Position
A midfielder positioned just in front of the back four, tasked with breaking up play and recycling possession.
The CDM (or "number 6") sits in front of the defence. In possession he is the first outlet from the centre-backs; out of possession he screens passing lanes into the 10 and tackles in the half-space.
Great number 6s combine positional awareness with short, accurate passing. Busquets, Rodri and Casemiro are the archetypes.
In a 4-3-3 the CDM stands alone; in a 4-2-3-1 he pairs with another number 6 in a double pivot.
Discover
Goalkeeper (GK)
The only player allowed to use hands inside their penalty area, and the last line of defence.
Centre-back (CB)
One of two (or three) central defenders responsible for stopping the opposing striker.
Full-back (LB / RB)
Defenders on the left or right of the back four who provide width and attacking support.
Wing-back (LWB / RWB)
A full-back in a back-three system who provides width on both sides of the pitch, end to end.
Central midfielder (CM)
A midfielder playing between the defensive and attacking thirds, balancing creation and recovery.
Box-to-box midfielder (B2B)
A midfielder who contributes in both penalty boxes, covering ground at high intensity throughout the game.
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