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Welcome to Part III of the Complete Guide to Soccer Positions!
If you haven’t yet, check out our previous posts in the series to help round out your understanding of each position on the pitch!
Part I – Center Defensive Midfield (CDM)
Part II – Outside Back
In today’s post we'll be taking a closer look at the winger position. Wingers are typically dynamic players, known for their speed and ability to take on defenders. They play a crucial role in the team's attack, creating scoring opportunities and helping to provide width on the field.
If you’re a player looking to hone your skills as a winger, or a parent who’s just trying to understand what the heck their kid is supposed to be doing, here’s what you need to know.
Don’t miss the bonus “who to watch” section at the end of the post for a list of my favorite wingers playing professionally across the world.
What does a winger do?
Provide width:
Even at the youngest age groups, you'll hear just about any experienced coach (and every parent on the sideline)yelling some version of “SPREAD OUT” when their team has the ball. That’s because creating width and stretching the field is a fundamental team tactic required to create the space required to maintain possession of the ball and advance.
As wingers operate in the wide and forward areas of the field, they have a key responsibility for maintaining their width as to not allow the opponent’s defensive shape to remain compact.
Create scoring opportunities:
As an attacking minder player, working higher up the field, a winger is often relied upon to create scoring chances for her team. This includes beating players 1v1, delivering crosses into the box, or taking shots on goal.
Press & Defend
Playing in an advanced position doesn't mean they are only working when their team is in possession. In most play styles, wingers are expected to initiate the ball recovery effort by pressing high and work to disrupt the opponents build up play.
What skills does a winger need?
Speed:
If you read Part II of our Complete Guide to Soccer Positions, you’ll know that a winger is likely to find himself matched up against a speedy outside back. To beat that defender, get separation, and create chances on goal, a winger usually needs to have some pace.
1v1 ability:
As the ball moves to a winger on the flanks, he will often find himself one-on-one with a defender. While speed is great, it’s not everything. A combination of creativity and dribbling ability is often needed to get the defender off balance and gain an extra step.
Crossing:
To support the team in creating chances on goal a winger needs to have the ability to accurately delivery balls from the wide areas into more dangerous areas in the box.
Shooting:
After beating the defender down the line and serving a few dangerous crosses, a winger should also have the abilityto cut towards the central area of the field and shoot on goal herself.
Who to Watch:
Lionel Messi - PSG (Ligue 1)
Raheem Sterling - Manchester City (English Premier League)
Neymar - PSG (Ligue 1)
Kylian Mbappé - PSG (Ligue 1)
Kinglsey Coman – Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
While I’m (slightly) biased as a former winger myself, I believe it is one of the most exciting and dynamic positions in the game. These players provide a critical role in supporting the team shape and creating width when in possession and have plenty of space and opportunity to take the spotlight a beat players 1v1.
Click subscribe to stay up to date as we dive into more positions in "The Complete Guide to Soccer Positions."
