Defensive Midfielder
A strictly defensive midfielder who sits deep between the defensive lines, breaking up play and playing simple passes. Unlike the Holding Midfielder, they rarely venture from their zone.
Casemiro (Real Madrid, 2017/18) - Managed by Zinedine Zidane
An aggressive midfielder tasked with closing down opponents, winning tackles, and regaining possession. They cover large amounts of ground to break up opposition attacks.
N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea FC, 2020/21) - Managed by Thomas Tuchel
A physically dynamic midfielder operating from deep who breaks up play in defense and arrives late in the opposition box.
Arturo Vidal (Juventus, 2014/15) - Managed by Massimiliano Allegri
A deep-lying playmaker with physical mobility who roams across the pitch to collect the ball and drive transitions forward.
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, 2013/14) - Managed by Carlo Ancelotti
Positioned right in front of the defense to initiate attacks through precise long and short passing while controlling match tempo.
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, 2011/12) - Managed by José Mourinho
Standard defensive anchor responsible for screening the backline, tackling, breaking up play, and distributing simple passes.
Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona, 2014/15) - Managed by Luis Enrique
Drops extremely deep when out of possession to form a temporary extra defensive line, shielding the box against opposition surges.
Fabinho (Liverpool FC, 2019/20) - Managed by Jürgen Klopp
Drops between the centre-backs during the build-up phase to form a back three, allowing the full-backs to push high up the pitch like wingers.
Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona, 2010/11) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
A disciplined defensive anchor who screens the back four, intercepts passes, and covers lateral spaces. Their job is to maintain structural balance and recycle possession simply.
Claude Makélélé (Chelsea FC, 2004/05) - Managed by José Mourinho
Operates deep in front of the defense, demanding the ball to dictate the tempo and direction of play. They rely on vision and passing range rather than physicality to control the game.
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus FC, 2011/12) - Managed by Antonio Conte
Focuses entirely on cutting passing lanes to opposition attackers in the hole, blocking central play without stepping out to tackle agressively.
Fernandinho (Manchester City, 2018/19) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
A hybrid defensive midfielder who combines defensive tenacity with late, surging runs into the box. They protect the defense but also offer a direct goal threat.
Patrick Vieira (Arsenal, 2003/04) - Managed by Arsène Wenger
Central Midfielder
Positions themselves in central areas to receive the ball and create chances. They are the team's creative hub, looking to unlock defenses with killer passes.
Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, 2017/18) - Managed by Zinedine Zidane
An offensive central midfielder who drives forward into the final third, offering late goalscoring runs and creative final passes.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 2017/18) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
A dynamic midfielder who impacts the game in both penalty boxes. They require immense stamina to break up attacks in defense and arrive late in the box to score goals.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC, 2004/05) - Managed by Rafael Benítez
The 'shuttler' who covers the lateral channels of the midfield. They link play horizontally and cover the space left behind by attacking full-backs or wide midfielders.
Blaise Matuidi (Juventus, 2016/17) - Managed by Massimiliano Allegri
An all-around central midfielder who balances distribution, defensive recovery, and tactical support across the middle third.
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City, 2022/23) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
A central midfielder who makes aggressive runs into wide areas (channels) to stretch the defense, cross, or create overloads for the winger.
Ángel Di María (Real Madrid, 2013/14) - Managed by Carlo Ancelotti
Operates in central midfield but drops deep to collect the ball from the defense and dictate play. Offers a creative outlet from a protected position higher than a Regista.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, 2016/17) - Managed by Zinedine Zidane
A central midfielder who drifts into the half-spaces (between the center and the wing) to overload wide areas and support the attackers, often operating effectively as a wide playmaker.
Andrés Iniesta (FC Barcelona, 2008/09) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
Controls tempo from the middle third, balancing safe retention with penetrative vertical passes without over-committing forward.
Xavi Hernández (FC Barcelona, 2010/11) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
Intense, physically demanding midfielder who harasses opponents in central zones to trigger turnovers and disrupt opponents' build-up.
Gavi (FC Barcelona, 2022/23) - Managed by Xavi
Given the license to roam the pitch to find the ball. They drive the team forward with ball-carrying ability and passing, popping up wherever they can influence the game most.
Yaya Touré (Manchester City, 2013/14) - Managed by Manuel Pellegrini
Positionally disciplined midfielder who holds his ground in central midfield to cut off passing lanes and protect defenders.
Sergio Busquets (Spain, 2010) - Managed by Vicente del Bosque
A central midfielder in a 3-man midfield who specifically covers wide zones to assist the full-back and link up with the winger.
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan, 2020/21) - Managed by Antonio Conte
Wide Midfielder
Wide midfielder who cuts inside into central areas with the ball to combine with midfielders or shoot, creating overlap space.
Robert Pires (Arsenal, 2003/04) - Managed by Arsène Wenger
Wide midfielder who acts as the primary passer and play-creator from wide zones, preferring technical distribution over raw speed.
Koke (Atlético Madrid, 2013/14) - Managed by Diego Simeone
Hard-working wide player who drops back religiously to assist full-backs and form a compact defensive bank of four.
Ji-Sung Park (Manchester United, 2007/08) - Managed by Sir Alex Ferguson
The classic wide player in a four-man midfield. They balance defensive duties with attacking support, hugging the touchline to provide width and crosses.
David Beckham (Manchester United, 1998/99) - Managed by Sir Alex Ferguson
Stays higher up the touchline when defending, acting as an immediate escape pass for quick counter-attacks upon turnover.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur, 2012/13) - Managed by André Villas-Boas
Attacking Midfielder
Plays in the hole behind the striker, focusing on finding pockets of space between the lines to receive the ball and thread the final pass.
Mesut Özil (Real Madrid, 2011/12) - Managed by José Mourinho
Versatile playmaker operating behind the main striker, offering creativity, movement between lines, and long-range shooting capabilities.
Thomas Müller (FC Bayern Munich, 2012/13) - Managed by Jupp Heynckes
Positions centrally in transition to quickly collect the ball upon turnover and launch counter-attacks forward.
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, 2020/21) - Managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Operates high up the pitch in the attacking midfield line, specifically targeting the half-spaces. Dynamically drifts wide to create overloads with the winger or cuts inside to deliver lethal crosses and key passes, combining the creativity of a number 10 with the movement of a wide playmaker.
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 2022/23) - Managed by Pep Guardiola
The traditional South American 'hook' who bridges the gap between midfield and attack. Operating as a relatively static pivot in the final third, they rely on teammates to create dynamic movements around them while orchestrating play with unmatched technical precision.
Juan Román Riquelme (Boca Juniors, 2000) - Managed by Carlos Bianchi
An attacking conductor given complete positional freedom to roam across all offensive zones and orchestrate attacks wherever space opens up.
Isco (Real Madrid, 2016/17) - Managed by Zinedine Zidane
Operates behind the main striker but acts as a primary goalscorer. They make aggressive runs into the box when the striker drops deep or moves wide.
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur, 2016/17) - Managed by Mauricio Pochettino
Makes immediate vertical runs into the channel between opposition central defenders when possession is regained.
Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen, 2019/20) - Managed by Peter Bosz
Defensive number 10 who drops deep out of possession to mark the opposing deep playmaker and solidify the central midfield structure.
Oscar (Chelsea FC, 2014/15) - Managed by José Mourinho
Operates in the hole between midfield and attack with zero defensive responsibilities. They drift around to find space and use their technical brilliance to create goals.
Diego Maradona (Napoli, 1986/87) - Managed by Ottavio Bianchi