Raphinha’s redeployment deeper in Barcelona’s attack, and his scoring 8 goals in the first 5 competitive matches of the season, have renewed interest in cases where coaches changed their players’ positions, opening new roles for them or rebuilding their careers. Examples from different clubs and national teams show that the success of a transition depends on how a player’s skills are used and how his teammates adapt to him, not simply on moving him around the pitch.
The new starting position gives Raphinha more opportunities to move between the centre-backs or drop deep to receive the ball before setting off again, rather than starting attacks near the touchline and having to beat an opponent to reach the danger area. But assessing the experiment requires measuring whether it remains effective against packed defences and after opponents adapt to his new role.
Attacking changes that made a difference for Henry and Bale
Thierry Henry underwent a similar transition after moving to Arsenal in 1999, when manager Arsène Wenger switched him from the wing to centre-forward. Henry did not score in his first seven league appearances and considered returning to the flank, but Wenger stuck with the plan. The player retained his tendency to move in from the left and his pace when running at opponents, before ending his Arsenal career with 228 goals in 377 matches.
Gareth Bale followed a gradual attacking path. He began as a left-back with Southampton, then moved forward to the wing at Tottenham under Harry Redknapp before being given greater freedom near the goal. In the 2012-2013 season, he scored 21 league goals, including 9 from outside the penalty area, after spending more time in the attacking third.
Messi and Pirlo expanded their influence in different roles
Pep Guardiola was not trying to rescue Lionel Messi’s career when he deployed him as a false nine; he was seeking to expand Messi’s influence in building and finishing attacks. The role allowed Messi to drop in front of the centre-backs and draw them away from their positions, opening space for his teammates.
In the 2011-2012 season, he scored 73 official goals for Barcelona, including 50 in the league, a tally also linked to his talent and maturity and the team’s strength. Unlike the changes that brought players closer to goal, Andrea Pirlo dropped back from an advanced playmaking position to a role in front of the defence.
Carlo Mazzone began the experiment at Brescia to fit Pirlo and Roberto Baggio into the same lineup, then Carlo Ancelotti established the role at Milan, protecting the player with Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf alongside him. From the deeper position, Pirlo became responsible for directing attacks and distributing passes. Bastian Schweinsteiger underwent a similar transition when Louis van Gaal moved him from the flank into Bayern Munich’s midfield in 2009.
Joelinton becomes an influential midfielder
The central position helped him link the team’s lines, contribute to winning the ball and control the tempo, before he helped Bayern win the Champions League in 2013 and Germany win the World Cup in 2014. Joelinton is an example of a transition that changed how a player was assessed. On 30 November 2021, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe had to move him from attack into midfield after defender Ciaran Clark was sent off against Norwich.
The Brazilian had scored only 2 goals in his first Premier League season after moving for £40 million, but in midfield he became more reliant on carrying the ball, competing physically and working tirelessly. He was named Newcastle’s player of the year at the end of the 2021-2022 season. Positional changes also extended to the back lines.
Changing positions reshapes defenders’ roles
Franz Beckenbauer built attacks from the sweeper position, using his precise passing and ability to carry the ball forward. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1972 and 1976 and led Bayern to three consecutive European Cup titles between 1974 and 1976. At Bayern, injuries to Niklas Süle and Lucas Hernández in the autumn of 2019 also led David Alaba to move into central defence, opening the left-back position for Alphonso Davies.
Davies benefited from his previous experience in the position and from Alaba’s support, securing his place by combining his attacking runs with the ability to deal with fast wingers. Moving into the sweeper role also helped Lothar Matthäus continue playing as he grew older, after he had been a midfielder whose game relied on winning the ball, surging forward and scoring.
The deeper position allowed him to use his experience reading attacks and organising the build-up from the back, while redistributing the physical demands placed on him. These cases show that the criteria for a successful positional change vary: Henry and Mertens moved closer to goal, while Pirlo and Schweinsteiger took on broader playmaking responsibilities, and Joelinton became influential in physical battles and regaining control.
In every case, the transition required repeated training, an understanding of teammates’ movements and time to build confidence before an emergency solution or tactical decision could become an established role.
