Position

The player whose job is to score. Strikers come in different flavours: poachers who live in the six-yard box (Inzaghi), complete forwards who do everything (Henry), target men who hold the ball up (Drogba), pressing forwards who hunt defenders (Firmino). The role has changed, and now strikers are expected to press, link play, and create for others, not just finish.

A new breed of attacking midfielder than that acts as a hybrid between an 8 (midfield engine/arriving late in the box) and a 10 (playmaker just behind the strikers). There are usually two players occupying the free 8 role, sitting just in front of a lone CDM and just behind the forwards. They often operate in the half spaces and their job is typically to create chances for the forwards. Pep Guardiola is often credited as being the person behind the free 8 role, having used it at Barcelona with Xavi and Iniesta in the role, then later at Manchester City, with Kevin De Bruyne (KDB) and David Silva in the role.

The last line of defence and the only player allowed to use their hands in the box. Keepers need to stop shots, command the area, make quick decisions, and organize the defence. Modern keepers also have to be good with their feet to play out from the back and sweep up behind a high line. It's a lonely position - you get blamed for losses and rarely get credit for wins.

A midfielder whose main job is to receive the ball deep and drive forward with it. Not a classic playmaker who sprays passes, more someone who runs through the middle of the pitch with the ball at their feet. They beat the first line of pressure by carrying, not passing. Mousa Dembélé at Tottenham was the prototype - he'd just glide past people.

Italian for "director." A deep-lying playmaker who sits in front of the defence and runs the game from there. The regista controls tempo, sprays long passes, switches play, and starts attacks while also tracking back. Andrea Pirlo is the modern example everyone thinks of, though players like Carlos Valderrama did similar things. It's somewhere between a defensive midfielder and a classic number 10.