All Time Top 10 Versatile Players

It’s not really expected from a player to be a jack-of-all-trades and are usually chosen to do what they do best but some players aren’t just equipped with one role, they are versatile enough to excel in the secondary roles too.

When needed, they are their managers heroes as they give a new look to the usual identity the player in that position has, and that variety can’t be offered by the regular. Take Manchester United’s Daley Blind as an example of how he has played in different position ,showing his intelligence to fit in all of those spots.

The Holland International delivered a brilliant pass to Robin van Persie in their famous opening match against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2014. The goal included a brilliant header from Van Persie which flew past Iker Cassilas in a game which he leaked 5 goals against to the 1 they scored.

That goal was set up with an exquisite pass from the left wing into the box by Blind where he played as a winger, not as a Left Back where he played for his former club Ajax. The player has played at Left wing, Left Back, as a center Defensive Midfielder and now plays at center Back for Manchester United in only his second year at the club.

Here are the Top 10 Most Versatile Players in the history of Football:

10. Cesc Fabregas

The Chelsea playmaker has played various position in his career varying from a defensive midfield position to a striker. Fabregas has played as a striker for Spain and his former club FC Barcelona in a False 9 formation. His favorite position is a number 10 role where he had his place booked at Arsenal and in a few games for Barcelona.

In his current club Chelsea, the midfielder bagged 17 assists last season beating his own record and played three positions, as a striker for 2-3 games, as a defensive midfielder in a few and played a number 10 role for the most part of the season.

9. Javier Mascheranho

The Argentanian is a defender by trade but one would surely be surprised by his “can play at positions” list. Started from a center back, the defender has played center defensive midfielder(CDM) position for his former club and his current club Liverpool and Barcelona respectively. He has also played at number 10 position at Liverpool, a position from where he scored a cracking goal on his debut for the English club. He currently plays as a center back paired with Gerard Pique for his current club, FC Barcelona.

8. James Milner

The English winger is a work horse for his club and country and has been instrumental everywhere in the midfield. He can play at center as a number 10, at the right wing and also the left. For his former club Manchester City, the midfielder played on either wings as he had no chance competing with David Silva in the middle but he was shifted well into either wings when needed.

The 29-year-old has now been made as the vice-captain for his current club, Liverpool because of his experience and work ethic. His dedication is above-par and he has all one needs to be a top midfielder.

7. Gareth Bale

Many find it hard to believe that the Real Madrid star was once a left back, but it’s true. In his early days for Southampton, Bale was a natural wing back and had that raw pace and power of which the whole world is a fan. The winger moved to Tottenham Hotspurs at the age of 18 and played as a wing back, and was about time that a season after he was playing as a winger for Spurs. He can play either wings and also as a number 10. The Welsh midfielder has also played as a Center Forward for his current club, Real Madrid when needed and the new boss stated in an interview that he can be used as a number 10 this season.

6. Ryan Giggs

Another Welsh winger is in this list, and it’s none other than the Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs. The United academy product is a winger by trade but can play pretty much everywhere in the attack. If he had more height and strength, he could have played at center forward too. He can play at either wings has played as a central midfielder and also a second striker.

Giggs in his playing days was loaded with talent, pace and touch and has proven his worth. He played for 20 years at United and in his last season for the club under David Moyes, he played a whole 120 minute match against Chelsea at the age of 39, and scored too, twice! No doubts about his fitness.

5. Steven Gerrard

The Liverpool legend had to be in this list, without a doubt. Gerrard was a natural center midfield player, creating position, spreading the play but there was more to him than that. The midfielder was pretty accurate in his passes and played at either wings, crossing straight to the center forward’s head. Gerrard was no short of technical ability and has played at number 10 positions for his former club, Liverpool. The England international has great ability and has leadership qualities to push on the team to glory.

4. Wayne Rooney

The Manchester United captain was an amazing number 9 in his early days when he played for his former club, Everton FC. The England international was just 18 and had the aura which impressed everybody. He was always onto something, and scored a lot of goals as a number 9 but also played as a winger by Sir Alex Ferguson. With Ruud van Nistelrooy, Carlos Tevez in the middle, Rooney was forced to play at the wing in a 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo on the other wing.

With time, arguably best position has shifted to a number 10 where he seems more comfortable and his spread of passes also has been good. Rooney has also played at defensive holding positions for David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.

3. Bastian Schweinsteiger

We all know Schweinsteiger’s story, where he started from a Right Wing, played at the center for awhile, then at the left. In all of this, his favorite position is defensive midfield. The German international has amazing talent and has played for Bayern Munich until the age of 30 after which he has now moved to Manchester United to play in his favorite position. Schweinsteiger has played for Germany in all of these positions, he’s equipped with the strength, pace, power, positioning to play anywhere in the midfield of any team. He fits right in, anywhere behind the forward and ahead of the defence.

2. Thomas Muller

Tall and skinny German midfielder has played in so many different positions for his club and country. Bayern have used him at center Forward, Right wing, center midfield both right and left, as a number 10, everywhere in the attack. Muller has a very disciplined attitude and is a total team player, over that he has the intelligence to play everywhere in the attack which makes him such a valuable player for his team. No wonder why various European clubs are ready to break banks for him with what he can offer. For his country Germany, the midfielder plays as a center forward using his height and positioning intelligence to get goals and contribute to the team.

1. Johan Cruyff 

Johan Cruyff was renowned for both his imaginative playmaking and his reliable scoring. The ajax youth product had the individual quality and the vision to excel as a number 10 but also had the finishing to be a world class striker and so he was. The Dutch forward has won a lot with his parent club Ajax and he was known worldwide after that. He eventually transferred to FC Barcelona and was in a part of the “Total Football” era, a style of play that emphasized all-around skill, versatility, and creativity.