The FDscout role library

A role is a weighted blend of statistics describing a way of playing the position, not a formation slot. FDscout scores every player in a position group against each role on a 0–100 scale, computed against the full position pool across 30 leagues, so a 78 always means the same thing wherever a player plays. You can also build custom roles from your own weights.

Goalkeepers

Shot Stopper

A high-quality shot stopper: high save volume and strong xG prevented, with little involvement in build-up.

Cross Claimer

Comes and claims crosses at a high rate, catching rather than punching; little involvement in build-up.

Short Build Up Goalkeeper

Gets involved in short build-up, attempting and completing a high volume of short, accurate passes.

Direct Build Up Goalkeeper

High touch volume with long balls into the final third rather than short passing; the best in this role keep long-ball accuracy high.

Complete Goalkeeper

Prevents a high amount of xG, comes and claims crosses, and contributes in build-up play.

Centre backs

Safe Build Up Centre Back

Plays short, low-risk passes in build-up to let more creative teammates flourish.

Progressive Playing Centre Back

Tasked with playing through the lines into midfield, either with deep progressive passing or by carrying the ball into the middle third.

Physically Dominant Centre Back

Aerially dominant and wins a high proportion of duels and tackles.

Complete Centre Back

Combines progression through dribbles or passes with winning a high number of aerial and ground duels.

Wide Centre Back

Typically the outside of a back three: carries the ball forward, advances into wide areas and covers large spaces out of possession.

Full backs and wing backs

Defensive Full Back

A full back whose primary strength is the defensive side of the game: a good 1v1 defender who is rarely dribbled past, wins his tackles and is strong aerially.

Inverted Creator

Comes into midfield from full back to progress play and become a central creative outlet for the team.

Inside Full Back

Joins the defensive line in build-up, playing safe passes in possession; out of possession his primary strengths are defensive.

Deep Creating Full Back

Contributes most in possession from middle-third wide areas: keeps the width and keeps play moving by passing more, dribbling less and crossing from deep.

Attacking Creative Wing Back

A wing back who gets high up the pitch, beats the opposing full back and delivers crosses and cutbacks from high wide areas.

Attacking End Product Wing Back

An attacking wing back who ends up high both out wide and in the opposition box, creating significant chance and goal output by arriving in dangerous areas at the scoring moments.

Defensive and central midfielders

Game Dictator

Sits deep, often dropping between the centre backs, playing a high volume of short safe passes: sets the tempo and dictates from deep, usually as a single pivot.

Deep-Progressive Playmaker

Sits deep with the job of progressing play into dangerous areas as often as possible. Unlocks lines but is often carried defensively.

Ball Winning Playmaker Hybrid

Prefers progressive passes over safe ones but picks the moment to play forward, while staying competent defending central areas in front of the defence.

Ball Winning Midfielder

Engages in duels and tackles to win possession back, then lays simple passes to more creative teammates.

Box to Box Midfielder

Almost a complete midfielder: contributes effectively in every phase of the game, attacking and defending.

Free 8

Gets forward from central midfield, contributing key passes, final-third passes and chance creation, while also adding to the goal output.

Attacking midfielders

Final Ball Playmaker

Operates centrally in the final third and is often the pass before the goal: high assist threat and big chances created, sometimes without many touches.

Complete Attacking Playmaker

The central creative outlet for the team: lots of touches in deep and advanced areas, high-end chance creation and goal threat combined.

Advanced Linking Player

Keeps things ticking in the attacking third: receives in space from deeper players, links and progresses play, chipping in with creative output.

Box Crashing Attacking Midfielder

Feeds off the attacking players around him, arriving into the box from deep positions to score more than he creates.

Advanced Ball Winner

Works tirelessly in a high-pressing system, applying pressure and winning the ball high up the pitch; creative and goal output are secondary to the hard running.

Wingers

Wide Creator

Looks to retain possession rather than beat his man: higher pass completion than other wide players, creating from central areas.

Wide Dribbling Threat

Excels in 1v1 dribbling at high volume with high success, often driving into the box from wide to shoot or deliver low cutbacks.

Wide Crossing Threat

Goes around his opponent to cross, or crosses early: high crossing volume and heavy chance creation through deliveries from wide areas.

Inside Forward

A real goal threat: starts wide, comes into central positions and focuses on goal output, shooting at volume from cutting in or arriving in the box.

Strikers

Last Line Forward

Plays on the shoulder, always looking to run in behind with high-intensity sprints that generate high chance quality and shot volume.

Target Forward

Wins aerial duels, holds the ball up and brings other attackers into the game; scores mostly from crosses despite modest overall goal output.

Deep Lying Forward

Drops deeper in build-up to link it to the final third: completes more passes, takes more touches, and still arrives in the box to score.

Fox in the Box

Low involvement in build-up and few touches, but comes alive in the box: finds space to receive the final pass or cross and finishes clinically.

False Nine

Drops deep into midfield, forcing defenders to decide whether to follow. Lower shot volume than other striker roles, acting instead as a playmaker creating big chances.

Complete Forward

The technical ability of the deep-lying forward, the finishing of the fox in the box and the duelling of the target forward.