It has not always been the case, but these days the fullback position might be one of the most crucial positions in a team. In the modern game, more is asked of fullbacks than ever before. They need to be able to defend, build up and attack. Have the stamina to go up and down the field, while also successfully executing their defensive tasks.
So, what kind of fullback roles are there now? And how has their profile changed?
Different kinds of fullbacks
There are many ways the fullback position can be executed by a player. Their skills are crucial to this, but also the formation and tactics used.
For example, there is the classic fullback role in a four-man defence with two backs on the flanks. These can be attacking minded fullbacks with the ability to go deep and deliver crosses. While there are also managers who line up traditional centre backs in this position for more defensive security.
Another sort of fullback is the wingback in a five-man defensive line. Depending on the style of play and attacking intentions, managers sometimes line-up a ‘classic’ fullback to have more defensive security. Or a more attacking minded player, or even a winger, to accompany an attacking style of play. In possession, these wingbacks are usually tasked with providing width to the team.
There is also the inverted fullback, who out of possession are often like a classic fullback. In ball possession they tend to become an extra midfielder positioning themselves more centrally on the field.
Changing tactics
Over time, the role of the fullback has changed because of changing tactics and players’ skill set. Between 2003/04 and 2018/19, for example, the number of open-play crosses in the Premier League decreased. In 2003/04, there were 42 open-play crosses per 90 minutes.1 This decreased by 42 percent to 24.2 crosses per 90 minutes in 2018/19.
As more wingers became inverted, they provided less crosses. This left even more room for the overlapping fullback who also had to provide width for their team. And in a way the responsibility of delivering crosses shifted from the winger to the fullback. So, while open-play crosses decreased, the number of assists by fullbacks increased yearly during that period. With a then record 135 assists by fullbacks in 2018/29 (2013/14: 75).
From inverted wingers to inverted backs
In 2024/25, the number of crosses increased by 3.6 percent compared to the season prior.2 With 323 extra crosses, Premier League players crossed almost 9300 times from open play. This rise has been accompanied by a new trend. Inverted wingers have become less popular in favour of more traditional wingers. So, fullbacks are less often expected to cover that space and provide width for the team. Instead in possession, especially possession-heavy sides, tend to invert their fullbacks.
The popularity rise of the inverted fullback aligns with the decrease in the number of back three or back five formations in recent years. During the 2020/21 season, a record high 30 percent of Premier League matches featured such a formation. It decreased to 17 percent in 2024/25, as 83 percent of formations used consisted of a back four.2 With inverted fullbacks, a back four tends to be a classic four-man defence out of possession. In possession the formation often becomes a sort of back three as the inverted fullback(s) drives into midfield. It allows teams to create overloads in possession, while giving enough cover centrally when possession is lost. Teams thereby have an extra attacking minded player instead of a third central defender. However, it does require the backs to not only have ‘traditional’ attacking and defensive skills, but also the technical quality to be successful more centrally where spaces are tighter.
Top Six using inverted fullbacks
This trend of inverted fullbacks, spearheaded by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, has been adapted by multiple teams. During the 2024/25 season, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all used inverted fullbacks in most of their games. Which is clearly reflected in the average distance between the locations where fullbacks took their touches during matches.3 During the first seven matchdays, City had a width of 35.7 meters between the average touch location of their fullbacks. Arsenal (37.6m), Chelsea (37.8m), and Liverpool (38m) were the only other sides to have less than 40 meters between their fullbacks during that period.
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur – the two other Top Six teams – averaged 41.8 and 44.3 meters between their fullbacks. For both still less than the league’s average at 44.5 meters. With the average touch location of Fulham’s fullbacks being the furthest apart with 49.7 meters.
Average location of touches for Top Six fullbacks during matchdays 1-7 of the 2024/25 Premier League [source: The Analyst3]
| Team | Width between fullbacks (meters) |
|---|---|
| Manchester City | 35.7m |
| Arsenal | 37.6m |
| Chelsea | 37.8m |
| Liverpool | 38.0m |
| Manchester United | 41.8m |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 44.3m |
| Average league’s 20 teams | 44.5m |
City’s fullbacks also had their touches the highest up the field on average with 60.1 meters. Explainable by Guardiola liking his team to dominate possession and often playing on the opposition’s half. They were ahead of Tottenham (59.4m), who often played a high line last season. The league’s average was at 53.2 meters. Chelsea’s fullbacks had their touches on average closest to their own goal with 46.8 meters, despite them having the third least width between them.
The underlapping fullback on the rise
Apart from the inverted back, there is a trend of the underlapping fullback. With fullbacks not only overlapping the winger in front of them but underlapping and ending up more centrally. Milos Kerkez used both options effectively in 2024/25. Still at Bournemouth, the Hungarian made not only over 100 overlaps, but also over 100 underlaps. He recorded 132 crosses, of which 27 percent were completed, and finished the season with five assists.4
With Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong – who was lauded as a wingback at Leverkusen – Liverpool acquired two fullbacks in the summer of 2025, who can make overlaps (and underlaps), deliver crosses and provide width. However, they have a different profile from Liverpool’s fullbacks during the 2024/25 season. Although both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are known for their overlapping and crossing skills, they often played as inverted backs during Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
Most successful crosses by backs
Kerkez recorded the second most successful crosses from open play during the 2024/25 season.4 With 35 completed crosses, he was behind Fulham’s Antonee Robinson (42). Who also recorded the greatest number of crosses by a fullback (170), giving him a 25 percent success rate. The American finished the season with 10 assists.
The five fullbacks with the most successful crosses from open play all attempted over 90 crosses during 2024/25. With at least a quarter of their crosses being successful. Everton’s Vitalii Mykolenko attempted 97 crosses of which 29 percent were successful. The highest success rate amongst the top five.
Kerkez, Robinson, Pedro Porro, Mykolenko, and Alexander-Arnold were also in the top 10 of players with the most successful crosses. With Chelsea’s Pedro Neto ranking third behind Robinson and Kerkez with 34 successful crosses from 108 attempts. Fulham’s Adama Traoré (30 successful) ranked fifth behind fullback Pedro Porro (34) and ahead of Mykolenko (28).
During the first 12 matchdays of the 2025/26 season, Wolves’ Hugo Bueno has registered the most successful crosses from open play. With 21 successful crosses and a 40 percent success rate, the Spanish back is far ahead of second ranked Adrien Truffert (14).
Making different tactics and fullback characteristics work
Some players and managers have been instrumental in the change of the fullback role over the years. One of the best examples is Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard has managed at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City and throughout his managerial career he has continued to innovate his teams’ playing style. Including the role of the fullback within his system. And with success, despite his fullbacks having different characteristics and skill level.
At Barcelona he managed amongst others Dani Alves, Maxwell and Érik Abidal. Alves was known for his overlapping skills and technical ability. Throughout his career he was selected in FIFPro’s Team of the Year on eight occasions.
Philipp Lahm and David Alaba were two of his backs at Bayern. Lahm was chosen as the third best right back across history by France Football in December 2020. Under Guardiola, the German became an even more complete player. Having enough intelligence and skills, he was turned into an inverted fullback and even played as a central midfielder.
While at City, Guardiola has (bought and) managed a long list of fullbacks. From Aleksandar Kolarov to Oleksandr Zinchenko, from Pablo Zabaleta to Jesús Navas, and from Kyle Walker to João Cancelo. Some of them are known for their overlapping and crossing skills, others for their intelligence and versatility.
Fullbacks adapting
In recent years, Guardiola has often chosen for the inverted back. Zinchenko, who played 76 matches for City, was a perfect example of this. Nathan Aké and Josko Gvardiol, considered by many as centre backs, were also regularly lined up on the left side. During the 2025/26 season, Nico O’Reilly and Rayan Aït-Nouri cover this position. As academy graduate O’Reilly is originally a midfielder, he is adept to play as an inverted back. While Aït-Nouri – bought from Wolves for £36.3 million – is a more traditional fullback with the ability to cross and dribble.
On the right side, Guardiola has often played with Kyle Walker. The Englishman used to be a traditional right back who frequently overlapped and crossed. Yet, after his move to City Walker crossed far less with 1.77 crosses per 90 Premier League minutes (between 2017/18 and 2024/25). At Tottenham, he averaged 2.5 crosses per 90 minutes between 2011/12 and 2016/17.4 Guardiola’s tactics were a key factor driving this decrease. Moreover, Walker regularly played as a third centre back or inverted fullback in his final City years. With the latter role also executed by John Stones – a centre back – and Rico Lewis – a midfielder throughout the youth setup.
These players highlight how versatility and adaptability are key for the fullback position these days. Because the game evolves and so does the role of the fullback.