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: 816 of the 7,434 lineups we hold from the leagues we cover this season, 11% of them.
- Philadelphia Union100% of lineups32 of 32
- NEOM100% of lineups11 of 11
- Al Khaleej Saihat100% of lineups11 of 11
- DC United81% of lineups25 of 31
- Atletico Madrid92% of lineups12 of 13
- Unión Santa Fe78% of lineups25 of 32
- Columbus Crew75% of lineups24 of 32
- Villarreal85% of lineups11 of 13
- Real Sociedad85% of lineups11 of 13
- Al Shabab90% of lineups9 of 10
- Deportivo La Coruna90% of lineups9 of 10
- FC Thun100% of lineups7 of 7