List the most versatile players in football today
Who are the most versatile players in football? In modern football, versatile players are becoming invaluable assets for teams. They not only help the team become flexible but also bring many tactical solutions in emergency situations. Let’s explore versatile players with Kingsoccertips.com through the article below.
Top 8 most versatile players in football
1. Saul Niguez
Atletico Madrid star Saul is a versatile player who can play in a variety of positions on the pitch. Before becoming a creative midfielder at Atletico Madrid, Saul played as a centre-back for Rayo Vallecano in the early stages of his career. However, with his development and adaptability, Saul has moved into the midfield role and has become an important part of Atletico’s style of play, especially under the guidance of coach Diego Simeone. Saul’s ability does not stop there, as he can also play in other positions that the coach requires, demonstrating his versatility and great contribution to the overall success of the team.
What is special and impressive about Saul is his ability to play well even in roles that are not his forte. One of the positions he has performed very well is left-back, something that not every player can do. Although this position is not his forte, the 25-year-old midfielder still performs his duties excellently. With his reading of the game, speed and defensive solidity, Saul has proven that he can meet any tactical requirements set by Simeone, no matter where he is on the pitch.
2. Joshua Kimmich
It is fair to say that Joshua Kimmich is one of the most versatile players in modern football, as he can play both as a full-back and a central midfielder. Since joining Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig in 2015, the German star has quickly established himself as a talent in both positions. With excellent ball control, sharp tactical vision and accurate passing, Kimmich has become an indispensable part of Bayern Munich’s style of play. Whether he is deployed as a midfielder or a full-back, he has always shown creativity and stability, contributing significantly to the success of the team.
At 25 years old, Kimmich still has a long way to go to continue to develop and improve himself. Although he has achieved many impressive achievements in his career, he is always striving to improve his skills and show himself at higher levels. With his potential and determination, Kimmich will certainly continue to be one of the most important players in the Bayern Munich squad as well as the German national team in the coming years.
3. James Milner
James Milner is one of the most versatile and consistent players in Premier League history. He started his career at Leeds United as a winger at the age of 16, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at the time. However, this record was later surpassed by James Vaughan. However, Milner soon established himself as a player and continued to mature at Aston Villa, before joining Manchester City. At Man City, he mainly played as a box-to-box midfielder, contributing to the overall play and showing outstanding qualities in terms of physicality, technique, as well as the ability to support both attack and defence.
Since joining Liverpool in 2015, Milner has demonstrated his versatility and adaptability by switching to the left-back position, where he has been extremely impressive. In addition, the English player has also played a few times as a right-back and has taken on defensive and attacking roles in midfield. Regardless of the position he plays in, Milner has always performed his assigned tasks excellently, contributing significantly to Liverpool’s success, especially in recent seasons. Despite being 34 years old, he has maintained his fitness and stability, continuing to be an indispensable pillar in Jürgen Klopp’s squad.
4. Daley Blind
Daley Blind is a talented player who sometimes does not receive the recognition he deserves. Currently, he plays for Ajax Amsterdam and plays as a centre-back, where he shows his solidity and impressive control of the game. However, Blind’s ability is not limited to centre-back. Previously, he has performed very well in other positions, including central midfielder and full-back. With his sharp tactical vision, accurate passing ability and versatility, Blind has contributed significantly to Ajax’s style of play over the past few seasons.
Blind’s versatility has made him a key player in the Ajax squad. Regardless of his position, he always maintains a stable performance and is ready to devote himself to the team. Blind can play in many different roles, which makes him a valuable asset to the coach and one of the most underrated players who has a huge influence in every match.
5. Emre Can
Emre Can has been dubbed the Michael Ballack version thanks to his dynamism and all-round ability. Can’s talent lies not only in contributing in attacking situations, but he also shows excellent defensive ability when needed. With abundant physical strength, strength and sharp ability to read the game, Can can play in many different positions on the pitch. He can play in the central midfield position, where he often organizes and launches attacks, while also supporting the defense.
In addition, Can can also play as a full-back or a centre-back when needed, demonstrating his versatility and versatility. Switching between different roles not only gives the team more options but also helps Can to fully develop his outstanding sporting qualities. Thanks to his ability to play in many positions, Can is always an important player, bringing stability and strength to the team, especially in situations that require flexible tactical changes.
6. David Alaba
David Alaba is an Austrian star who is not only known for his ability to play as a full-back but also possesses impressive versatility, making him one of the most complete players in football. At EURO 2016, Alaba was assigned to play in the “number 10” role for the Austrian team, to make the most of his creativity and excellent tactical vision. With the ability to launch attacks and organize play, Alaba clearly shows his flexibility and ability to control the game even when not playing in his preferred position.
In addition to the “number 10” role, Alaba can also play in the “number 8” position, thanks to his accurate passing ability and excellent mobility. He can drop deep to receive the ball and distribute it to his teammates, while also supporting the attack when needed. The ability to play in many different positions not only proves Alaba’s talent but also shows his flexibility to adapt to any tactics that the coaches ask of him.
In particular, in the 2019/20 season, Alaba played as a center-back at Bayern Munich and still showed excellence in this role. Whether as a full-back, midfielder or center-back, Alaba always completed his tasks excellently, making important contributions to the team’s successes, including the UEFA Champions League title. Alaba’s versatility has helped him maintain his position as one of the most important players in the Bayern Munich squad and the Austrian national team.
7. Ashley Young
Ashley Young has had a colorful career, since his time at Watford and Aston Villa, he has been known as a winger full of speed and cunning. With excellent dribbling ability and skillful ball handling techniques, Young is always a threat to opposing defenders. His versatility and explosiveness in attack have made him one of the Premier League’s best wingers.
After joining Manchester United in 2011, Young continued to show his talent, but he also tried his hand at new roles. In particular, he played as a makeshift striker and even tried his hand at the ‘number 10’ role, where he could contribute more creatively to the team. However, in recent years, Young has completely changed direction and become a disciplined full-back, with solid defensive skills and a hard-working attitude in all situations. He has become an important part of the Manchester United squad under different managers.
Currently, Ashley Young is playing on loan at Inter Milan, continuing to prove his ability in a new environment. Regardless of his position on the pitch, Young has always maintained a consistent performance and devoted himself to the team, showing great versatility and adaptability throughout his career.
8. Alessandro Florenzi
Alessandro Florenzi is currently on loan at Valencia from AS Roma, continuing to prove his talent in La Liga. In the early stages of his career, Florenzi was known as a promising central midfielder with ball control and sharp tactical vision. However, his quick adaptation to the box-to-box role has helped him develop his defensive and offensive capabilities.
One of the most prominent moments in Florenzi’s career was when he switched to the wing position. His excellent performances on the right and left flanks have shown his versatility and creativity in attacking situations. Florenzi has not only stood out for his ability to get forward, but also for his intelligence in joining the team’s combinations.
In addition to these roles, the 29-year-old can also play very well at right-back if required, where he uses his technique, stamina and solid defensive ability to help the team maintain stability. With such versatility, Florenzi is always a reliable option and can meet many tactical requirements of the coach, regardless of his position on the pitch.
Conclusion
Modern football is increasingly focusing on the most versatile players in football and their role is playing an important role. Having players in many positions not only helps a team to be flexible in tactics, but also brings many solutions in difficult situations. From Joshua Kimmich to Kevin De Bruyne, all have proven that they are indispensable strategic cards for big teams. In the future, there will certainly be many new versatile stars emerging and continuing to change the face of world football.
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