Rio Ferdinand wore this number as captain of both Manchester United and England. His partnership with his fellow central defender, number 4, is essential for the ‘spine’ of the team and a stable defense which does not concede goals. The number 5 Soccer position is represented by the team’s other ‘first choice’ central defender or ‘center back’. Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool is a classic modern-day example of a player who fulfills this role. This is such a pivotal role at the heart of the defense, that it is also often worn by the teams Captain or Vice-Captain. Either on the left or right side of the center of defense.

The number 4 soccer position is held by one of the team’s ‘first choice’ central defenders. Another notable player to wear the shirt was Roberto Carlos of Brazil. One of the most famous players to wear this shirt was AC Milan and Italian national legend, Paulo Maldini. The number 3 position is held by the team’s first choice ‘left back’ who plays on the left side of the defensive four. Gary Neville, now a respected soccer pundit also famously wore it during his career at Manchester United. One of the most famous players to wear this shirt was the legendary Cafu of Brazil. In a standard Soccer eleven, this position is held by the first choice ‘right back’ who plays on the right side of the defensive four. More modern famous goalkeepers include Peter Schmeichel of Manchester United as well as the Juventus and Italian national keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Gordon Banks of Englands’ 1966 World Cup winning side is usually cited as the greatest goalkeeper of all time. However, a good goal keeper does more than that – he marshals his defensive back 4 and constantly talks to them in order to help them act as a unit and prevent the opposition from scoring. His job is obviously to stop the ball going in the ‘back of the net’. The number 1 shirt in a ‘first eleven’ is always worn by the best or ‘first choice’ goalkeeper or ‘goalie’ for a particular side. This will help those new to the game understand the basics from which the modern game, its soccer positions and formations have evolved. In the following article, I will detail each soccer players’ number, corresponding soccer position and role on the field, as well as link them with an internationally renowned player or players who have represented that number. That’s 4 players in defense, 4 players in midfield and 2 players ‘upfront’ as forwards. The ‘classic eleven‘ players of a soccer team were numbered 1-11 and played in a 4-4-2 formation. In order to understand modern Soccer and the different positional numbers that have evolved, it is first necessary to look at a traditional Soccer ‘eleven’. Your basic guide to soccer positions and soccer numbers

Number of soccer positions