Table of Contents
- What is a utility player in soccer?
- The value of utility players in soccer
- Three of the best utility players in soccer
- Recap: Utility players in soccer
Utility players in soccer are highly sought after by coaches thanks to their ability and versatility.
But what exactly is a utility player in soccer, and who are the best utility players in the world? Let’s find out.
What is a utility player in soccer?
A utility player in soccer is someone who can play multiple positions competently within the team. As such, they’re an asset to the coach and may be deployed in several positions throughout the season, offering cover for injuries and helping the team in different ways.
It’s common for utility players in soccer to be defensively minded, with many having the ability to play in different positions across the back four, as well as in midfield.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about utility players in soccer and why having one or several on your roster can make things so much easier when it comes to team selection.
The value of utility players in soccer
Many coaches look to recruit at least one utility player into their soccer team as they’re truly worth their weight in gold, particularly throughout the course of a long, hard soccer season. Some of the benefits of having a utility player in your squad include the following:
They can play in multiple positions
The biggest advantage is that utility players in soccer can play in multiple positions. For instance, a utility player might be a natural full back, but they can also be deployed as a winger, wing back, center back, and even a central midfielder where necessary.
The versatility of a utility player makes the life of a coach so much easier, as they can select their matchday squads safe in the knowledge that the utility player can easily switch positions should the need arise in the game.
It’s for this reason that utility players are so valuable to modern-day soccer squads, given the huge demands placed on teams in the present day.
They’re often team players
Another great thing about utility players in soccer is that they’re usually team players and put the needs of the squad ahead of their own personal goals. The best utility players don’t complain or moan when they are shifted from position to position and are happy to help the team in any way.
For instance, when a team needs to defend a lead, the coach might shift a utility player from his natural position in midfield to serve as an auxiliary central defender to offer extra protection and to try and keep a clean sheet.
In the vast majority of instances, utility players are very happy to move from position to position if it benefits the team, and this is one of their best attributes.
They offer injury cover
Injuries are unavoidable throughout the soccer season, and they can take their toll on small and weak squads. If a team has one or several utility players in the ranks, they are much better served when it comes to covering for first-team injuries.
This is because a utility player can be used in a whole host of positions, offering cover for multiple roles within the team.
Although some people think that moving a utility player around a team can be disruptive, it’s much better to have such a player available for selection, as they can competently play in a number of different positions to help the team.
They can reduce squad size
In most leagues around the world, coaches are only permitted to select a specific number of players each year (often no more than 25 players). Therefore, if you can recruit utility players capable of playing in different positions, it gives you so many more options in each area of the field.
Whether it’s cover for injuries or just to try new things, having the versatility of a utility player at your disposal helps as things get tough throughout the season.
You can then free up your squad by moving on some fringe or squad players, which offers opportunities to young talent or to new signings looking to make their name in the squad.
Three of the best utility players in soccer
Now that you understand the role, it’s time to look at some real-life utility players to see how it actually works in practice. While there are lots of players who fit this mold, here are three such players that any coach would love to have in their team:
James Milner (England)
James Milner is a Premier League stalwart, having excelled at Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool. Although he made his EPL debut as an attacking winger, Milner has played in practically every position on the field throughout his career.
He’s a competent and hard-working winger and can play on both sides of the field, but he can also play in central midfield and even across the back four.
With several EPL titles to his name, it’s fair to say that James Milner is one of the greatest utility players in Premier League history and has enjoyed a wonderful career thanks to his hard work and versatility.
David Alaba (Austria)
Austrian international David Alaba is an extremely talented soccer player, and his recent move to Real Madrid indicates that he’s one of the very best defensive-minded players on the planet right now.
However, he’s also an extremely useful utility player, as he’s capable of playing in central defense, left back, left midfield, and central midfield. In other words, he can do a job throughout the defensive third for his team.
He enjoyed great success at German champions Bayern Munich before sealing his move to Spain, and it’s likely that Alaba will win a lot more trophies playing for the famous Real Madrid in the years to come.
Ashley Young (England)
There are lots of similarities between Ashley Young and James Milner. Both are English, and both started their careers as attacking wingers before adapting their games to be more versatile and flexible to the needs of their coaches.
Ashley Young enjoyed great success at Manchester United and Inter Milan, and it was Sir Alex Ferguson who started using him as a full back rather than an attacking winger.
It’s fair to say that Young could play effectively in practically every position on the soccer field today, which is why he’s still performing at the top level in England.
Recap: Utility players in soccer
Utility players in soccer are an asset to their coaches as they can play in lots of different positions throughout the season, offering injury cover and reducing squad size.
So, there’s no question that utility players bring value to soccer squads, and they are worth their weight in gold to coaches who are looking for versatility and flexibility in their squads.