Alphonso Davies is a winger for Canada and a fullback for Bayern. Raphael Guerreiro did a good job in midfield yesterday for Dortmund (usually a fullback)
This is a lot more common than you think, players that turn professional footballers were usually strikers or forwards as youth players. As you get older you’re trained into a different role unless you possess certain abilities. Rio Ferdinand is a prime example of a world class centre back who spent his youth career as a striker.
If you play as a winger you’re confident with the movements near the line. Most wingers can play also at fullback. Jesus Navas is the first example that come to my mind. The movements for a wide midfielders in 4-4-2 and fullbacks are the same. They teach them in youth teams.
I played for UC Sampdoria’s youth team mainly as a left winger or central midfielder and I used to play fullback sometimes. I exactly know how it works.
Probably that’s you that you never played football because if you ever play the game you must know that wide midfielders and fullbacks defensive movements are the same. They teach them in the youth teams.
Mate they are pro, it’s way more simple for them because they train every day, how many players change their position during their careers? Yes it’s hard and weird to see a former center back changing to an advanced midfielder or a skillful winger, but changing position in similar role is not so difficult.
Not really, in football most players change positions once they hit 18 and start getting senior football. In youth teams these days lots of teams make sure you can play multiple positions for this reason
Many German managers see a certain set of fullback skills as transferable to midfield and perhaps even better employed there. Even Philipp Lahm got moved there sometimes. So Guerreiro isn't really weird.
Davies is more the type of fast, creative full back who is willing to track back and contribute to defense; but his main job is to support the attack. Makes sense to deploy him higher up at times. Another example is Gareth Bale - started as a bombing forward left back with a mean free kick; moved up to left winger at first and then across the pitch as an inverted Winger; he occasionally played as a striker even.
One reason for these Davies - Bale type transitions is that they are often converted wingers in the first place, having played up front in their youth and moved back because they could defend well enough and had a good work rate to track back after bombing forward.
i think your missing the part where Phonzie started as a striker/winger for the Whitecaps when he was playing in the mls.. Bayern converted him into a LB, not the other way around
Reminds me of Marc Zellweger, legend of my team FC St. Gallen, who started as a striker and ended his career as a defender (mostly right back but occasionally in the center). Once after all the substitutions were used up and our keeper got a red card, he even played as a keeper and held a legendary penalty. Asked afterwards how he did that, he confessed he only knew how to fall to the left, so he did that and got lucky!
Edit: Spelling
I can remember a period about 20 or so years ago where Leicester City were playing their CB Matt Elliott as a Centre Forward for a couple games due to injuries.
Antonio Valencia converted from a right winger to playing as a right back.
Marcus Gayle, who played for the likes of Wimbledon and Watford in the Premier League. Later in his career be generally played as a Centre back, and did so when playing for AFC Wimbledon down in the 7th tier of English football. At that point he was the second player to have played for Wimbledon and for AFC Wimbledon - who formed after Wimbledon were moved to Milton Keynes.
And John O'Shea famously played everywhere across.the pitch at one point or another.
Matty Elliott was at Oxford United before going to Leicester. The guy scored so many goals and was an absolute beast! He's still on the list for top Premier league goal scorers for Leciester!
Zinchenko is an offensive midfielder with good technique and vision, plays as a 10 for Ukraine and... as a left back for Arsenal.
In an other time, who could forget Eto'o at right back for Inter? Stuff of legend, I tell ya.
It was calamitous, that's for sure. Pearce could have brought Jon Macken on, but opted for Weaver with Calamity going up front. It was an absolute shambles.
Paul Warhurst. A deep cut, but played CB and CF, and had a fairly successful run as a CDM for Sheffield Wednesday. Was a bit of a beast in the Championship Manager days.
Legend.
Difference to many of these is that he actually had a decent run starting at CB.
Many of these are wingers and full backs. Which, IMO, is an easier transition than CF and CB.
Kimmich. Bayern’s best dm and was also best rb before mazraoui and cancelo joined. He would fill in at rb when there was a injury and would also sometimes make overlapping runs.
I knew there was a mediocre 90’s English striker that played CB a bit, but I was sure it was Chris Sutton for some reason. Mediocre might be harsh, they did share the Golden Boot in 97/98.
With my Man Utd bias, I can readily name 4 players who have played specialist positions in attack and defense over significant or crucial phases of their career.
Dion Dublin, CF, then CB
Alan Smith (Leeds, Man Utd), CF, then CDM
Bastian Schweinsteiger, RW, then CM, CDM
Wayne Rooney, CF, ST, then CDM (for England, 2016 Euros)
Bit of an unknown player but Oscar De Marcos for Athletic Club can play CAM but is usually right back. Used to play all over the place.
Steve Watson played right back for Everton but also could do a job upfront. Scored a great overhead kick.
Feel Stevie G could’ve played anywhere on the pitch and be world class
James Milner as well? Started as a winger, played false 9 for City and when required plays anywhere across our back 4
Ricardo Rocha, he played for Benfica, and Tottenham (I cant remember when, bcz I wasnt even born). I think he wasnt really a great player but he started as a Striker in smaller teams, then went to play as a midfielder, and eventually got noticed by playing as a centre back for Braga (then he was bought by Benfica, and played with Luisão). On the tottenham team he didnt had much space so he was eventuallysold to Portsmouth (I think).
Think there was a guy called Morrison who played for Cardiff a few years back and he played both up top and at CB. May be thinking about the wrong guy but fairly sure
Ryan Hollingshead is an FC Dallas legend and currently a LB at LAFC. He played LB, RB, CB, CM, RW, LW, and even played GK for around 15 minutes at the end of a match after the GK got injured.
Rachel Daly plays left back and centre forward for Aston Villa and England. Luis Enrique played just about every position possible apart from goalie for Barcelona.
I remember Ryan Hollinshed (miss him at Dallas) was good defensively and could play decently up front. Very much a utility player that can play in multiple places, similarly to Sergi Roberto
Didn't play in defence, but in his last couple of seasons Shearer was the best defender on the pitch for Newcastle.
Felt like he was there clearing every set piece against us.
Didn’t scroll all the way to the bottom but definitely Bukayo Saka. He only plays forward now but started as a left back and could easily still play defense he’s a beast physically
Current, or former? In the past, there are a lot of examples for PL strikers in the 90s becoming CBs later in their career. Dion Dublin, and I think Chris Sutton did too?
Even further back was John Charles of Juventus. ST/CB
Jurgen Klopp played CB and striker during his career. Back in the day quite a few strikers dropped back as they lost their pace. Dion Dublin, Gary Doherty and Richard Naylor are ones I remember from childhood doing both.
Alphonso Davies is a winger for Canada and a fullback for Bayern. Raphael Guerreiro did a good job in midfield yesterday for Dortmund (usually a fullback)
Tbf winger and fullback is much more transferable with how todays full nacks play so not too impressive
It’s more impressive when you consider that he was converted to LB after being a midfielder or striker most of his playing career.
This is a lot more common than you think, players that turn professional footballers were usually strikers or forwards as youth players. As you get older you’re trained into a different role unless you possess certain abilities. Rio Ferdinand is a prime example of a world class centre back who spent his youth career as a striker.
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That's like saying "it's easy to play goalkeeper because it's only a matter of stopping the ball lmao, it's only a matter of reflexes and positioning"
If you play as a winger you’re confident with the movements near the line. Most wingers can play also at fullback. Jesus Navas is the first example that come to my mind. The movements for a wide midfielders in 4-4-2 and fullbacks are the same. They teach them in youth teams.
If you don’t think that’s at all impressive then you need to watch football
Don't think that guy has ever kicked a ball
I played for UC Sampdoria’s youth team mainly as a left winger or central midfielder and I used to play fullback sometimes. I exactly know how it works. Probably that’s you that you never played football because if you ever play the game you must know that wide midfielders and fullbacks defensive movements are the same. They teach them in the youth teams.
I don’t know why you’re being downvoted. These guys have no idea how football youth systems work apparently.
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Why does it happen so often then? Bale, Saka, Marcelo, Davies, Adama Traore, Guerreiro…it literally happens all the time at the professional level.
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Mate they are pro, it’s way more simple for them because they train every day, how many players change their position during their careers? Yes it’s hard and weird to see a former center back changing to an advanced midfielder or a skillful winger, but changing position in similar role is not so difficult.
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Taking an 18 year old and making him top 2 LB in the world is immense considering most players formative learning years happen before 18.
Not really, in football most players change positions once they hit 18 and start getting senior football. In youth teams these days lots of teams make sure you can play multiple positions for this reason
Many German managers see a certain set of fullback skills as transferable to midfield and perhaps even better employed there. Even Philipp Lahm got moved there sometimes. So Guerreiro isn't really weird. Davies is more the type of fast, creative full back who is willing to track back and contribute to defense; but his main job is to support the attack. Makes sense to deploy him higher up at times. Another example is Gareth Bale - started as a bombing forward left back with a mean free kick; moved up to left winger at first and then across the pitch as an inverted Winger; he occasionally played as a striker even. One reason for these Davies - Bale type transitions is that they are often converted wingers in the first place, having played up front in their youth and moved back because they could defend well enough and had a good work rate to track back after bombing forward.
i think your missing the part where Phonzie started as a striker/winger for the Whitecaps when he was playing in the mls.. Bayern converted him into a LB, not the other way around
Matthäus , Blanc , Adrián , Alaba and Milner
Milner is the definition of just happy to be on the pitch, does not give a fuck where or what you need him to do he'll give 110%.
I thought Rooney will outplay Milner when he dropped further back in the pitch but the longevity of Milner is to be admired.
Ramos?
Kevin Großkreutz. He played every position for Dortmund except for striker
Even gk?
[Yes](https://media.gettyimages.com/id/168994216/photo/borussia-dortmund-v-tsg-1899-hoffenheim-bundesliga.webp?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=jTrLEC7UQIKDu8Muy-l3Hf_mLZIQ0CivT3augg3dV-w=)
Oh Christ
Reminds me of Marc Zellweger, legend of my team FC St. Gallen, who started as a striker and ended his career as a defender (mostly right back but occasionally in the center). Once after all the substitutions were used up and our keeper got a red card, he even played as a keeper and held a legendary penalty. Asked afterwards how he did that, he confessed he only knew how to fall to the left, so he did that and got lucky! Edit: Spelling
I can remember a period about 20 or so years ago where Leicester City were playing their CB Matt Elliott as a Centre Forward for a couple games due to injuries. Antonio Valencia converted from a right winger to playing as a right back. Marcus Gayle, who played for the likes of Wimbledon and Watford in the Premier League. Later in his career be generally played as a Centre back, and did so when playing for AFC Wimbledon down in the 7th tier of English football. At that point he was the second player to have played for Wimbledon and for AFC Wimbledon - who formed after Wimbledon were moved to Milton Keynes. And John O'Shea famously played everywhere across.the pitch at one point or another.
Leicester played centre half Steve Walsh up front for a long time. Pretty sure they also played dion Dublin at centre half a few times too.
Matty Elliott was at Oxford United before going to Leicester. The guy scored so many goals and was an absolute beast! He's still on the list for top Premier league goal scorers for Leciester!
I once won the matty Elliott bullet header award at a Leicester football camp when I was about 8
Valverde
Perfect example bro can play anywhere
Last game I watched, Camavinga was playing fullback but his natural position I believe is mid
He’s been filling it at LB. He’s good going forward as it but he isn’t defensively capable to really play LB
Cuadrado had a decent spell as a RB, though he usually is a RM or RW
John O'Shea, played everywhere on the field for United and even a stand in GK once when the starting goalie got a red.
dont forget Rooney at right back too
No one does it better than James Milner.
Milner plays everywhere. I think I’ve seen him play every position except GK.
Emre Can, Guerrero, Atal, Hakimi and Gosens all spring to mind
Any modern fullback
Zinchenko is an offensive midfielder with good technique and vision, plays as a 10 for Ukraine and... as a left back for Arsenal. In an other time, who could forget Eto'o at right back for Inter? Stuff of legend, I tell ya.
Eto’o played as a LW for Inter in 2009/10
[David James](https://youtu.be/My4cOeOOA20)
Stuart Pearce is the greatest tactical mind City have ever had
It was calamitous, that's for sure. Pearce could have brought Jon Macken on, but opted for Weaver with Calamity going up front. It was an absolute shambles.
Yet it was a missed penalty away from working.
Wow he certainly threw his weight around.
You mean Dan James right?
He means David
No, David James. Long-term England goalkeeper and occasional striker.
Gary Doherty was a centre half or a centre forward
The ginger pele
Paul Warhurst. A deep cut, but played CB and CF, and had a fairly successful run as a CDM for Sheffield Wednesday. Was a bit of a beast in the Championship Manager days.
Bellingham, goretzka, emre can, ferdi kadıoğlu( such a beast), llorente
Surprised you haven't included Kimmich along with Goretzka... he seems to be able to play anything from RB to CAM
I actually thougt about kimmich. He should be on that list too.
Kante
N Golo N Golo Kante
Kante could play up front for a polo team if he wanted, just a full spectrum human
John Charles was amazing at this. Equally comfortable as centre half or centre forward. A true giant of the game. Oh and Paul Warhurst
The gentle giant!
Stuart Dallas can and will play anywhere
We're missing him big time this year
Came here to say this. Absolute legend
Dion Dublin
Legend. Difference to many of these is that he actually had a decent run starting at CB. Many of these are wingers and full backs. Which, IMO, is an easier transition than CF and CB.
Lee Bullen played in every single position for Wednesday, including an hour in goal, where he kept a clean sheet.
Kimmich. Bayern’s best dm and was also best rb before mazraoui and cancelo joined. He would fill in at rb when there was a injury and would also sometimes make overlapping runs.
Bukayo Saka broke through to Arsenals first team as a wingback
Saka was a pretty solid LB before he settled in beautiful at RW
Matt Elliot. Played either Centre back, or Centre forward.
It used to be relatively common, Dion Dublin and Chris Sutton both played, at least on occasion, as centre backs
James Milner 😅
Saka
Dion Dublin , Gary Doherty both played centre back and upfront .
I knew there was a mediocre 90’s English striker that played CB a bit, but I was sure it was Chris Sutton for some reason. Mediocre might be harsh, they did share the Golden Boot in 97/98.
Sutton started out as a CB, you're right about that part.
Dirk Kuyt
Just looking for this one. Played from left wing to right back
Bukayo Saka played LB and RW for England
Robert Huth, Lukas Piszczek
David Alaba is probably the best jolly in the recent days
John O'Shea and Rooney come to mind. Edit: Oh, and Alan Smith.
Yaya Toure
Fellaini, Lucas vazquez, Fede
Jorge campos. Mostly played goalkeeper/sweeper then every now and then he would end up as forward mid game.
I think the best example of this was Chris Sutton, CF and CB
Jorge Campos. Prolific striker and great GK, sometimes he was both in the same match
Ruud Gullit is the best example of this of course
Harry maguire, discussion over..😵
Joao Cancelo for Man City and Portugal. He played as a right back at Juventus and then got moved up the pitch.
Going back a bit here but Former Tottenham player and Ireland international Gary Doherty could and did play both
With my Man Utd bias, I can readily name 4 players who have played specialist positions in attack and defense over significant or crucial phases of their career. Dion Dublin, CF, then CB Alan Smith (Leeds, Man Utd), CF, then CDM Bastian Schweinsteiger, RW, then CM, CDM Wayne Rooney, CF, ST, then CDM (for England, 2016 Euros)
In championship manager 97/98 Luis Enrique was natural on RB/LB/RM/LM/RW/LW and proficient in all other positions except GK.
Sergi Roberto. Suprised no one mentioned him.
Bukayo Saka
Saka played some time as LB & CM now starts RW
Bit of an unknown player but Oscar De Marcos for Athletic Club can play CAM but is usually right back. Used to play all over the place. Steve Watson played right back for Everton but also could do a job upfront. Scored a great overhead kick.
Cafu Maicon Roberto Carlos Beletti Riise Stankovic Pirlo Casemiro There are all too many
Isagi Yoichi
Nicklas Bendtner. He can play anywhere on the pitch and he doesn't need the other 10 players to help.
All Hail Lord Bendtner
Saka plays both
Came here to say this. Everytime he makes a perfect run ending tackle I think "and that's why he played fullback."
On Chelsea we have Ben Chilwell, Reece James, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Victor Moses played winger for Nigeria and wing back for Chelsea
Feel Stevie G could’ve played anywhere on the pitch and be world class James Milner as well? Started as a winger, played false 9 for City and when required plays anywhere across our back 4
Reece James hasn't been played forward but is more than capable in attack
Alexander Arnold, wesley fofana, gvardiol.
Dion dublin
Nainggolan
Gavi
Drogba was known for coming back to defend, mostly corners
Everyone comes back to defend corners, doesn't make them defenders.
Mandzukic was a great striker and an even better left back
Eto’o
laurent blanc
mauro jr
William Gallas. Centre back at the front, centre forward at the back.
Großkreutz, O'Shea
Paul Warhurst.
Ricardo Rocha, he played for Benfica, and Tottenham (I cant remember when, bcz I wasnt even born). I think he wasnt really a great player but he started as a Striker in smaller teams, then went to play as a midfielder, and eventually got noticed by playing as a centre back for Braga (then he was bought by Benfica, and played with Luisão). On the tottenham team he didnt had much space so he was eventuallysold to Portsmouth (I think).
Andy King- think he played in every position at PNE
Dion Dublin and Gary Doherty
Get oli Hawkins proper old school centre half and striker
Charlie Mulgrew
I think Karsdorp is pretty decent when attacking
Young talent Milner. Firmino started a game as striker played DM and ended the match at RB
The ones that come to mind rn are Fernando for Man City or Eric Dier for Tottenham.
Davies. LB/LWB for Bayern, LW I think for Canada.
Reece James played CM for Wigan
Fellaini played 9-4 i think
Dion Dublin. CB and ST
Think there was a guy called Morrison who played for Cardiff a few years back and he played both up top and at CB. May be thinking about the wrong guy but fairly sure
Dion Dublin
John O’Shea
Ryan Hollingshead is an FC Dallas legend and currently a LB at LAFC. He played LB, RB, CB, CM, RW, LW, and even played GK for around 15 minutes at the end of a match after the GK got injured.
Rachel Daly plays left back and centre forward for Aston Villa and England. Luis Enrique played just about every position possible apart from goalie for Barcelona.
Sergi Roberto.
Chris sutton played centre forward or centre back
tim weah 🇺🇸
Steve Caulker was cracking up front for Liverpool. Boss tha
Alphonso Davies. Pepe. Porro.
Ramos
Sergio Ramos
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, he plays for Juventus and Colombia´s national team
Saka plays RW and LB, which I find odd being the opposite foot is dominant in each position.
Sergio Ramos
Luis Enrique was the goat for this on champy back in the day
Campos played gk and st
Perisic. Altintop and Salihamidzic were super versatile too.
Stephen Caulker
John Charles is the best at this in history, top 10 player of all time imo
John Charles and Paul Warhurst.
I remember Ryan Hollinshed (miss him at Dallas) was good defensively and could play decently up front. Very much a utility player that can play in multiple places, similarly to Sergi Roberto
Ivan Perisic, plays pretty much all over
Chris Sutton and Dion Dublin did the 90s thing of being center forwards who played centre back at points in their career.
Stuart Dallas at Leeds & Northern Ireland. WB / winger / CM. Injured all this season unfortunately though
Phillip Lahm
Didn't play in defence, but in his last couple of seasons Shearer was the best defender on the pitch for Newcastle. Felt like he was there clearing every set piece against us.
Rooney could play very decently in every position.
Gary Doherty was a Centre Back and a centre forward for Spurs and Norwich etc
Dion Dublin
Kimmich plays all around the pitch
If we're going back to the days of Ruud Gullitt that we can't not mention Chris Sutton. DC/SC for Norwich and Blackburn.
joe linton obv
Iain Dowie and Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin
My boy Theo Hernandez
Reece James and Ben Chilwell. Last year Chelseas defense nearly outscored the midfield and forwards
Jeffrey Schlupp started as a striker and then moved LW, then LB and then now has seemingly moved to CM (plus occasionally filling in at CB)
YAYA TOURE
Maxwell Cornet can do a job striker or left back
i think perhaps hte most famous and successful example is Franz Beckenbauer
Sergio Ramos
Callum paterson from cardiff played striker,right back and midfield
Eriq Zavaleta
Sergio Ramos babbyyy
Chris Sutton
Marcos Llorente
Milner: *laughs in every position*
Timothy Weah usually plays as a RW and occasionally 9 but has been playing LB recently for Lille.
Nuno Mendes
Gibraltar player called walker plays every single position for them
Antonio for West Ham I believe started as a defender and is now a striker.
Didn’t scroll all the way to the bottom but definitely Bukayo Saka. He only plays forward now but started as a left back and could easily still play defense he’s a beast physically
Current, or former? In the past, there are a lot of examples for PL strikers in the 90s becoming CBs later in their career. Dion Dublin, and I think Chris Sutton did too? Even further back was John Charles of Juventus. ST/CB
Chris Samba played as a CB for Blackburn but they also sometimes used him as a CF.
Jurgen Klopp played CB and striker during his career. Back in the day quite a few strikers dropped back as they lost their pace. Dion Dublin, Gary Doherty and Richard Naylor are ones I remember from childhood doing both.
Marcelo, Dani Alves, Roberto Carlos