Midfielder

GK

SW

RB

CB

CB

CB

LB

RWB

LWB

DM

DM

DM

RM

CM

CM

CM

LM

AM

AM

AM

RW

SS

LW

CF

CF

CF

The midfield positions highlighted in relation to other positions in association football

In the sport of association football, a midfielder is an outfield position which plays primarily in the middle of the pitch.^[1] Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. As central midfielders often go across boundaries, with mobility and passing ability, they are often referred to as deep-lying midfielders, play-makers, box-to-box midfielders, or holding midfielders. There are also attacking midfielders with limited defensive assignments.

The size of midfield units on a team and their assigned roles depend on what formation is used; the unit of these players on the pitch is commonly referred to as the midfield.^[2] Its name derives from the fact that midfield units typically make up the in-between units to the defensive units and forward units of a formation.

Managers frequently assign one or more midfielders to disrupt the opposing team's attacks, while others may be tasked with creating goals, or have equal responsibilities between attack and defence. Midfielders are the players who typically travel the greatest distance during a match. Midfielders arguably have the most possession during a game, and thus they are some of the fittest players on the pitch.^[3] Midfielders are often assigned the task of assisting forwards to create scoring opportunities.