Position · Defence · FB
What does a full-back do?
Defends the wide channel and provides attacking width. The highest-mileage position on the pitch: the full length of the touchline corridor, there and back.
Go deeper: What Is an Inverted Fullback? The Tactic That Changed Defending
How the full-back moves
Overlaps down the channel when in possession; sprints back to close the touchline before a cross when possession is lost.
Types of full-back
- Attacking full-back / wing-back: lives in the final third, crosses and provides width — requires three centre-backs.
- Inverted full-back: tucks inside in possession, becoming a second holding midfielder and protecting against the counter.
- Classic defensive full-back: prioritises shutting down the opposing winger.
Why the full-back plays there
When the full-back overlaps, he stretches the opposition and opens the central corridor — but leaves space in behind. That gap is the trigger for a counter-attack. He only goes when cover exists (a midfielder or centre-back shifting).
In Gaffer FC you click the full-back on an interactive pitch and switch formations to see how the role shifts. See inside the app.