When you’re just starting out in soccer, one of your first jobs is to decide on which position to play for your team.
With that in mind, this article explains what a fullback is in soccer, and we introduce you to some top tips that will help you prepare for the role.
So, what is a fullback in soccer?
A soccer fullback is a wide defender. Their primary role is to defend, but they are also required to offer an attacking threat for their team. A modern fullback should be quick, fit, and strong in the tackle, and it’s a crucial role in the professional game.
So, if you’re hoping to make your mark as a fullback, we explain everything you need to know about this specialist role in the following sections.
What’s the main job of a fullback?
First and foremost, a fullback is a defender. Therefore, their primary job is to prevent the other team from scoring goals.
Fullbacks play in the wide areas of the field, and you often hear them referred to as the “right back” and “left back.” This is how fullbacks have been referred to in the history of soccer, which is why the terms have stuck.
When defending, fullbacks in soccer are required to close down wingers on the opposing team, preventing them from crossing the ball into the eighteen-yard box.
They also have to help the central defenders by tucking in and stopping attacks as and when they develop. But fullbacks are not exclusively used as defenders.
Some teams employ attacking fullbacks, and it’s a role that has become increasingly popular in the modern game. While modern fullbacks still need to defend, you often see them charging forward to support their teammates in attack.
Fullbacks often overlap their wingers and put dangerous balls into the box, contributing to their team’s attacking threat.
So, to be a good fullback in soccer, you need to be defensively solid and decent going forward. But what specific attributes do you need to succeed as a fullback?
What attributes do fullbacks need?
To be a successful modern fullback, it helps if you have the following attributes:
- Pace: Fullbacks need to get up and down the field quickly to ensure they can get involved in the transitions of play.
- Tackling: As a defender, a fullback needs to be strong in the tackle and able to win the ball back for their team.
- Crossing: When going forward, fullbacks should be able to cross the ball into a dangerous area to increase their team’s chances of scoring a goal.
- Throw-ins: If a fullback is capable of launching a long throw-in into the box, it’s a valuable asset for the team.
- Fitness: Fullbacks in soccer need to have excellent fitness levels, as they spend the entire game running up and down the field!
Top Tip: If you’re looking to work on your fitness, check out our recent article, where we explain how to get in shape for soccer.
As you can see, to be a modern fullback, you need to have lots of attributes. As is the case with all aspects of soccer, you can work on these attributes on the training field, as you aspire to play the role like some of the best fullbacks in the world.
Who are the best fullbacks in the world?
Today, we are blessed with some incredibly talented fullbacks in soccer. Here are three players you should look out for if you want to see how the role should be played.
Alphonso Davies – Bayern Munich & Canada
As one of the fastest players on the planet, Alphonso Davies is a fullback like no other. The Canadian international is one of the best players in the German Bundesliga, and his lightning speed is complemented by an incredible attacking threat.
As left fullbacks go, we don’t think they get much better than Alphonso Davies, and we can’t wait to see him tear it up at this year’s World Cup.
Kieran Trippier – Newcastle United & England
You could make a case for including any of England’s right backs on this list – Trent Alexander Arnold, Reece James, and Kyle Walker certainly wouldn’t be out of place. But there’s something endearing about Kieran Trippier.
He’s also one of the deadliest set play takers in the Premier League, as well as being an exceptionally committed competitor, having played under Simeone at Atleti. Put simply; I’d want Trippier in my World XI!
Marcelo – Real Madrid & Brazil
Although Marcelo has just left Real Madrid, he leaves as their most decorated player of all time. And this is a guy who was brought in to replace the legendary Roberto Carlos.
Marcelo excelled in the role of fullback throughout his time in Madrid, contributing equally to their defensive solidarity and attacking threat. While he’s past his peak, Marcelo is arguably the greatest modern fullback of his generation.
Is playing fullback easy?
Historically, it was common for the rule of the fullback to be given to the weakest player on the team – particularly in recreational soccer.
This is because it was (wrongly) supposed that you didn’t need a great deal of ability to play as a fullback. As long as you could pass and tackle, you couldn’t really go wrong.
But as the role has evolved in the present day, it’s now a specialist position that requires a whole host of advanced attributes, as explained above.
Therefore, to play the role of a modern fullback in soccer certainly isn’t easy and is something that needs to be worked on during training.
But if you emulate some of the legendary players introduced above, there’s no reason why you can’t hone your skills and become a top-quality fullback, no matter the level you play at.
Is a fullback different from a wingback?
Although the terms fullback and wingback are used interchangeably, there are some differences between the two that you need to be aware of.
Primarily, a wingback is more attacking than a fullback and is utilized primarily as an attacking threat. Their starting position is further forward on the field, and they’re usually employed by managers as a feature of an attacking formation.
For instance, coaches tend to use wingbacks alongside three central defenders, as it gives the wingbacks more license to attack.
That being said, the roles are similar, and fullbacks and wingbacks require similar skill sets and attributes to succeed out on the field.
Recap: The fullback in soccer explained
The role of fullback in soccer has evolved over the years and has become one of the most important positions on the field.
Mastered by the likes of Alphonso Davies, Kieran Trippier, and Marcelo, a fullback needs to be a top-quality defender and an attacking threat simultaneously.
So, if you’re keen to master this position, we hope you’ve found the above tips helpful as you work on your skills and attributes out on the training field.