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WintipsSports newsList of top 10 most versatile players in football

List of top 10 most versatile players in football

Versatile players are invaluable to managers. Their ability to play in multiple positions aids team selection, especially during injury crises, and allows for tactical flexibility. The best versatile players excel in various roles and possess a deep understanding of the game, as they must adapt to different positions. As players age, their game intelligence improves while their physicality declines, prompting them to transition into new roles, like Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young. Similarly, defenders with tactical acumen, such as Joshua Kimmich, often move into midfield. With this in mind, let’s explore some of the most versatile players in football history, according to Win Betting Tips.

Top 10 most versatile player in football

10. John Stones (Times in service: 2011-present)

John Stones' playing positions include centre-back with 285 appearances, right-back with 64 appearances and defensive midfielder with 26 appearances. As a teenager at both Barnsley and Everton, John Stones was a promising ball-playing centre-back, and since joining Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, he has continued to improve year after year.

Most versatile player in football: John Stones (Times in service: 2011-present)
Most versatile player in football: John Stones (Times in service: 2011-present)

Stones can now play at both right-back and centre-back, and switch to midfield when City have the ball, in Guardiola's incredible system. In Manchester City's Champions League triumph in 2023, Stones played a key role, playing in his new inverted position and supporting Rodri, using his excellent understanding of the game and ability on the ball to drive City forward.

Much credit must be given to Guardiola for developing Stones into the versatile and incredible player he is today, who is regularly the best player on the pitch for both club and country.

9. Ashley Young (Career Length: 2003-present)

Ashley Young's playing positions include full-back with 175 appearances, left midfielder with 215 appearances, winger with 31 appearances and right midfielder with 39 appearances. Ashley Young started, and spent most of his career, as a skilful, quick winger who loved to cut in and shoot or draw fouls. However, as the years went on, and his pace began to diminish, Young began to drop deeper, first as a wing-back, and now as an all-round full-back.

Most versatile players in football: Ashley Young (Career Length: 2003-present)
Most versatile players in football: Ashley Young (Career Length: 2003-present)

Confident on both feet and with a vast understanding of the game, Young is now a key member of Sean Dyche's Everton squad, still playing Premier League football at the age of 39, which is testament to his footballing intelligence.

Some wingers hate the idea of ​​defending and rarely get back to support the full-back, but Young has proven that some of them actually enjoy it, and they could even become full-backs in the future.

8. Philipp Lahm (Time in service: 2002-2021)

Philipp Lahm's playing positions include right-back with 269 appearances, left-back with 219 appearances, defensive midfielder with 50 appearances and central midfielder with 19 appearances. Often described as "perfect" by the German press, Philipp Lahm is a manager's dream. Comfortable at both right and left-back, Lahm's deep understanding of the game, coupled with his quick thinking, makes him the type of player every team would love to have. Not only can he play as a full-back, Lahm is often deployed in midfield, where he is always comfortable.

Most versatile player in football: Philipp Lahm (Time in service: 2002-2021)
Most versatile player in football: Philipp Lahm (Time in service: 2002-2021)

During his time as Bayern Munich head coach, Pep Guardiola explained that it was "impossible" for anyone to play as a defensive midfielder as Lahm, which is testament to his ability. Lahm has never been sent off in his 19-year career, which shows how well he reads the game.

7. Wayne Rooney (Career: 2001-2017)

Wayne Rooney's playing positions include centre-forward with 291 appearances, attacking midfielder with 70 appearances, central midfielder with 14 appearances and second striker with 186 appearances. Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation and the greatest English player of all time. His goalscoring record is outstanding, with 208 Premier League goals and five league titles to his name.

Most versatile players in football: Wayne Rooney (Career: 2001-2017)
Most versatile players in football: Wayne Rooney (Career: 2001-2017)

In his early teens, Rooney would occasionally play out wide, using his explosive pace to strike fear into defenders, but he was always most comfortable as a centre-forward. However, as he got older and lost much of that speed, Rooney began to play more in central midfield, where he could use his excellent technical ability to pick out passes and dictate play.

Rooney’s ability to play in midfield was best demonstrated during his time at DC United, when in the final minute of a match, he ran half the length of the pitch to stop an opposition counter-attack, before delivering a pinpoint pass to the far post to set up his team’s winning goal.

6. Bernardo Silva (Times in service: 2013-present)

Bernardo Silva's playing positions include right midfielder with 72 appearances, attacking midfielder with 142 appearances, right winger with 140 appearances and central midfielder with 112 appearances. There are few players who have been as consistent for the club as Bernardo Silva during his time at Manchester City.

Most versatile player in football: Bernardo Silva (Times in service: 2013-present)
Most versatile player in football: Bernardo Silva (Times in service: 2013-present)

A minimum of eight out of ten times a week, the Portuguese, one of the highest-paid midfielders in the Premier League in 2024, is not only a joy to watch, but also works incredibly hard for the team, no matter where he is asked to play. Sometimes he is tasked with playing deep alongside Rodri, or operating just ahead at the tip of the midfield triangle, and other times he plays wide, as part of the supply line for Erling Haaland.

His versatility and work rate have seen him become one of the first names on the Manchester City teamsheet, especially in the biggest games.

5. Gareth Bale (Times in service: 2006-2023)

Gareth Bale’s playing positions include right winger with 206 appearances, left winger with 171 appearances, left back with 47 appearances and centre forward with 44 appearances. Not many players have had the same career trajectory as Gareth Bale. In the late 2000s, it looked like Bale was ready to leave Tottenham. As a struggling left back, it looked like things weren’t going to go well for the Welshman in North London. Then Harry Redknapp decided to give him a chance as a winger, and that’s where the superstar’s career really took off.

Most versatile players in football: Gareth Bale (Times in service: 2006-2023)
Most versatile players in football: Gareth Bale (Times in service: 2006-2023)

Regarded as one of the greatest wingers in football history, a hat-trick away to Inter Milan brought Bale to the world, before his continued improvement earned him a move to Real Madrid. Bale continued to thrive in Madrid, winning five Champions League titles in the process.

For Wales, Bale often played as a striker, leading the attack and showing his versatility all over the pitch.

4. Thomas Müller (Career Length: 2007-present)

Thomas Müller’s playing positions include second striker with 333 appearances, right winger with 220 appearances, attacking midfielder with 84 appearances and centre forward with 53 appearances. Thomas Müller is widely regarded as the greatest German footballer of all time. Comfortable playing anywhere across the front line and a key player for both the German national team and Bayern Munich, it’s hard to argue with that.

Most versatile player in football: Thomas Müller (Career Length: 2007-present)
Most versatile player in football: Thomas Müller (Career Length: 2007-present)

Two qualities that sum up the German are intelligence and altruism, as he is always willing to do anything to help his team. Throughout his career, and to this day, Müller has remained important for both club and country, which is testament to the player he is and the trust his coaches still have in him.

3. Joshua Kimmich (Time in service: 2013-present)

Joshua Kimmich’s playing positions include defensive midfielder with 240 appearances, right-back with 127 appearances, central midfielder with 61 appearances and centre-back with 22 appearances. Joshua Kimmich is almost a Philipp Lahm clone. The German full-back is extremely comfortable in midfield and never lets his team down.

Most versatile player in football: Joshua Kimmich (Time in service: 2013-present)
Most versatile player in football: Joshua Kimmich (Time in service: 2013-present)

Kimmich is a world-class player at both full-back and midfield, and is always one of the first names on the teamsheet for both his national team and his club. The German’s consistency and enthusiasm, his versatility, are vital for his team, as they allow for rotation without easily dropping levels. After Lahm retired in 2017, there were concerns about who would replace him in the German national team, so Joshua Kimmich stepped in and he has hardly put a foot wrong since.

2. David Alaba (Career Length: 2007-present)

David Alaba’s playing positions include left-back with 261 appearances, centre-back with 205 appearances, central midfielder with 50 appearances and defensive midfielder with 27 appearances. For his club, David Alaba usually plays in a defensive position, either as a left-back or centre-back and is one of the best players in the world in both positions. However, it is for his national team that the Austrian has shown his versatility at its best.

Most versatile player in football: David Alaba (Career Length: 2007-present)
Most versatile player in football: David Alaba (Career Length: 2007-present)

Often deployed in midfield, often even as an attacking midfielder, Alaba has been at the heart of everything his national team has done on the pitch, helping them qualify for many major tournaments. Being able to carry the whole country on his back, while playing in a different position to his usual one, is remarkable, and highlights why he is described as one of the most versatile players around.

1. James Milner (Career Length: 2002-Present)

James Milner's playing positions include central midfielder with 254 appearances, right midfielder with 180 appearances, left midfielder with 108 appearances, left back with 72 appearances and right back with 35 appearances.

In his illustrious Premier League career, James Milner has played in almost every position during his time at six different clubs. Starting out as a skilful winger, and occasionally playing as an attacking midfielder, Milner made his way first to Newcastle, then Aston Villa, and then Manchester City, where he won two league titles.

Most versatile players in football: James Milner (Career Length: 2002-Present)
Most versatile players in football: James Milner (Career Length: 2002-Present)

As he got older, he began to play more centrally and moved to Liverpool, where Jurgen Klopp often deployed him in midfield, but he later began playing as a full-back whenever needed.

At Brighton at the start of the 2024/25 season, Milner has almost always played as a full-back, and at 38 he continues to deliver excellent performances when required. Few in football history have been as consistent throughout their careers as James Milner, especially in a variety of positions. He is undoubtedly the most versatile player ever.

Conclusion

A versatile player is a dream for coaches because of his versatility in multiple roles on the pitch. These players not only have the skills to play well in multiple positions but also possess a deep understanding of tactics, helping the team to easily respond to emergency situations. Examples include James Milner and Joshua Kimmich, who have shown excellence in changing positions throughout their careers. Such players play a vital role in the success of their team, as they are always ready to give their all to help the team overcome challenges. Versatility in football comes not only from technique, but also from intelligence and the ability to adapt to the changing demands of the coach.

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