Jamie Carragher notably one said: “If you're a fullback, you're either a failed winger, or a failed centre-back” – a thought most football fans would nowadays find difficult to entertain.
Certainly, it does not apply to this current West Ham United team, blessed with numerous full-backs gifted with the ability to supply diligent defending, devilish deliveries and driving runs up the pitch, to name but a few qualities.
The role of the full-back has certainly changed over the last decade and, according to Aaron Cresswell, Ben Johnson and Vladimír Coufal – who sat down to discuss the modern changes popularised in the position – that evolution is set to continue.
Delving into the tactical, technical and physical demands of their respective roles, as well as their inspirations and journeys to playing where they do, the trio took apart the modern-day full-back in an in-depth discussion in front of the West Ham TV cameras.
In partnership with EVA Air, you can enjoy Cresswell, Johnson’s and Coufal’s deep-dive analysis on what makes a modern full-back in the video player above!
