(UPDATE: SUMMER 2025) Hello again, gang! How are we *Scouse accent*? Before we get into today’s episode, do your boy an incredible solid and like my Facebook page: The Soccer Manager Blog where you can easily locate these episodes, as well as take a look at my weekly content where I bring real life footy into the Soccermanagerverse!
We’ll be taking a look at the lads playing in the Centre Back position and identifying the various roles that you can use while impelementing your tactical set up. I’m sure you need no telling that defences win trophies, and your Centre Back partnership is absolutely crucial when it comes to getting your hands on those virtual accolades! 👐🏆
We’re taking a look at the ‘General Defender’ role, and I’m sure if you’ve never played any of the singular player SM games (SM20, SM22, SM24, etc.) then this might be the very first time you’re hearing about this type of role (Before the update, of course)…
A ‘General Defender’ is a versatile Centre Back who has the ability to play anywhere across the back line (particularly in a 4 at the back formation). He is a well rounded player that “generally” has enough tactical intelligence to perform well within variying defensive roles. Although he may not be outstanding in any particular attribute (not every ‘General Defender’ falls into this category, however), he is one of those players whose tactical versatility becomes quite handy especially in the midst of an injury or suspension crisis.
ATTACKING PHASE
During the attacking phase, a ‘General Defender’ keeps things simple and never tries to impose himself too much on a game, but the beauty about their tactical diversity is the fact that you can assign them to play more passes to “break the lines” as an extra creative option or instruct them to support their ‘Winger’ more higher up the pitch when playing in the outside defender position.
DEFENSIVE PHASE
Like every other Centre Back, defending is a ‘G.D’s’ number one priority, so they tend to be solid enough to deal with pressures from opposition attackers albeit they may be behind the pecking order when it comes to being natural defenders when comparing them to other Center Back roles.
POSITIONAL TRAITS
A ‘General Defender’ can typically play as a D(RLC), and even if they cannot play one of the D(L) or D(R) positions within Soccermanger, their versatility ensures they won’t perform badly even if you see a yellow color next to their defensive position within your starting XI.
UPDATE
KEY ATTRIBUTES (FROM SM25 and beyond)
The key attributes of a ‘General Defender’ are:
Marking
Positioning
Long Passing
Passing
Aerial Ability
Strength
Aggression
Concentration
Leadership
BEST PLAYERS OF ROLE IN SOCCERMANAGER WORLDS
(UPDATE) Carrying on with the theme of these updates, we’ll be showcasing the best 15 players who are the most versatile Defenders within SM25 and will therefore play the best if given the responsibility as your ‘G.D’:
Manuel Akanji 🇨🇭
Jurriën Timber 🇳🇱
Noussair Mazraoui 🇲🇦
César Azpilicueta 🇪🇸
Luiz Danilo 🇧🇷
Nacho Fernándes 🇪🇸
Joe Gomez 🏴
Matteo Darmian 🇮🇹
Takehiro Tomiyasu 🗾
Óscar Mingueza 🇪🇸
Josep Stanišić 🇭🇷
Bafodé Diakité 🇫🇷
Anthony Caci 🇫🇷
Ben Godfrey 🏴
Lukas Kübler 🇩🇪
And since the ‘General Defender’ role is so vast, let me give you another list but this time with Center Backs who are comfortable playing as Outside Defenders, and Outside Defenders who are comfortable playing at Centre Back:
David Alaba 🇦🇹
Daley Blind 🇳🇱
Jules Koundé 🇫🇷
Joško Gvardiol 🇭🇷
Ben White 🏴
Benjamin Pavard 🇫🇷
Lisandro Martínez 🇦🇷
Riccardo Calafiori 🇮🇹
Reece James 🏴
Kyle Walker 🏴
Piero Hincapié 🇪🇨
Marc Cucurella 🇪🇸
Nathan Aké 🇳🇱
Luke Shaw 🏴
Giovanni Di Lorenzo 🇮🇹
The Soccermanager Experience 