Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and people of all shapes and sizes play the game. But when it comes to specific positions, some body characteristics are more suited than others – so what is the best position for tall soccer players?
The best position for tall soccer players is goalie, followed by center back or center forward. Tall players are very effective goalkeepers, as their long reach allows them to cover much of the goal. Some tall players can even play on the wing if they are fast enough.
Let’s get on the pitch to see how tall is tall in soccer and what the average height of professional goalkeepers is, plus some of the other positions that tall soccer players can fill and why those positions would require tall players.
Table of Contents
- How Tall Are Professional Goalkeepers
- Why Having A Tall Goalkeeper Is Essential For Soccer
- Center Back Is A Good Position For Tall Soccer Players Play
- Why Is It Good To Have Tall Soccer Players As Strikers
- Do You Have To Be Tall To Play Goalkeeper, Striker, Or Defender
- Conclusion
How Tall Are Professional Goalkeepers
As the modern game becomes increasingly competitive, clubs and coaches seek to place the best-suited players in key positions, and the goalkeeper is certainly one of those.
The average height of a modern goalkeeper is around 6’2,” and even this is considered the bare minimum for this position today!
Remember that a goalkeeper may have to dive around 8 feet in either direction and be able to reach the top corners of the goalposts to stop or deflect shots on goal – so being tall is an absolute must!
However, even though you need to be tall, being too tall isn’t ideal either, and many coaches consider players over 6’7″ as they tend to have slower reflexes, are prone to injury, and are often unbalanced and uncoordinated- but there are some professional keepers that are taller!
The tallest ten goalkeepers in the world are all around 6’7″, but the tallest goalkeeper ever is Simon Bloch Jorgensen, a Danish player who stands at a towering 6’10,5″ and plays for Waltham Abbey- don’t think you’d like to take a penalty against him!
Why Having A Tall Goalkeeper Is Essential For Soccer
Firstly, tall players are intimidating! When you, as an attacker, look up and see this figure towering over you, you will feel small, giving the defense a psychological advantage in the box.
With their arm’s reach, they can quickly narrow the angles between an attacker and the goal and close down potential scoring opportunities that shorter goalkeepers could not.
Tall goalkeepers can jump higher than shorter attackers, get to balls in the air before they can be headed in, and use their much longer reach to punch, catch, or deflect them away from the goal or over the bar.
Center Back Is A Good Position For Tall Soccer Players Play
Another good position for a tall soccer player is that of center back. This is primarily a defensive position, and having strong, tall players means they can cover long balls played forward.
The long ball is a well-known and popular strategy in the game, and without the tall defenders to cover those passes, teams will struggle to contain offensive plays into their half and box.
Center backs also play a crucial role in defending corners as they can rise above shorter attackers to head the ball away from the goal.
Having tall players as defenders means that opposing teams will struggle to dominate in the air, whether it be long passes in or corners -plus, center backs can also be used on offense and be positioned in the box for corners or free kicks to use their height and try and score from headers.
As an example of tall defenders, Ivorian Lacina Traore stands 6’7,” and Virgil Van Dijk comes in at over 6’3″!
Why Is It Good To Have Tall Soccer Players As Strikers
You can see that the two positions before this are mainly defensive, with the center back having some versatility to move into offense when required.
But tall soccer players are also great to have as strikers, and for mostly the same reasons that you would have them as defenders.
Their height and strength enable them to reach high balls passed forward and use their size to rise above defenders for corners and balls crossed in from the wings.
They also bring a level of physical intimidation, and teams often combine taller strikers with shorter ones to make the best of various offensive skill sets.
For example, you may find one tall striker paired with a shorter, faster one, and together they can wreak havoc on the opposition’s defensive structures.
As far as strikers go, Peter Crouch was one of the tallest, and he stands 6’7″, as does Stefan Maierhofer.
Do You Have To Be Tall To Play Goalkeeper, Striker, Or Defender
While being tall does lend itself to these positions, and you would have a better chance of selection if you are, being tall is not an essential requirement.
Consider the great players like Ronaldo, Messi, and Maradona, amongst others. Ronaldo is only around 6’1,” but he is rated as one the best strikers to play the game, and he is taller than the Argentinian players but not nearly as tall as other strikers in the game.
World Cup winners Lionel Messi and the late Diego Maradonna weren’t tall players, as Messi is not even 6′ tall as he comes in at just 5’7″, and Maradonna was about the same height.
To be effective as a striker or defender means, you need on-field skills, fitness, and a mind for the game so you can read the plays, know where the spaces are, and make good decisions in the heat of the game. These skills are more valuable than just being tall.
You should also remember that if they have the skills, tall soccer players can take up any position on the field, including the midfield, left and right backs, and on the wing, and those skills can give the coach greater versatility on the field on attack and defense.
Even so, the best position for tall soccer players is the goalkeeper. Their height, reach, and imposing size and strength are most valuable in this critical position. In the case they are suitable for a goalie, a center striker or defender would be the next best option!
Conclusion
While tall soccer players are suited best for positions such as goalkeeper, center back, or sticker, that doesn’t mean you won’t find tall players in other positions such as full-back, center midfielder, or winger.
Yes, tall players can take advantage of critical moments during a soccer game when their height gives them a competitive advantage against their opponents. However, each position in soccer requires a mix of skill sets that a player must develop. Hence relying on choosing one position simply because of someone’s height can be a mistake.
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