Any modern-day footballer will tell you that one of the hardest things to do is to master and excel in any given position on the pitch. Even much harder is changing your previous position to a new one and still excelling.
Nonetheless, some talented football players have been able to switch positions successfully and perform tremendously.
There are a few reasons why footballers might have to change their positions. A player might have to change positions at the request of his manager to fill in for an injured player or for tactical reasons to bring the best out of them.
Today, we look at a few of these extraordinary gentlemen who did just that and defied the odds to continue producing world-class performances despite changing positions.
Here are seven of the best soccer players who changed positions.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese legend is arguably one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time, but he started out initially as a right-winger.
At Sporting Lisbon and his first few seasons at Manchester United, Ronaldo was mostly known for his pace, trickery, and skills. He could also score the odd goal but mostly operated on the wings.
Back then, the soccer legend primarily operated as a traditional winger, often positioned on the right side of the midfield.
Towards the end of his first stint at Old Trafford, Cristiano started scoring goals regularly, which led to former coach Sir Alex Ferguson deploying him in a more centre-forward position.
His transfer to Real Madrid saw him transform into a center-forward full-time, and he’s been banging in goals ever since.
At Real Madrid, managers Manuel Pellegrini and José Mourinho strategically deployed him as a center forward, albeit in a flexible tactical role.
This positioning enabled him to freely roam into the center to capitalize on crosses and create scoring opportunities.
Now at Al Nassr, he is one of the best players in the Saudi Pro League, and plays as an out-and-out striker.
2. Yaya Touré
The former Ivorian international started out his career mostly in the defensive midfield role, especially during his time with Greek side Olympiacos and Spanish giants FC Barcelona.
At Camp Nou, he established himself as one of the league’s best defensive midfielders.
Occasionally, due to injuries, he also played in defense. His transfer to English side Manchester City completely changed his trajectory.
He was given more license to good forward and attack at the Etihad. Toure completely adapted his game to become more of a central box-to-box midfielder. This led to him scoring and assisting more goals.
3. Javier Mascherano
The Argentinian was known for his defensive midfield work early in his career with West Ham and Liverpool.
Mascherano excelled very well when called to play as cover in defense. Eventually, the former UEFA Champions League winner would master the centre-back role and continue to operate in defense for the rest of his career.
He played as a centre-back when he joined Barcelona and subsequently for the Argentine national team.
What more interesting about Mascherano was that even though he primarily player as either a holding midfielder or central defender throughout his career, he has also been deployed as a right-back or even as a box-to-box or central midfielder at times.
4. Gareth Bale
The Welsh captain started out as a left fullback during his time with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning.
Spurs managers noticed his ability to get forward and join the attack. His blistering pace and dribbling ability to wreak havoc on the opposition saw him get retained in that position for the rest of his time in North London.
Bale would later join Real Madrid, where he would continue to excel in the wing position and become one of the best in the world.
5. Joshua Kimmich
The Bayern and Germany player started out as a right-back. Still, over the past couple of years, he has begun to establish himself as an accomplished defensive/central midfielder due to his playmaking ability and ability to create chances for his teammates.
Right now he is one of the top defensive midfielders in the world has also been deployed as a right-back.
He has also been utilized as a makeshift center-back at times, as well as a central midfielder or even a deep-lying playmaker, owing to his capability to influence the flow of play in midfield.
It seems he will be playing in the midfield role for the foreseeable future.
6. Thierry Henry
Henry began his career as a winger but was changed to play as a striker under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Initially, doubts were raised about his ability to adjust to a striking position in the quick and physical English game after he failed to score in his first eight games.
Even Henry himself conceded that he had to “be re-taught everything about the art of striking.” Nonetheless, the Frenchman dispelled those doubts and became a prolific striker for Arsenal.
He is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 228 goals in all competitions and won the Premier League Golden Boot a record four times.
7. Antonio Valencia
The now retired footballer is among the most underrated footballers ever. Valencia initially played as a right-winger when he joined Manchester United.
However, under manager Louis van Gaal, Valencia was deployed to both the right-back and right-wing back positions.
He played in that position under a few managers and was called the ‘best right-back in the world’ by Jose Mourinho.
8. Sergio Ramos
When he initially joined Real Madrid, Ramos operated as a center back and was occasionally deployed as an emergency defensive midfielder.
However, with the arrival of Christoph Metzelder and Pepe in the 2007–08 season, he was once more shifted to the right-back position.
In truth, he played as a right-back for Sevilla before joining Madrid and continued as a right-back with them.
However, the arrival of Jose Mourinho cemented his place as a centre-back.
As a centre-back, Ramos has earned the reputation for being the most hated, most aggressive, and most red-carded football player.
9. Sergi Roberto
The Barcelona player has played more times as a right-back than as a midfielder, a position where he originally intended to play.
It was under Luis Enrique that he was converted to a right-back. A position he has since thrived in.
Nonetheless, Roberto is one of the most versatile players in football. In fact, during the 2015–16 season, under the management of Luis Enrique, he showcased his versatility by playing in seven different positions for Barcelona.
10. Alphonso Davies
Throughout his time at Vancouver Whitecaps, Alphonso Davies played as a left-winger.
However, under coach Niko Kovač in the 2019/20 season, Davies was moved to the left back position, after long-term injuries to teammates Niklas Süle and Lucas Hernandez, as well as to allow David Alaba to play at centre back.
Time has passed and Davies become one of the best left backs in the world.
The Canadian soccer legend has made the position his own, even bringing his attacking flair to the position.
Due to his explosive pace, dribbling skills, creativity, and crossing ability, Davies has the capability to perform as a wing-back, left midfielder, or winger.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
- Oscar de Marcos — Midfielder to Full-back
- Gianluca Zambrotta – Winger to Full Back
- Jordi Alba — Winger to Left-back
- Bastian Schweinsteiger — Winger to Central Midfielder
- Ryan Giggs — Left Winger to Central Midfielder
- Philipp Lahm — Full Back to Defensive Midfielder
- John Obi Mikel — Attacking Midfielder to Holding Midfielder
- Victor Moses — Winger to Right Wing-back
- Gareth Barry — Left-back to Holding Midfielder
- Ronald Araujo — Striker to Centre-back.
