What the title said, bonus points if they were all timers or at least world class in their new position.
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Players that made out a career for themselves by playing out of position
- Thread starter Red the Bear
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
He wasn't world class but didn't Paul Warhurst convert from a defender to an attacked at Sheffield Wednesday?
Dion Dublin was a centre back at first and then moved up front.
Chris Sutton too I think. Both decent players up front.
Chris Sutton too I think. Both decent players up front.
Isn’t Sergi Roberto supposed to be a midfielder of some sort? Seems to play RB at Barcelona all the time and he’s pretty good there.
Does this count as players who switched positions while in an academy? Or after breaking into first team play somewhere?
I read somewhere online that Gallas started as a winger before moving to defense.
I read somewhere online that Gallas started as a winger before moving to defense.
Do both although the former could be tricky as their still developing so the latter would be more appreciated.
Scholes came through as a striker. Where do I collect my prize?
Javier Mascherano. Seemed to end his career as a full time CB, while he started as one of the most promising defensive midfielders in the world.
Another one: Bastian Schweinsteiger started as an attacking mid/wide attacker but didn't really kick on at Bayern until he transitioned to a controlling deep lying playmaker
Cristiano Ronaldo. He was a winger in a 4-4-2 when I was a teenager
Good examples, both world class in their new positions, the latter became an all timer.
Bale is one of the craziest ones really
was a bang average full-back for a while and then one day decided he was gonna be a world class winger instead
was a bang average full-back for a while and then one day decided he was gonna be a world class winger instead
Alphonso Davies. Originally a winger.
KDB was an average winger wasn’t he?
Kroos ?
Certainly not world class but Gary Doherty.
played CB and SC
played CB and SC
Philip Lahm.
I don't think playing out of position is the right term though. More like made a their careers changing positions rather than playing out of position.
I don't think playing out of position is the right term though. More like made a their careers changing positions rather than playing out of position.
Just send me your credit card number
totally legit by the way, why would I even lie, that would be horrible wouldn't it.
Zinchenko, should be a midfielder but played left back for City and now for Arsenal. Great as a midfielder for Ukraine.
CAM to CDM isn't that much of a stretch, I think Schweinsteiger was the better example. He was a pure winger for the first third of his career before being turned into a central midfielder.
Probably a bit under the radar but Piszczek. Started as a striker, was even signed to Bundesliga as a striker by Hertha and then had a massive switch to right back, becoming world class for Dortmund for quite a few seasons.
Young and Valencia?
Neither would have lasted so long at United, had they not switched to full back position to fill the gaps.
Neither would have lasted so long at United, had they not switched to full back position to fill the gaps.
Yeah he was the first one I thought of. Excellent CDM who turned into a better CB.
Mc Sauce
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Fábio Coentrão was deployed between winger and attacking midfielder before being adapted to fullback. Pepe played as defensive midfielder in Marítimo. Even at his first season at Porto he would play as defensive midfielder in a lot of games under Co Adriaanse, until finally settled in the defense.
Bale is the one that really stands out. Whoever thought he was a defender initially shouldn’t be working in football.
- Roberto Firmino: defensive or central midfielder to False 9, ultimately.
- Claude Makelélé: right-winger to defensive midfielder.
- Laurent Blanc: attacking midfielder to central defender or sweeper.
Wan-bisaka was somehow a winger right up until he made his first team debut for palace as a RB because of injuries
Sweeper or central defender with the main organising/passing responsibility - especially in a back five - was the go to position for a long time, when it came to aging/struggling midfield or attacking players needing a change or revival. Especially Germans in late 70s-90s...Sammer, Thon, Matthaus all had career resurgences in the position, but there are loads of examples. Boniek, Krol, Blanc, Hierro, Pirri, Sauzee, Morten Olsen, Chivadze are just some other ones that quickly come to mind.
Vladimir Bessonov in the late-70- 80s with Dynamo Kyiv played almost everywhere, but mostly as a central midfielder for the first half of his career, then transitioned fully to a rightback, where he was one of the best in europe, bringing a technically overqualified skillset to the position compared to what many teams were still using it for at the time.
Vladimir Bessonov in the late-70- 80s with Dynamo Kyiv played almost everywhere, but mostly as a central midfielder for the first half of his career, then transitioned fully to a rightback, where he was one of the best in europe, bringing a technically overqualified skillset to the position compared to what many teams were still using it for at the time.
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Sergio Ramos- a world class right back turned central defender.
Iwobi- an average winger turned into a class CM.
Iwobi- an average winger turned into a class CM.
The one that stands out is obviously Bale going from average LB to world class wide forward.
I'd also add Andrea Pirlo. Went from a promising 10 to world class DLP.
Our very own Antonio Valencia becoming one of the world's best RBs for about a year or so.
Finally Ashley young going from a decent winger to getting picked for England in the LB slot.
I'd also add Andrea Pirlo. Went from a promising 10 to world class DLP.
Our very own Antonio Valencia becoming one of the world's best RBs for about a year or so.
Finally Ashley young going from a decent winger to getting picked for England in the LB slot.
Remember when Scholes first appeared SAF used him as a striker/super sub Ole role. Loads of examples if you go back far enough, a lot of players don't find their calling until later on in their career
Piszczek was originally a striker an won two Bundesliga titles as a RB for Dortmund. The Bender twins both started as midfielders and ended as defenders, one CB and one RB.
Think there are very few at the absolute top level. Maybe Blanc who started as a CAM and ended up as a CB. I also recall that Sergio Ramos used to play RB for Madrid. But I think usually, players who are attackers but ultimately not good enough often make the switch to a being a defender.
Think there are very few at the absolute top level. Maybe Blanc who started as a CAM and ended up as a CB. I also recall that Sergio Ramos used to play RB for Madrid. But I think usually, players who are attackers but ultimately not good enough often make the switch to a being a defender.
Schweinsteiger, Hargraeves, Breitner, Kimmich were midfielders in youth but broke through or were played on the wing first!
Denis Irwin - originally a RB but played LB to accommodate Paul Parker?
Pirlo - started off as a deep forward. Ended up later as a CDM.
Kolo Toure - I remember him making his debut for Arsenal as a right winger. Then ended up playing a few different positions like RB but ended up settling as a CB.
Thierry Henry - was a fast winger and converted into one of the best ever strikers.
Wiltord - a striker who became a winger.
Lahm - Was a RB and ended up becoming a world class LB and also CDM.
Schweinsteiger - I remember him playing on the wings in his younger days and then becoming a central player.
KDB - Was a pacier winger in his earlier days at Chelsea and Wolfsburg.
Saka - A left back/wing back and now settled as RW.
Sadio Mane - primarily a right winger who switched to left wing once Salah joined.
Fabinho - A RB for Monaco and Madrid I believe. Became a CDM.
Pirlo - started off as a deep forward. Ended up later as a CDM.
Kolo Toure - I remember him making his debut for Arsenal as a right winger. Then ended up playing a few different positions like RB but ended up settling as a CB.
Thierry Henry - was a fast winger and converted into one of the best ever strikers.
Wiltord - a striker who became a winger.
Lahm - Was a RB and ended up becoming a world class LB and also CDM.
Schweinsteiger - I remember him playing on the wings in his younger days and then becoming a central player.
KDB - Was a pacier winger in his earlier days at Chelsea and Wolfsburg.
Saka - A left back/wing back and now settled as RW.
Sadio Mane - primarily a right winger who switched to left wing once Salah joined.
Fabinho - A RB for Monaco and Madrid I believe. Became a CDM.
To be fair it wasn’t obvious he would make a good winger at that time. He wasn’t as good dribbling with the ball and as good in tight situations. He really developed into the winger role.
Alan Smith - A striker who became a CDM.
James Milner - another striker who became a CM, Right winger, CDM, RB, LB
James Milner - another striker who became a CM, Right winger, CDM, RB, LB
Scholes, from forward to midfielder.
Bale, from full back to wing forward
Henry, from winger to forward
Neville, from CB to full back
Mascherano, from DM to CB
Ronaldo, from winger to WF to CF
Bale, from full back to wing forward
Henry, from winger to forward
Neville, from CB to full back
Mascherano, from DM to CB
Ronaldo, from winger to WF to CF
Antonio from RB to RW to ST
Milner who played winger at Leeds, CM at Villa and then later RB
Milner who played winger at Leeds, CM at Villa and then later RB
Mendieta - from RB to a world class DM
Phil Jones.