Versatility is one big quality that is not often found among many players, yet it is one trait that can help a player remain relevant for a long time.
Back in the day, football players were usually restricted to one position, but the game of football has continued to evolve in ways that players are often required to play in different positions depending on the tactical needs of the manager.
Most famous football players have changed position at a point in their career.
Jack of all trades brings dynamics to the team’s tactics, allowing teams to adapt to different shapes and formations with ease.
Sometimes, players play in different positions at the club level compared to where they play at the national team level.
In this article, we will take a look at the top 11 players who can play multiple positions in 2023.
1. David Alaba
Without a doubt, David Alaba is a world-class player not just in the left-back position but even in the midfield or center-back or even as a winger, as he is sometimes called upon to do at the Austrian national team.
Alaba has demonstrated this versatility when playing for his former club side Bayern Munich and the Austrian national team.
At Bayern, he played primarily at left-back but also featured many times in the midfield or occasionally as a center-back.
He never looked out of position in any of these positions. As a central defender, he is solid; as a full-back, he is a threat even to the opposition thanks to his attacking instincts, and he is not even easily beaten defensively.
When Austria finds attacking options difficult to find, David Alaba is called upon to play upfront, and sometimes his set pieces are the difference.
2. Eduardo Camavinga
Even a TikTok addict who doesn’t follow football must have heard and seen Eduardo Camavinga as memes continue to get exaggerated about his versatility.
Camavinga is naturally a central midfielder; he can also play as a full-back or a defensive midfielder, and even some recent video clips have shown that he can fit perfectly as a goalkeeper.
The Frenchman is one of the many soccer players with dreadlocks.
3. Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich is one of the unsung heroes of the Bayern Munich team, as the player can play as a midfielder or as a defender if needed.
Kimmich is considered the new Phillipe Lahm; no wonder he is trusted to lead the team as the skipper sometimes.
When there are injury problems, and Joshua Kimmich is fit, he solves at least two vacant positions, and when he Is not available due to injury, Bayern Munich is as good as missing two players.
The German can play as a defensive midfielder and right-back.
4. Neymar
Although Neymar is one of the best frontmen football has seen, his versatility has seen him play on the wing, centre-forward position, and sometimes as a number 10.
Neymar is known for his speed and dribbling skills, which he uses to beat defenders on the wing, but his finishing skills have also forced managers to deploy him as a false center-forward.
5. Angel Di Maria
From midfield to both wings, attacking midfielder behind the striker, and even as a false 9, where else hasn’t Angel Di Maria played in his career?
Interestingly, he might lay claim to being the best utility player to have ever played the game; this is because when he was deployed as a winger, either on the right wing or the left wing, he performed very well, and as a midfielder, he never felt out of place, especially as the number 10 behind the striker.
It is interesting to note that Angel Di Maria was successfully silverware-wise in all of these positions, winning trophies almost everywhere he went.
Furthermore, the Argentine is one of the footballers with the most assists in the world, which makes him somewhat underrated.
6. Phil Foden
Phil Foden may be a youngster, but his trophy list is enviable, winning everything with Manchester City, although that is not the basis of the discussion.
Phil Foden’s identity is still being debated either as a winger or as a midfielder, the two positions where he has been shuffled around both at Manchester City and at the English national team level.
The winger broke out at City on the flanks, but Pep Guardiola’s ingenuity has seen him try out in the midfield as well.
The British media continue to argue and debate where he is best played, either in the middle of the park as an attacking midfielder, behind the striker, or on the wings as a winger.
Phil Foden is known for his versatility, work rate, technical brilliance, and superb first touch.
7. Marcos Llorente
Twenty-eight-year-old Marcos Llorente plays for Atletico Madrid and the Spanish national team. He is known for being comfortable in the right-back position and sometimes as a midfielder.
Marcus Llorente is also capable of playing in more advanced positions, such as a second striker, central or box-to-box midfielder.
On other occasions, he also played as a right wingback for Atletico Madrid, or a right back in a four-man defence for the Spanish national team.
Marco’s Llorente broke through at Real Madrid and played a couple of games for the Los Blancos before moving to join their City rivals Atletico Madrid.
There, he has racked up over 100 appearances even though he also went on loan at some point. He has also been a part of the Spanish national team since 2020.
8. James Milner
A versatile player, Milner has played in multiple positions, including on the wing, in midfield, and at full-back.
Now playing at Brighton, James Milner is often considered one of the most versatile player of all time.
Everywhere he went, from Newcastle to Manchester City, Liverpool, and now Brighton and Hove Albion, Milner has been an incredible addition to the teams he played for.
He is a top utility player who gets the job done.
9. Bernardo Silva
Looking for a silent assassin, Bernardo Silva is one, even though he plays for Manchester City and has silently been a part of the Premier League-dominating club side in the last six seasons, where he consistently features in the midfield.
Before Bernardo Silva was signed from Monaco, he was playing on the wings for the French club, and when he joined Manchester City, he almost never played for Manchester City on the wings, but rather, he was deployed in the midfield position by Pep Guardiola in a free role.
It is not surprising to see Bernardo Silva function in the middle of the park and also still stray to the right-hand side of the pitch; he can also play as false number nine.
Nonetheless, Bernardo Silva is said to be one of the best midfielders in the world by many football fans.
10. Ivan Perišić
Ivan Perišić is one of Croatia’s national team’s record goalscorers of all-time with over 30 goals, but it’s interesting to note that he even plays in the left wing-back position.
Perišić can play in any of the three positions up front, either as a right-wing, left-wing or center forward; this man can even play four different positions for Tottenham Hotspur if they decide to go with a 3-4-3 formation.
Usually deployed as a left winger, he has also featured as an attacking midfielder, second striker, or left wing-back known for his ambidexterity, which, in fact, is an aid to his versatility.
11. Ilkay Gundogan – FC Barcelona
The German international is another very versatile footballer who can play many positions especially across the middle of the park.
The FC Barcelona player usually operates as a central midfielder and on the odd occasion a defensive midfielder.
Last season with Manchester City, he featured predominately as an attacking midfielder especially when teammate Kevin De Bruyne was injured.
Gundogan flourished in that role for the Cityzens as his goals helped propel them to their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
