that come to mind. You might picture Lionel Messi creating magic with his passes, Cristiano Ronaldo powering through the field, or Erling Haaland making scoring seem easy. Yet, it’s crucial to remember that these moments of glory wouldn’t be possible without a […]
4-3-3 Formation Tactics: A Comprehensive Breakdown
The 4-3-3 formation is popular in modern soccer thanks to the achievements of the Barcelona team between 2008 and 2012. Spanish coach Pep Guardiola led the team to its victories at that time. While Pep was not the first to use this formation, how he executed it made a lot of managers attempt to replicate […]