Why Center Backs Are Converted to Center Midfielders

In recent years, we’ve seen our favorite center back players find success in the midfield. The center back position is a powerful position in soccer. Many times, players never change from the position. 

However, it seems like there’s been a pattern of players being converted from center back to the central midfield role. For example, Julie Ertz, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Abby Erceg are all players we associate with center back but worked well when pushed up to center midfield. Just like goal-scorers transitioned to outside backs, there is a rhyme and reason to the switch. 

 

Center Back and Center Midfield Skillsets

So, why does this transition make so much sense? Although the center back position is vital to any defense, and it’s challenging to train players with the skills needed for the role, center back players have an upper hand when it comes to adjusting to the midfield. 

 

Passing and Vision of the Field

First, the center midfield requires a good vision of the field. As center back, players see the entire field ahead of them and develop skills to pick out passing lanes for teammates. Additionally, it’s crucial to win the ball, maintain possession, and distribute the ball out of the defensive third. 

These abilities are essential when converted to the midfield, and center back players already possess them. In addition, when center back players with great ball distribution move up to the midfield, it brings a great connecting component to the midfield. This is also important for midfielders in order to string passes together, keep possession, and advance the ball up the field to create goal-scoring chances. 

 

Defensive Mindset

Next, center backs specialize in defensive tactics. They have a strong tackling ability and good positional awareness. Center backs have a mindset of disruption, which is extremely important in the midfield as well. In a central defensive midfield role, a player needs to be disciplined and know when and how to put pressure on the opposing midfield. 

The midfield cannot operate if all the midfielders want to push up and go forward on every attacking play, so having a center midfielder with a center back mindset brings stability and control.

 

Physicality 

Additionally, center back players tend to be physically strong and tall. These physical qualities lend themselves to training in the center back position because of the tough defensive work, including winning aerial duels and holding off attacking players on the opposing team. 

Center backs who convert to midfielders transition these traits well to the midfield. The ability to get to the ball first in the air lends itself to dominating the midfield and even creating scoring chances. Any midfield is lucky to have a dominating presence, and many center back players can bring this to the table when pushed up the field. 

Overall transitioning center backs to center midfielders is a way to maximize a player’s skillset and optimize different positions on a team. 

 

Players

A handful of players excelled in the center back position and were then used in the central midfield role. Although it’s not always a permanent switch, converting a center back to a center midfielder can bring an edge to any important game.

 

Julie Ertz

The biggest example is Julie Ertz. Often, Ertz subbed for Becky Sauerbrunn in a defensive role on the USWNT. However, in 2017 Coach Jill Ellis converted her to a defensive center midfielder. She found great success and was then named the 2017 U.S. Female Soccer Player of the Year. 

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Ertz is a very physical player. So it’s clear how her defensive mindset of winning tackles and disrupting the other team’s possession lent itself to her transition to center midfield. 

 

Becky Sauerbrunn

When we think of Becky Sauerbrunn, we immediately think center back–she’s iconic. But a couple of times in her USWNT career, she was used as a center midfielder. 

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In the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Sauerbrunn was slotted into the midfield to provide more stability and control. She has excellent positional awareness, which is what the center of the pitch needed at the time. 

 

Abby Erceg

Abby Erceg, former captain of the New Zealand WNT, is another player we consider a center back, but she found success when moved up the pitch. Erceg is known for her aerial ability, leadership, and physicality, including her height of 5’10”.

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At certain points for her former club, the NC Courage, and her country, she was moved up to the midfield. As a natural leader, she did well in controlling the midfield, setting the pace, and picking out passes. 

 

So, for any player looking to grow their skills in the center of the pitch, look no further than your teammates at center back. See how they handle the game. You can integrate their tactics into yours. Additionally, center back players, don’t be afraid to step up to the midfield and show your skills of being a leader.

 

Featured image via Getty Images

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