Player

A football player or footballer is a sport person who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby league and rugby union.

Footballers generally begin as amateurs and the best players progress to become professional players. Normally they start at a youth team (any local team) and from there, based on skill and talent, scouts offer contracts. Once signed, some learn to play better football and a few advance to the senior or professional teams.

In association football there are four traditional types of specialties (positions): goalkeepers (goalies), defenders (full-backs), midfielders (half-backs), forwards (attackers). Special purpose positions include such performers like sweepers, stoppers, second forwards (under-attackers), wingers, insiders, etc.

• goalkeepers: good reflexes, communication with defense, one-on-one ability, command of the penalty area and aerial intelligence;
• centre-backs: good heading and tackling ability, height, bravery in attempting challenges, concentration;
• full-backs: pace, stamina, anticipation, tackling and marking abilities, work rate and team responsibility;
• central midfielders: stamina, passing ability, team responsibility, positioning, marking abilities;
• wingers: pace, technical ability like dribbling and close control, off-the-ball intelligence, creativity;
• forwards: finishing ability, composure, technical ability, heading ability, pace, off-the-ball intelligence.

Footballers across the world and at almost any level may regularly attract large crowds of spectators, and players are the focal points of widespread social phenomena such as association football culture.