FORMATION · 4 AT THE BACK
The 4-4-2 formation
Two banks of four in front of the keeper, with a front pair who work as a unit.
Also called flat 4-4-2 · two banks of four
The shape
1
GK
2
RB
3
CB
4
CB
5
LB
6
RM
7
CM
8
CM
9
LM
10
ST
11
ST
Formation 4-4-2
What it gives you
Everyone knows their job without being told, and the two flat lines are hard to play through.
What it costs you
Two central midfielders get outnumbered fast against anything with a three in the middle.
Positions
GKRBCBCBLBRMCMCMLMSTST
Who plays it
The 4-4-2 is the 3rd most-used shape of the 22 we track: 574 of the 5,080 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season, 11% of them.
- Philadelphia Union100% of lineups25 of 25
- DC United83% of lineups19 of 23
- Unión Santa Fe78% of lineups21 of 27
- Columbus Crew76% of lineups19 of 25
- NEOM100% of lineups7 of 7
- Al Khaleej Saihat100% of lineups7 of 7
- Atletico Madrid100% of lineups6 of 6
- Villarreal100% of lineups6 of 6
- FC Thun100% of lineups5 of 5
- Malaga100% of lineups5 of 5
- Deportivo La Coruna100% of lineups5 of 5
- Al Riyadh86% of lineups6 of 7