Top 5 active players who successfully changed their playing position

There are several factors behind a player changing his playing position, including an injury to a teammate, a tactical change in the team set up and playing personnel or just to make better use of his skill set. However, no matter the reason, the experiment more often than not fails to bear any significant results. Yet, some players have switched positions which have immensely benefitted their careers and their teams.

To illustrate, Zinedine Zidane played on the left of Madrid's midfield to accommodate the other Galacticos, Thierry Henry became Arsenal's record goalscorer after ditching the flanks for the centre-forward position, Fabio Cannavaro was once a full-back at Internazionale and Bastian Schweinsteiger evolved from playing on the wing for club and country to rival the likes of Xavi and Scholes at their peak.

Interestingly, these players have all retired (except for Schweni who still plays in the MLS), but some active footballers have illustrious careers capable of rivalling those of the players mentioned earlier. These five players stand out from the remaining 'position changers'.

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#5 Joshua Kimmich

For all of Guardiola’s perceived faults, he has an uncanny ability for unearthing gems from a club’s academy. He has always blended youth with experience. But since Busquets and Pedro (two of Guardiola’s many discoveries) have become household names, many tend to have forgotten that Guardiola is an acclaimed master of facilitating the progress of youth talents. However, a particular Bundesliga star is around to remind everyone that Guardiola isn’t all about spending; his name: Joshua Kimmich.

When Kimmich was brought in from Leipzig, he was traditionally a defensive midfielder. Yet, Guardiola – during his time at Bayern – started deploying the German at right-back. Kimmich found a new lease of life in his position and has gone on to establish himself as the first-choice right full-back for club and country, thereby addressing the position problem that once plagued Die Mannschaft due to Lahm’s retirement.

Kimmich has proven to be very mature, dynamic, great with the ball at his feet, and productive at the other end of the pitch, evident in his number of goals and assist. The 22-year-old’s veteran-like displays, humility, work ethic, and a willingness to learn have made him become a mainstay in the German senior national team, culminating in consecutive 23-match for the world champions.

Watching Kimmich play for full 90 minutes, scoring goals for fun, and assisting like a central midfielder would convince you that he has the world at his feet and that he is already the best right-back in the world.

#4 Gareth Bale

Bale with his iconic celebration

These five sights must bring joy to the hearts of neutral fans: Messi nutmegging players without asking for their permission, Ramos’ headers, Ronaldo’s knuckle-ball shots, De Bruyne’s slide-rule pass, and Kante dispossessing foes. But there is a sixth view which is even more beautiful than the aforementioned five: Gareth Bale in full flight.

Signed as a 17-year-old by Spurs, Gareth Bale was predominantly a left-back; though he wasn’t great at that position. So unconvincing was Gareth Bale that Tottenham Hotspur nearly sold him. However, as soon as Gareth Bale was deployed as a left midfielder to accommodate Benoit Asou Ekotto returning from Injury, he became a revelation for Spurs.

Pace, power, header, and a rocket of a left foot, Bale was the standout player in the Premier League for two seasons. In fact, Bale announced himself to the Champions League by destroying former Brazil full-back Maicon. His meritorious performances didn't go unnoticed at the Spanish capital, prompting Madrid to pay a then world record fee (more than they paid for Ronaldo) to secure his signature. Despite Madrid consigning Bale to an unfamiliar right-wing forward role, his transfer was one which benefitted both parties.

Scoring in both Champions League and Copa Del Rey finals, Bale has since repaid Madrid’s initial investment with some opponents-terrorising performances.

Summing it up, a fully fit Bale will walk into any squad on this planet bar none.

#3 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the best player in the world

Primarily brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson as Beckham’s direct replacement (after the Englishman’s move to Spanish Giants Real Madrid), Ronaldo was stationed on Manchester United’s right wing; Giggs occupied the left. However, as time progressed, Sir Alex saw the wisdom (as he almost always saw) in changing Ronaldo’s position.

This tactical switch benefitted Ronaldo because it enabled him to transition from being a crosser/trickster to become the second-best import in the Premier League (he takes a backseat to Thierry Henry on that one). It was on the left of a front three that Ronaldo won three league titles, one FIFA Ballon d’Or, and one UEFA Champions League title with Manchester United. Ronaldo was so magnificent that Manchester United fans couldn’t begrudge him for leaving them for Real Madrid.

Although while in Madrid, Ronaldo became a whole new beast. As if scoring hundreds of goals and winning tens of personal accolades from the left of Madrid attack wasn’t enough, Ronaldo has outdone himself by becoming Real Madrid’s Number 9.

With Benzema frequently fluffing his lines for Madrid in big (and even small) matches, Zidane had to turn to Ronaldo to help consolidate Madrid’s standing as the best team in the world. Ronaldo became Madrid’s Number 9 (his second transition in his senior career) and helped them create history in the Champions League and assisted the team to blow a Messi-led Barcelona apart to win their first La Liga title in five years.

On the whole, when a club has Ronaldo on their team sheet, they’ve got the complete weapon in the history of football.

#2 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi celebrating his goal at Santiago Bernabeu

The diminutive Argentine has been head and shoulder above everybody else over the past years, excluding Cristiano Ronaldo. But what do you do when you’re a Lionel Messi whose powers are waning but still intends to continue to colonise world football? You reinvent yourself to become the best-attacking midfielder on Earth.

And that’s precisely what Lionel Messi has done. To accommodate Luis Suarez, Messi reverted to his initial right wing forward position. However, as Messi seems to be losing his explosion and attacking aggression, the Catalan top echelon and Argentina FA felt it necessary to prolong his time at the summit of the game by encouraging the Barcelona man to become an orchestrator instead of continuing as an attacking provocateur.

Consequently, as with everything Messi, he took to that task with great aplomb. From that position, Messi scored 54 goals for club and country just in 2017. In fact, the game which perfectly demonstrated his role reversion was the recently concluded El Clasico, where he played as a midfielder to ensure Barcelona win the battle ensuing in the middle of the park.

Messi was seen pressing from the front; a tactic which yielded great dividends because it meant the Madrid defence and midfield had little time on the ball and were therefore forced to go long to Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema. Furthermore, when the game opened up in the second half, Messi created a league-high nine chances for his teammates; although they only had three goals to show for it.

Above all, Barcelona and neutral fans would hope for a long continuance of such splendid midfield performances from the immaculate Lionel Messi.

#1 Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos is the only defender worthy of being called the 'best'

No matter the position Sergio Ramos plays in, he guarantees extreme competitive spirit and absolute leadership. The familiar sight with Ramos now is we see him bellowing orders to his teammates, galvanising them into action, and marshalling the Real Madrid and Spain defences with supreme adeptness. However, before Ramos became the best centre-back in the world, he was once a right-back for Sevilla, and then Spain, and later Real Madrid.

At right-back, Sergio was convincing for Sevilla, prompting Real Madrid to shell out millions of pounds to ferry him to Santiago Bernabeu. While playing at right-back, Ramos won two league titles with Real Madrid and one European Championship and a World Cup title with Spain. After consecutive four seasons at right back for Madrid, Ramos transitioned to the centre of defence and has even been more impressive ever since.

Two League titles, three Champions League trophies, another Euro victory, and several other triumphs have transformed Ramos into a legitimate Real Madrid and Spain legend. Indeed, Ramos has been so incredible for Real Madrid that despite the club having several centre-back pairings and numerous coaches over the past eight years, only Ramos has been the mainstay of that Madrid defence.

On the whole, when you see Ramos duking it out and besting the best of wold’s Number 9s, remember he was once a full-back. Also, his career achievements and longevity of his positional swap mean he tops this list.