Football Positions Explained: Every Role and Number

If you have ever watched a match and wondered what each player does, this guide has football positions explained in plain terms. A football team has 11 players on the pitch, and each one has a job. Some defend, some create, and some score. In this guide, you will learn the four groups of positions, what each role does, the shirt numbers that go with them, and the formations coaches use.

Last updated: November 2026

Quick Answer

• Football positions explained simply: 11 players — one goalkeeper and ten outfield players in three groups: defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
• The goalkeeper is the only player who can handle the ball, and only inside the penalty area.
• Shirt numbers are a tradition, not a rule: 1 is the goalkeeper, 9 is the striker, and 10 is the playmaker.
• Formations are counted from the back and leave out the goalkeeper: 4-4-2 means four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers.

Football Positions: The Four Groups

A football team has 11 players on the pitch: one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. The outfield players are grouped by where they play and what they do. In this guide, you will learn about each group in turn, with every role explained, plus its shirt number and how it works inside different formations.

The Goalkeeper: The First Position

The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area. This player guards the goal, stops shots, catches crosses, and gives the defence a safe option when the team is under pressure. When the goalkeeper and defence stop every shot, the team keeps a clean sheet — read what is a clean sheet in our guide. For the full role, read our guide to what is a goalkeeper in football.

A goalkeeper also starts attacks. The modern goalkeeper passes the ball out from the back and is sometimes called a sweeper-keeper when playing high up the pitch. This is because modern goalkeepers are expected to be good with their feet. You will often see them outside the box, clearing through balls. The goalkeeper wears the number 1 shirt and must wear a colour that stands out from the other players. The video assistant referee checks fouls and offsides, so see our guide to how VAR works.

Defenders and their positions: football positions explained

Defenders stop the other team from scoring. They are the second group in football positions explained, after the goalkeeper. A team usually plays with three, four, or five defenders. Their job is to win the ball, block shots, and start attacks from the back.

Centre-backs — football positions explained

Centre-backs, known as CB, defend the middle of the pitch. They mark the other team’s strikers, win headers, and clear the ball from danger. Two or three centre-backs form a central pair, with both featured in the 4-4-2 formation. An offside trap catches a forward offside, so read the offside rule explained in our guide.

Full-backs and wing-backs — football positions explained

Full-backs defend the wide areas. The right-back (RB) covers the right flank, and the left-back (LB) covers the left flank. Full-backs often push forward to support attacks, cross the ball, and even score. For the full role, read our guide to what is a full-back in football.

Midfield positions: the engine room — football positions explained

Midfielders link defence and attack. This is where football positions explained gets interesting, because midfielders do more than one job. They tackle, create chances, score, and control the tempo of the match.

The Defensive Midfielder

The defensive midfielder, known as CDM, sits in front of the defence. This player is often called the “number 6”. The CDM breaks up attacks, wins the ball back, and passes it forward to start attacks.

The Central Midfielder

The central midfielder, known as CM and often the number 8, covers ground and links play. This player is a box-to-box midfielder who helps both in defence and in attack.

The Attacking Midfielder

The attacking midfielder, known as CAM and often the number 10, creates chances between the opponent’s midfield and defence. This player receives the ball in tight spaces, passes through the lines, and scores or sets up goals. Like the attacking midfielder, a playmaker is a playmaker who pulls the strings.

Wingers — football positions explained

Wingers, known as RW and LW and often wearing 7 and 11, play wide and attack the full-backs. They beat defenders, cross the ball, cut inside, and score.

Forward positions: the goalscorers — football positions explained

Forwards score and create goals. They are the last group in football positions explained, and they play nearest to the other team’s goal. The striker, or centre-forward, known as ST and often the number 9, is the main goalscorer. This player holds up the ball, brings team-mates into play, and finishes chances in the box. A second striker plays just behind the main striker. This player links the midfield and the attack and finds space to score as well. Even so, a striker who never scores still helps the team by pressing defenders and holding up the ball. For the full role, read our guide to what is a striker in football.

Football positions explained: shirt numbers and what they mean

Football positions explained through shirt numbers starts with 1 for the goalkeeper. The numbers below are based on the classic 1-11 system, which is still used today as a way to define a player’s role.

Number	Position
1	Goalkeeper
2	Right-back
3	Left-back
4	Centre-back or defensive midfielder
5	Centre-back
6	Defensive midfielder or centre-back
7	Right winger
8	Central midfielder
9	Striker
10	Attacking midfielder
11	Left winger

Modern players often keep a squad number that does not match their position, so numbers are a clue, not a rule.

Formations: where the positions sit — football positions explained

Formations are counted from the back and do not include the goalkeeper. With football positions explained, the numbers show how many players are in each line. The table of formations can get long, so we cover only the most common ones below.

• 4-4-2: four defenders, four midfielders, two strikers. Simple and balanced, with two banks of four and a strike partnership. A classic English shape.
• 4-3-3: four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards. Strong pressing and width, with wingers high up the pitch.
• 3-5-2: three centre-backs, wing-backs, three midfielders, two strikers. The wing-backs give width, and the midfield can win the ball high up the pitch.
• 4-2-3-1: four defenders, two holding midfielders, three attacking midfielders, one striker. The two holders protect the defence, while the attacking three support a lone striker.

Only the goalkeeper’s role is defined in the Laws of the Game. Every other position is a tactical choice.

How football positions change during a match — football positions explained

Football positions explained on paper never stay fixed for 90 minutes. Players swap roles, move into space, and adjust to the score. When a team is losing, wide players push higher up the pitch and the striker stays in the box. When a team is winning, midfielders sit deeper and the team defends as a unit in its own half. You can follow these changes on our free live scores page.

Football positions explained: frequently asked questions

How many players are in a football team?

A team has 11 players on the pitch: one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. Under IFAB Law 3, a match is played by two teams of 11 players, and each match has a goalkeeper.

What is the most important position in football?

No single position matters most, because a team needs all four groups. Even so, many coaches point to the goalkeeper and the striker as the hardest jobs.

What do the numbers on football shirts mean?

They are a tradition, not a rule. Number 1 is the goalkeeper, 9 is the striker, and 10 is the playmaker.

What is the best formation in football?

There is no best formation. A 4-4-2 is simple and balanced, a 4-3-3 gives width and pressing, and a 3-5-2 controls midfield. Coaches pick the shape that matches their players and the match.

Where can I find football positions explained simply?

This guide covers every role, from goalkeeper to striker, with shirt numbers and formations. Start with the Quick Answer, then read each section for your role.

Conclusion

By this point, you have football positions explained from goalkeeper to striker. You know the four groups, the shirt numbers, and the formations. Use this guide before your next match. Keep learning with our Sports News page.

Strikers score most of the goals, so read our guide to What Is a Hat-Trick in Football? Meaning and Records.

Related: Read our guide to What Is a Football Captain? The Armband Explained — what the captain does, the armband, the coin toss, the Laws and the great captains, in plain English.

Related: Read our guide to what is a playmaker in football — the number 10, the deep-lying regista, the false-10 and the great playmakers, in plain English.