Football Chameleons: Top 10 Position Switches

Some players’ careers don’t fit neatly into one position. These guys evolved or found a new start after a major position switch. From defensive hero to goal poacher to wide players turned full-backs, here are ten standout positional switches.

Thierry Henry

From marooned on the left wing at Juventus to Arsenal superstar, Henry enjoyed a remarkable career turnaround. Thanks to Arsène Wenger’s astute management, Henry flourished for the Gunners.

A nightmare for top-flight defenders, Henry floated from an inside left position into goalscoring areas. More than a basic ‘number nine’, the Frenchman was a new breed of ‘all-round’ forward, becoming the Gunners’ all-time leading scorer and a club legend.

Yes, he returned to the left flank after moving to Barcelona, but Henry’s devastating best was leading the line at Arsenal between 1999 and 2007.

Paul Warhurst

Warhurst enjoyed a dream 1992-93 season at Sheffield Wednesday. He started in his usual centre-half role until multiple injuries piled up. Then, Owls boss Trevor Francis moved Warhurst to a number nine role.

From seemingly nowhere, Warhurst morphed into a prolific centre-forward, netting 12 goals in as many games and almost propelling Wednesday to FA Cup and League Cup honours. This is one of the more radical yet fruitful position moves in Premier League history.

Gareth Bale

From Southampton and Tottenham left-back to dazzling forward. Spurs went 24 games winless with Bale in the side between August 2007 and September 2009.

After Lilywhites boss Harry Redknapp moved Bale to left wing in late 2009, the Welshman blossomed. Then came a pair of standout Champions League performances against top-class right-back Maicon in Autumn 2010.

A world-record £85+ million move to Real Madrid brought a glittering five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns, and more silverware.

Sergio Busquets

One of the most elegant defensive midfielders ever for the peerless Barcelona and Spanish national teams, Busquets started playing as a striker in youth football and in the Barcelona youth system.

Known as one of the most press-resistant midfielders of all time, Busquets relied on elegant skills and IQ, not pacy running.

Ashley Young

At Watford and Aston Villa, Young played as a pacy winger with a penchant for pinpoint crosses into the box. He enjoyed initial success under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, as a key member of the 2012-13 title-winning side. Yet from 2014 he transitioned into either a wing-back or full-back role, chiefly on the left flank.

Joelinton

After struggling to justify a £40 million fee, Joelinton benefited from Eddie Howe’s tactical masterstroke on Tyneside. Moving from centre-forward to an all-action midfield role, the Brazilian international combines strength and tenacity with late movement forward. He’s since become a linchpin of the Magpies’ squad.

Antonio Valencia

Here is one more Red Devils position switch made good. Valencia joined Manchester United as a replacement of sorts for Cristiano Ronaldo, bombing up and down United’s right side.

Yet, he made a surprise move to a right-back role in the Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho years. Valencia combined physical strength and stamina to become a reliable, if unlikely, full-back, and even earned the coveted captain’s armband.

Vincent Kompany

Kompany signed for Manchester City as a defensive midfielder in 2008. While a decent player in the middle, he was swiftly converted to centre-back for the Cityzens. Kompany’s leadership, ability to read play, and physicality saw him captain City to four Premier League titles between 2012 and 2019, as a pillar of their domestic dominance.

Andrea Pirlo

Pirlo was originally a ‘number ten’ attacking midfielder. Yet AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti moved Pirlo to a ‘number 6’ playmaker role. Positioned at the base of midfield, “The Architect” enjoyed plenty of space to influence games. Into the 2000s, he became a standout “Regista”, playing with a calm demeanour and pinpoint passing for AC Milan, Juventus and Italy.

Ruud Gullit

The flying Dutchman started his senior career as a sweeper at Haarlem. Yet he enjoyed later success at Feyenoord and, most famously, AC Milan as an attack-minded midfielder. Gullit could play anywhere on the pitch, from striker to marauding midfielder. He reverted to a sweeper role at Glenn Hoddle’s Chelsea in the mid 1990s.