Player Roles guide how every player thinks, behaves, and moves off the ball. From Goalkeepers to Strikers, each position has specific Roles and Focuses that dictate player behavior, both with and without the ball.
Furthermore, Role Familiarity is designed to emphasize the importance of player expertise in their respective Roles. Familiarity adds an extra layer of strategy to squad selection, with the goal of encouraging players to consider not only the position but also the specific Role a player excels in. Role Familiarity is indicated by a Role++ or Role+.
While a Role dictates the primary responsibilities of the player, the Focus is a modifier upon the Role that enables you to tweak one or two characteristics of it slightly.
Below, all roles per position are described, and you can find players with a specific Role++ or Role+.
A versatile attacker who usually stays close to the opposition's defensive line, but opens themselves up for passes in the build-up, and makes a run in behind for scoring chances.
A versatile attacker who usually stays close to the opposition's defensive line, but opens themselves up for passes in the build-up, and makes a run in behind for scoring chances.
Positioned in the forward line, this player drops deep to dictate play, in the space in front of a defence. This also allows them to contribute towards the defensive phases of the game.
Positioned in the forward line, this player drops deep to dictate play, in the space in front of a defence. This also allows them to contribute towards the defensive phases of the game.
This player has one objective: score goals. They stay forward and focus on making runs in behind the defence, hoping to fashion a chance to score.
This player has one objective: score goals. They stay forward and focus on making runs in behind the defence, hoping to fashion a chance to score.
An attacking outlet whose physicality allows them to hold up play, shielding the ball from opponents, and bringing others into attacks. They feed on crosses as well as passes to feet.
An attacking outlet whose physicality allows them to hold up play, shielding the ball from opponents, and bringing others into attacks. They feed on crosses as well as passes to feet.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A midfielder who stays wide to facilitate play, providing passing and defensive support, but rarely ventures forward to attack.
A midfielder who stays wide to facilitate play, providing passing and defensive support, but rarely ventures forward to attack.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A wide attacker who begins on the wing, but will regularly cut inside onto their preferred foot to shoot or play the final pass. They tend to run in behind the defence.
A midfielder who stays wide to facilitate play, providing passing and defensive support, but rarely ventures forward to attack.
A midfielder who stays wide to facilitate play, providing passing and defensive support, but rarely ventures forward to attack.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A creative outlet positioned out wide, but able to move inside to help create chances to unpick defences.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A wide midfielder who will always stay wide, hugging the touchline, and offering support on the flanks in all phases of play.
A traditional attacking midfielder who is the main hook of attacking play.
A traditional attacking midfielder who is the main hook of attacking play.
A midfielder who provides width when their team is in possession, moving along the flanks to offer a wide threat. Particularly effective when one of three central midfielders.
A midfielder who provides width when their team is in possession, moving along the flanks to offer a wide threat. Particularly effective when one of three central midfielders.
This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attacks. Likely to be out of position if the opposition counters.
This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attacks. Likely to be out of position if the opposition counters.
An attack-minded midfielder who plays in the 'hole' behind the strikers. Their well-timed runs into the box will result in plenty of goal-scoring opportunities.
An attack-minded midfielder who plays in the 'hole' behind the strikers. Their well-timed runs into the box will result in plenty of goal-scoring opportunities.
This player operates between the two boxes, operating as neither the last line of defence, nor the final part of attack, but involved in everything in between.
This player operates between the two boxes, operating as neither the last line of defence, nor the final part of attack, but involved in everything in between.
The key cog to building up play from the back, this defensively positioned midfielder will often be the catalyst for attacks.
The key cog to building up play from the back, this defensively positioned midfielder will often be the catalyst for attacks.
A midfielder who provides width when their team is in possession, moving along the flanks to offer a wide threat. Particularly effective when one of three central midfielders.
A midfielder who provides width when their team is in possession, moving along the flanks to offer a wide threat. Particularly effective when one of three central midfielders.
A pivotal role in modern football, this defence-minded midfielder focuses on guarding their backline during attacks, and covering off against counter-attacks, with limited attacking support.
A pivotal role in modern football, this defence-minded midfielder focuses on guarding their backline during attacks, and covering off against counter-attacks, with limited attacking support.
This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attacks. Likely to be out of position if the opposition counters.
This player tends to be the creative fulcrum of a midfield, given license to roam and create space and opportunities for attacks. Likely to be out of position if the opposition counters.
A defensive midfielder that will drop between the centre-backs while their team is in possession to offer protection against the counterattack.
A defensive midfielder that will drop between the centre-backs while their team is in possession to offer protection against the counterattack.
The key cog to building up play from the back, this defensively positioned midfielder will often be the catalyst for attacks.
The key cog to building up play from the back, this defensively positioned midfielder will often be the catalyst for attacks.
A pivotal role in modern football, this defence-minded midfielder focuses on guarding their backline during attacks, and covering off against counter-attacks, with limited attacking support.
A pivotal role in modern football, this defence-minded midfielder focuses on guarding their backline during attacks, and covering off against counter-attacks, with limited attacking support.
A defensive player who covers the sides of the pitch and can help in build-up play.
A defensive player who covers the sides of the pitch and can help in build-up play.
Though technically a defender, this player will be more concerned with getting forward, and offering width to their team's attacks.
Though technically a defender, this player will be more concerned with getting forward, and offering width to their team's attacks.
A modern evolution of the fullback, this player pushes up the field, adopting a central position, when their team has the ball.
A modern evolution of the fullback, this player pushes up the field, adopting a central position, when their team has the ball.
A wide defender that will prioritise protecting their own goal, by staying back, holding the defensive line, and offering a passing option to release pressure.
A wide defender that will prioritise protecting their own goal, by staying back, holding the defensive line, and offering a passing option to release pressure.
This player's versatility and stamina allows them to push upfield to support attacks, before returning to their defensive position.
This player's versatility and stamina allows them to push upfield to support attacks, before returning to their defensive position.
A modern centre-back who is as comfortable playing offside as playing the ball. Capable of moving forward or wider to support build-up play.
A modern centre-back who is as comfortable playing offside as playing the ball. Capable of moving forward or wider to support build-up play.
A no-nonsense centre-back who excels at the basics of defending, including maintaining the defensive line.
A no-nonsense centre-back who excels at the basics of defending, including maintaining the defensive line.
A ball-winning centre-back who will step forward from the defensive line to make tackles, intercept passes, and lead the press.
A ball-winning centre-back who will step forward from the defensive line to make tackles, intercept passes, and lead the press.
Though technically a defender, this player will be more concerned with getting forward, and offering width to their team's attacks.
Though technically a defender, this player will be more concerned with getting forward, and offering width to their team's attacks.
A modern evolution of the fullback, this player pushes up the field, adopting a central position, when their team has the ball.
A modern evolution of the fullback, this player pushes up the field, adopting a central position, when their team has the ball.
A wide defender that will prioritise protecting their own goal, by staying back, holding the defensive line, and offering a passing option to release pressure.
A wide defender that will prioritise protecting their own goal, by staying back, holding the defensive line, and offering a passing option to release pressure.
This player's versatility and stamina allows them to push upfield to support attacks, before returning to their defensive position.
This player's versatility and stamina allows them to push upfield to support attacks, before returning to their defensive position.
A traditional goalkeeper who stays on their line, and focuses on shot-stopping.
A traditional goalkeeper who stays on their line, and focuses on shot-stopping.
A modern goalkeeper who is able to stop attacks and support build-up play as a passing option.
A modern goalkeeper who is able to stop attacks and support build-up play as a passing option.