GOALS - Player Roles

GOALS Player Roles List

• Goalkeeper
• Sweeper Keeper
• Centre Back
• Ball Playing Defender
• Advanced Centre Back
• Full Back
• Defensive Midfielder
• Central Midfielder
• Wide Midfielder
• Attacking Midfielder
• Wide Forward
• Striker
• Deep Lying Forward

Roles and Focus Explained

Role

The role changes what the AI-controlled player tries to do within the team's shape. For example, a Centre Back concentrates on defending, a Ball Playing Defender takes more responsibility in possession, and an Advanced Centre Back steps forward into midfield when the team has the ball.

Focus

The focus adjusts the mentality attached to the selected role. Defend prioritizes defensive positioning, Balanced asks the player to contribute in multiple phases, and Attack places greater emphasis on leading or supporting attacks.

Not every role supports all three focuses. The current menus restrict each formation position to the focus options shown in the table above.

Formation Position

Available roles are determined by the position occupied in the selected GOALS formation. Moving a player into another formation slot changes the role menu to the options supported by that slot. If the slot is not the player's natural position, the Game Plan screen may display a primary- or secondary-position indicator beside the position abbreviation.

Goalkeeper

Position and Focus

GK — Defend

In-game Description

A traditional goalkeeper who focuses on serving as the final barrier between the opposition and the goal.

Tactical Behavior

This is the more conservative goalkeeper role. The player concentrates on protecting the goal rather than regularly moving beyond the penalty area to intercept attacks.

Best Used For

Use Goalkeeper when playing with a deeper defensive line, when the goalkeeper has stronger shot-stopping than rushing attributes, or when the centre-backs are expected to control the space behind the defence.

Sweeper Keeper

Position and Focus

GK — Defend

In-game Description

A sweeper goalkeeper looks to move outside the penalty area so they are more ready to rush out against counterattacking situations when the team is in possession.

Tactical Behavior

The goalkeeper starts in a more proactive position and is prepared to leave the box to deal with through balls or opponents running into the space behind the defensive line.

Best Used For

Sweeper Keeper is most useful behind a high line or an aggressive possession system. Strong awareness, speed off the line, and reliable handling help reduce the risk created by the keeper starting farther from goal.

Centre Back

Position and Focus

CB — Defend

In-game Description

A central defender whose main purpose is to defend and protect the goal.

Tactical Behavior

The standard Centre Back prioritizes the defensive line and does not deliberately step into midfield or take the additional possession risks associated with the other centre-back roles.

Best Used For

Choose this role when defensive security is the priority, especially for players with strong defensive and physical attributes but limited passing or dribbling ability.

Ball Playing Defender

Position and Focus

CB — Defend

In-game Description

A central defender who takes more risks and opens up passing lanes when the team is in possession.

Tactical Behavior

The player remains part of the defensive line but becomes more involved in build-up play, offering angles and attempting to move possession forward from the back.

Best Used For

Use a Ball Playing Defender for a centre-back with good passing, composure, and control. Pairing this role with a more conservative Centre Back can provide build-up quality without asking both defenders to take the same risks.

Advanced Centre Back

Position and Focus

CB — Defend

In-game Description

A central defender who looks to move into midfield when the team is in possession.

Tactical Behavior

This role changes the team's possession shape by advancing from the back line into midfield. The movement can create an extra central passing option but temporarily leaves fewer players in the original defensive line.

Best Used For

The Advanced Centre Back suits a technically capable, mobile defender and works best when the remaining defenders and defensive midfielder can protect transitions. It is the most positionally adventurous of the current centre-back roles.

Full Back

Position and Focus

FB — Defend or Balanced

In-game Description

A full-back is a defender who provides width during both defensive and attacking phases.

Focus Differences

Defend gives greater priority to the defensive line and protecting the flank. Balanced allows the full-back to contribute more evenly in both directions and provide wider support during attacks.

Best Used For

Balanced is useful when the formation needs width from the back four. Defend is safer when a wide forward remains high, the opponent is dangerous on that side, or the opposite full-back has already been given a more adventurous job.

Defensive Midfielder

Position and Focus

DM — Defend or Balanced

In-game Description

A defensive midfielder sits in front of the defence and focuses on protecting the back line.

Focus Differences

Defend emphasizes screening the defenders and holding a deeper position. Balanced retains the protective role while allowing more participation in possession and midfield support.

Best Used For

Defend is valuable when using attacking full-backs, an Advanced Centre Back, or a formation without much central cover. Balanced provides a better connection to midfield when the back line already has sufficient protection.

Central Midfielder

Position and Focus

CM — Defend or Balanced

In-game Description

A central midfielder operates in the middle of the pitch as a box-to-box player who helps during both the attacking and defensive phases.

Focus Differences

Defend asks the midfielder to place more emphasis on defensive support. Balanced maintains the full box-to-box interpretation, contributing at both ends of the pitch.

Best Used For

Balanced suits an all-round midfielder with the stamina and attributes to influence multiple phases. Defend can stabilize a midfield partner who is expected to advance more often or provide extra cover in a formation without a dedicated defensive midfielder.

Wide Midfielder

Position and Focus

WM — Balanced

In-game Description

A wide midfielder operates on the flanks and contributes during both the attacking and defensive phases.

Tactical Behavior

The role provides width in possession while also recovering to support the side of the midfield. It starts deeper and carries more defensive responsibility than a Wide Forward.

Best Used For

Wide Midfielder is important in formations such as 4-4-2, 4-5-1, and back-three systems where the wide midfielders must cover large areas. Pace and stamina are useful because the player contributes in both directions.

Attacking Midfielder

Position and Focus

AM — Balanced

In-game Description

An attacking midfielder links the midfield and the attack.

Tactical Behavior

The player occupies the area between the deeper midfielders and forwards, providing a central passing option and helping move possession into the attacking line.

Best Used For

Choose a player with useful passing, dribbling, and awareness. The role is particularly important behind one or two strikers in formations such as 4-2-3-1, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-1-1, and 3-4-1-2.

Wide Forward

Position and Focus

WF — Balanced

In-game Description

A wide forward plays high up the pitch on the flank.

Tactical Behavior

The player remains in an advanced wide position, stretching the opposition and providing an outlet alongside the striker. Compared with a Wide Midfielder, the role begins higher and has less responsibility for forming a conventional midfield line.

Best Used For

Wide Forward suits quick attackers who can carry the ball, combine with the striker, or threaten space from the flank. Ensure the full-back, wing-back, or nearby midfielder can cover the space behind the wide forward.

Striker

Position and Focus

ST — Attack

In-game Description

A striker who leads the attack and mixes up their play.

Tactical Behavior

This is the standard forward role. The striker remains the principal central attacking reference without being specifically instructed to drop into midfield as often as a Deep Lying Forward.

Best Used For

Use Striker when the team needs a forward to occupy the defensive line, make direct attacking movements, and remain available near goal. It is usually the clearer choice when midfield already supplies enough link play.

Deep Lying Forward

Position and Focus

ST — Attack

In-game Description

A striker who plays deeper during the build-up phase, dropping into the space between the opposition midfield and defence to link play when the team has possession.

Tactical Behavior

The forward moves away from the highest attacking line to become a passing connection. This can draw a defender forward, open space for runners, and help the team progress through the centre.

Best Used For

Deep Lying Forward works well with another striker, advancing wide forwards, or midfield runners who can attack the space created ahead of the ball. Avoid assigning every forward to come short if the team still needs a player threatening the space behind the defence.

How to Choose Player Roles

Start with the Formation

Identify where the formation naturally provides width, defensive cover, and attacking support. A narrow formation may need Balanced full-backs, while a system with aggressive defenders may benefit from a Defensive Midfielder on Defend.

Avoid Duplicating the Same Movement

Roles should complement one another. An Advanced Centre Back needs cover when moving forward, a Deep Lying Forward needs teammates attacking the space ahead, and a Wide Forward benefits from support behind the ball.

Match the Player's Attributes

Passing and control are important for build-up roles, pace and stamina help wide players cover their lanes, and defensive and physical ability remain important for players protecting the goal. Goalkeeper roles should also reflect whether the keeper is better suited to traditional positioning or proactive rushing.

Test AI Movement

Use Solo Practice or matches against AI to observe where teammates position themselves during build-up, transitions, and defensive phases. Change one or two roles at a time so the effect of each instruction is easier to identify.

Player Roles are currently described by GOALS as a first iteration. Names, available focuses, and AI behavior may be expanded or adjusted in future gameplay updates.