What is a full-back in soccer? Duties, skills, and importance
A full-back in soccer is an essential position, sometimes called the team's backbone. Over time, the modern full-back is often expected to produce a mix of the classic defender and an attack-minded player, making this position vital in the team's overall strategy.
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The position of a full-back in soccer is often overlooked, yet it is essential and deserves considerable recognition. Full-backs shine not only when defending but also when their roles switch between defence and attack. This position is so challenging that it requires a muscular build, smartness, and agility on the player's part.
What is a full-back in soccer?
A player in this role stands in a wide position on either side of the defensive line. On these two sides, they are known as the left-back and the right-back and are mostly expected to defend a goal from the opposing team's wingers besides playing an attacking role.
These defensive and attacking positions came into being through trials. They developed into what they are today as soccer evolved over the years. Brazil reportedly used a full-back in soccer in the 1958 World Cup, with no other team using the defensive and attacking formation. The Football Meta guy shared in a YouTube podcast, stating:
The tactical evolution in football has led to full-backs being more vital than ever. The stats also backed this argument, and as you can see, full-backs are becoming more and more involved in creating and scoring goals. For large periods of football history, full-backs were usually considered the weakest.
What are the duties of full-backs?
Their primary role is to mark opposing wingers and close down space during counterattacks. These players are essential to both tactics because they contribute offensively, supporting attacks by advancing on the flanks.
To relate how underappreciated full-backs are, a former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, while bantering with Gary Neville, disparaged the whole left and right back positions. In the YouTube post, he said:
Two things for a full-back, you are either a failed winger or a failed centre-back. Nobody wants to be a full-back as a kid.
Source: Original
Who are the best full-backs ever?
Many full-backs have graced the beautiful game. They have all created history, from the great captain and all-rounder Paolo Maldini to the great free-kick specialist Roberto Carlos.
Enthusiasts may argue that Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is the greatest full-back of today; he may not compare with the legends who played before him. As Football Critic published, some of the all-time greatest full-backs include the following:
- Paolo Maldini
- Roberto Carlos
- Carlos Alberto
- Dani Alves
- Philipp Lahm
- Cafu
- Ashley Cole
- Ruud Krol
- Djalma Santos
- Lilian Thuram
Exploring centre-back vs full-back
A centre-back or central defender is a soccer position that blocks goals and helps coordinate the defence. They possess good height and a strong build and are best at heading, tackling, and intercepting.
Their roles include marking and tackling opponents to eliminate threatening balls to the goal and facilitating attacks through passing. This position is usually formed in pairs or trios to form the squad's defensive line.
The full-backs, playing in wider positions than the centre-backs, defend the wide areas and sidelines. They are usually the masterminds of countering attacks from the opposing teams' wingers. They occupy all the spaces in front of the defenders, defend, and assist in attack through crosses to their wingers.
Thanks to full-backs such as the talented Trent Alexander-Arnold, these top football players are relevant in constructing attacking moves and thus contribute much to goal-scoring.
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What is the difference between wingback and full-back?
In soccer, the main difference between a wingback and a full-back is the number of defenders in the back line. According to Coaches Voice, the wingback is a wide defender in a back five formation who provides width and support for both the attack and defence.
They are responsible for covering a lot of ground, generating passes, and making overlapping runs. A central defender provides extra defensive support to take up wider defensive positions.
As Minnesota United FC published, it is a hybrid position that combines elements of a full-back, winger, and centre midfielder. They are often some of the best footballers in the world.
However, the full-back is a wide defender in a back-four formation who provides defensive cover. Full-backs drop deeper when the wingbacks push forward to maintain a solid defensive line.
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Frequently asked questions
Soccer enthusiasts underappreciate the duties and importance of the left and right backs in soccer. This is clearly due to their little knowledge of the positions, culminating in these questions. Some of the questions about the full-back position include:
- What do full-backs do? In soccer, full-back players defend the flanks of the defence lines by assisting in both attacks and defence while making important crosses to the wingers.
- What is the difference between a defender and a full-back? The defenders generally prevent the opposing team from attacking and getting to the goal, while the full-backs play on the sides and assist with defence and attack.
- What is an inverted full-back? These help build up play with teammates in the central areas by forming passing triangles to promote effective defending and recovery.
- Who is the best full-back right now? Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is among the best full-backs right now.
A full-back in soccer remains an important position on the team, assisting with defence and attack. Although these players may not have received quite the recognition their position deserves, their contribution to the game remains solid. Coaches who understand the position are using it to exploit the game.
READ ALSO: 4-3-3 formation in soccer: Roles, strengths, and setups
As published on Briefly.co.za, the 4-3-3 soccer formation is balanced with four defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers.
A midfielder supports two advanced players, while two wide forwards flank a central striker, offering width in attack. The structure cuts across defence, midfield, and attack. Discover more about the technique.
Source: Briefly News
