In football (soccer) a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders. Their main functions are to gain and keep possession of the ball, and to feed it to the strikers. In typical game play, players attempt to move towards a goal through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling (running with the ball close to their feet); by passing the ball from team-mate to team-mate; and by taking shots at the goal. ...

A defensive midfielder's main responsibility is to defend against or tackle the opposing team, to recover the ball for their own team, and to safely distribute it to more attacking-minded players.

Midfielders typically exhaust the most energy during a match due to the distance they cover on a pitch.

The defensive midfielder position is also referred to as "volante." (Spanish for 'movement' or 'flight')

Famous defensive midfielders

• Franz Beckenbauer
• Johan Neeskens
• Ernst Ocwirk
• Obdulio Varela
• Luis Monti
• Jozsef Bozsik
• Frank Rijkaard
• Didier Deschamps
• Dunga
• Toninho Cerezo
• Josef Masopust
• Marco Tardelli
• Romeo Benetti
• Duncan Edwards
• Danny Blanchflower
• Bryan Robson
• Graeme Souness
• Edgar Davids
• Roy Keane
• Claude Makelele
• Lothar Matthäus
• Patrick Vieira

Franz Beckenbauer Franz Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945) is a famous German football player, coach and manager, nicknamed der Kaiser (the emperor) because of his elegant style, his leadership qualities and his domination on the football pitch. ... Johan Neeskens (born September 15, 1951) was a Dutch football player and now manager. ... József Bozsik (November 28, 1925 in Kispest (now a district of Budapest) - May 31, 1978 in Budapest) was a Hungarian footballer. ... Frank Rijkaard (born September 30, 1962 in Amsterdam) is a former Dutch football player. ... Didier Deschamps (born October 15, 1968 in Bayonne) is a former French football (soccer) player and present manager, who currently is the head coach of AS Monaco in Frances Ligue 1. ... Dunga, real name Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri, (born October 31, 1963 in Ijui, Brazil) is a former football defensive midfielder, a World Champion for Brazil in the 1994 World Cup. ... Details. ... Josef Masopust (born February 9, 1931) was a Czech football player. ... Duncan Edwards (October 1, 1936 - February 21, 1958) was an English footballer. ... Robert Dennis Blanchflower, known as Danny Blanchflower (born Dunraven Park, Belfast, February 10, 1926; died December 9, 1993) was a footballer who captained Spurs during their double-winning season of 1961. ... Bryan Robson (born Chester-le-Street, County Durham, January 11, 1957) is a former England footballer who also captained and coached his country. ... Graeme Souness (born Edinburgh, Scotland, May 6, 1953) was the captain of the all-conquering Liverpool football team of the early 1980s who later returned to the club as manager. ... Edgar Davids (born March 13, 1973 in Paramaribo, Surinam),is a Dutch football player who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. ... Roy Maurice Keane (born in Cork, August 10, 1971) is an Irish footballer. ... Claude Makelele (born February 18, 1973 in Kinshasa, Zaire) is a French international football (soccer) player, who currently plays defensive midfield for Chelsea in the English Premiership. ... Lothar Matthäus (born March 21, 1961 in Erlangen, Germany) is a former football (soccer) player and now manager. ... Patrick Vieira Patrick Vieira (born June 23, 1976 in Dakar, Senegal) is a French football midfielder, who currently plays for Juventus. ...

See also

• Football (soccer) positions