In football, as in other sports, each player has a different role to play on the pitch. In the center of the field is the midfielder. Who is he and what functions does he perform on the pitch?
The football team consists of eleven people. Among them, the midfielder plays a huge role on the field.
Midfielder is a central midfielder who is the link between defense and attack. Modern teams can have two or three midfielders on the pitch at the same time. Previously, trainers always used only one. The role of the midfielder on the pitch cannot be overestimated. He does a lot of work and is probably the most important player on the team. Therefore, they are especially appreciated in the football world.
The main functions of the midfielder on the field
1. Helps to protect
When the opponent attacks his own goal, this midfielder moves closer to his own penalty area and prevents long-range shots, and also supports the defenders in the supporting zone.
2. Participates in the attacking actions of the team
In the case of the team's transition to the attack, it rushes to the other's goal. Most midfielders have a good long-range shot and use this skill when the opportunity arises.
3. Leads team actions
Almost all midfielders are the captains of their teams. This is due to the fact that the player moves around the entire field and participates in many game episodes. Also, even in childhood, smart and versatile children who can handle the ball perfectly are chosen for the position of midfielder. Hence the unquestioning authority among other players. The midfielder connects strikers and defenders.
The origin of the word midfielder
As it is not surprising, but this concept appeared for the first time in the homeland of football in England. It comes from the English word Half-back - half-back. That is, it turns out that this is a footballer who plays in the middle of the field.
What are the midfielders
Midfielders occupy different positions in midfield. They can be located on the edge, and then they will be called flank or wing midfielders. These are footballers who move along their specific flank throughout the match and participate both in attack and defense.
Also, the midfielder can take the position of the top ten. This is the player located under the attackers of the team. He basically only organizes attacking actions and is almost completely freed from defensive functions. These players are called playmakers.
And the last type of midfielder is the midfielder or breakwater. They are located on the field a little further from their goal than the center-backs. During the match, the breakers have time to attack and defend. It is the players of this position who run the longest distance during the game.
The most famous midfielders from the world of football
Among the players of this role, there are many excellent football players. This is especially true for such professionals as Zinedine Zidane, Pavel Nedved, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Figo, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and so on. Among the Russian midfielders, the most famous are Andrei Tikhonov, Fedor Cherenkov, Dmitry Alenichev, Sergei Semak and so on.