In football versatility is valued over some other skills like dribbling or scoring goals, because there are hundreds of forwards who you can put in the specific position when your tactics work and the playstile is honed to the smallest detail. But then there comes injuries of the key players, somebody needs to fill in those gaps on the field, and only the players who can adapt to the situation and change their positions on the fly can save the manager from the lose streak. These sports icons are especially valued by Fantasy Football players and bettors who use the baji app download from the guide at the link, because they can rack up a lot of points with their game scoring goals and finish the match with a clean sheet.
1. Paul Scholes: The red-haired wizard of midfield
Paul Scholes started out as a striker but ended up as a midfielder – a bit like going from rock star to conductor, but with more tackles and less hairspray. His ability to pass long balls was so accurate that rumour has it he could hit a cigarette out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s mouth from the other end of the pitch.
2. Philipp Lahm: From full-back to midfield mastermind
Philipp Lahm switched from full-back to midfield with such grace that even ballerinas were envious. Under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, he became the football pitch’s equivalent of a Swiss watch – precise, reliable and unstoppable.
3. Eduardo Camavinga: Real Madrid’s answer to any problem
Eduardo Camavinga played so many different positions that even he sometimes forgot where to stand. He is like a footballing transformer – you never quite know what shape he would take next.
4. Javier Mascherano: From midfield beast to philosophical king of defence
Mascherano went from being the bulldog of midfield to the Socrates of defence. His tackles were so sharp that opponents often ended up pondering life’s big questions while lying on the grass.
5. Bastian Schweinsteiger: From winger to midfield marathon man
Schweinsteiger started as a winger but ended up as a central midfielder – it’s a bit like going from sprinter to marathon runner, but with the ball as his companion. His stamina was so legendary that rumour has it he could run a marathon at half-time.
6. David Alaba: The human Swiss Army knife of defence
David Alaba has played so many positions that his teammates started to think he had a twin brother. He’s like football’s answer to a multitool – whatever the problem, Alaba has a solution (and a position) for it.
7. Dirk Kuyt: From goal-scoring fox to labouring ant on the wing
Dirk Kuyt went from being a goal scorer to being the hardest working player in the team – it’s like going from being the life of the party to being the one who cleans up afterwards, but still gets all the credit.
8. James Milner: The midfield’s answer to a Swiss Army knife (with extra screwdriver)
James Milner has played so many positions that he probably doubles as the club mascot. He’s like football’s answer to a Lego block – he fits in anywhere and hurts to step on.
9. Wayne Rooney: From angry teenager to football renaissance man
Wayne Rooney started as a tornado of teenage anger and ended as a versatile attacking machine. His evolution was like watching a roaring river become a sophisticated irrigation system – still powerful, just more useful to everyone around him.
10. Joshua Kimmich: The modern Swiss Army knife (with GPS and Wi-Fi)
Joshua Kimmich is so versatile that even GPS has a hard time keeping up. He changes position more often than a politician changes his mind, and does so with a precision that will leave even the most dedicated German-engineering fans speechless.
Versatility: Football’s answer to being good at small talk at a party
Any young player can get a hint: don’t be picky about your position, the manager knows better how to utilize your skills and talents. And if you won’t grow – maybe it’s not because of the wrong position, just the club system or the coach doesn’t suit your abilities best. See how Kevin de Bruyne shined under Pep Guardiola’s management or, on the contrary, Eden Hazard’s flop in Real Madrid after the glorious period in Chelsea.
These examples show us that versatility is king, but, nevertheless, it’s still hard to find players who can play more than one position in modern football, let alone three. Radical changes are rare too, especially for the matured players, so seeing a defender moved to midfield looks like a miracle, an unreasonable risk or a tactical genius. But all in all football is a logical game, and to win on a field you must defy an opponent’s logic. So go ahead, make your 2,0m defender play false nine if it works in the long run, and good luck in your next game!