Focus - roles | Individual training Football Manager 2015 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Selecting a role allows you to change the position on which the player usually appears - it allows you to change his abilities for a new tactic or formation.
Goalkeeper - roles
ROLE | DESCRIPTION |
Goalkeeper | Concentrates on the basic aspects of playing as goalkeeper - resuming the game, interventions and playing the ball away from the goal. |
Sweeper keeper | A goalkeeper that plays like Manuel Neuer - he often leaves the gate, he is the last line of defense and he plays well with his legs. It is a recommended role for goalkeepers whose basic skills are very well trained. |
Roles - defence
ROLE | DUTY | DESCRIPTION |
Central defender | Defend, Stopper, All, Cover | A defender that protects the direct access to the gate. He is responsible for stopping the rival strikers and cleaning the penalty area in case of cross. He is usually the leader of defence formation. |
Full back | Attack, Defend, Support, All | A defender that plays on pitch wings - he is usually tasked with playing counter or helping the wingers. He is crucial in stopping the adversary. |
Wing back | Attack, Defend, Support, All | A defender with bigger predispositions to play in the offence who has less defence tasks - great for quick provocations. |
Ball playing defender | Defend, Stopper, All, Cover | Defender who's creating plays and concentrates on maintaining possession of the ball and distributes it to his teammates. |
Limited defender | Defend, Stopper, All, Cover | Defender with traditional tasks, attacks opponents half if tactic requires so. Tough, prefers to steal ball in easiest way. |
Sweeper | Defend, All | Player responsible for mending holes in defense, the last instance in defense. Defensive-minded player, cleans the box and focuses mainly on stealing the ball. |
Limited full back | Defend, All | Defender playing only in the chosen area of the field, sticking to it and feeling good in the area abovementioned. |
Complete wing back | Attack, all | Offense is what makes him feel like a duck in the water, enjoying play on the wings - suits perfectly as a player in counterattacks, able to cross the ball to the forward. Without major defensive tasks, prefers playing forward, plays a role of "false midfielder". |
Midfielder - roles
ROLE | DUTY | DESCRIPTION |
Defensive midfielder | Defend, Support, All | Defensive midfielder focusing on distracting enemy attacks and starting counter attacks. Operating in the middle field and stands as the last line before the defense line. |
Central midfielder | Attack, Defend, Support, All | Central midfielder is in a way equilibrium of the strikers and defenders - the ball sticks mostly to him although his play creation is limited. |
Deep lying midfielder | Defend, Support, All | Player responsible for starting offensive plays - also supporting defensive line. |
Box to box midfielder | Support, All | Midfielder who must possess great condition as he is to cover long distance during the match. An omnipresent player of both defensive and offensive tasks. |
Advanced playmaker | Attack, Support, All | Player responsible for making key passes, mostly aimed to strikers. In general, he has the most assists in the team. |
Ball winning midfielder | Defend, Support, All | Player of similar tasks as defensive midfielder - however, he is not responsible for creating actions, his goal is to clear the mid field area. |
Half back | Defend, All | Defensive midfielder fits mostly in the defensive set-ups while the midfielders line is shifted to defense. More beneficial in stealing the ball and defense rather than offense, although he often possesses ability of good shoot from distance. |
Regista | Support, All | Retreated freelancer who has no clear tasks, he's mostly responsible for creating the plays. |
Inverted Wing Back | Support, All | Defensive forward standing as a platform between defense and midfield - his responsibilities are creating plays backwards or passing the ball to the other direction of the field. |
Roaming playmaker | Support, All | Player focusing mainly on creating plays, no clear tactic discipline and defensive tasks. |
Wide midfielder | Attack, Defend, Support, All | Midfielder responsible for side areas, has characteristic features of classic midfielder. |
Winger | Attack, Support, All | Responsible for creating plays nearby side - often with good condition and inclination to perpendicular passes. |
Offensive winger | Attack, Support, All | Offensive-minded midfielder, often standing as platform between midfielders and strikers, operating in front of penalty box. |
Defensive winger | Defend, Support, All | Forward operating in the middle of the field, focuses on passing the ball forward and stealing it. |
Wide playmaker | Attack, Support, All | Playmaker responsible for making wing plays, not fond of passing the ball to the midfield. |
Raumdeuter | Attack, All | Versatile player, who can both retreat to the defensive line and score a goal - example: Thomas Muller. |
Enganche | Attack, All | Plays a significant role of pivot - is set in the middle field, creates plays to the side and forward. |
Forwards - roles
ROLE | DUTY | DESCRIPTION |
Deep lying forward | Attack, Support, All | Striker operating on the edge of penalty box, mostly in front of the defense line - his attribute is good shoot from distance. |
Advanced forward | Attack, All | Offensive-minded player, often on the verge of offside - often messes up with opposite defenders. Active, looking for perpendicular passes. |
Target man | Attack, Support, All | You can count on him in terms of quick passes - his task is to pass back as soon as possible to a teammate nearby. |
Wide target man | Attack, Support, All | Similar characteristic as enacted - in this instance operating on the side of the field. |
Poacher | Attack, All | Mostly occupies enemy penalty box - he feels like a duck in a water, possessing physical strength and good head shooting. |
Complete forward | Attack, Support, All | Striker able to both shoot with head and from the distance. Solid in physical clashes with opponent. Unspecified in given offensive type. |
Inside forward | Attack, Support, All | Striker operating on the wings and closing out to the penalty box. Decent crosser. |
Defensive forward | Defend, Support, All | Striker who is considered as support striker - first line to stop enemy counter attack. |
Trequartista | Attack, All | Player taking care of the whole offensive play - can both shoot well from distance and pass the ball in penalty box. Omnipresent. |
False 9 | Support, All | Player responsible for tearing apart enemy defensive line - decoying defenders and therefore enables forward pass to take place. |
Deep lying forward | Attack, All | Stands for the support, messing up in the penalty box, active and crossing long distance during match. Apple of the enemy's eye - no clear tasks provided. |