4-3-3 (b)
One holding midfielder behind two central midfielders. The most common version.
4-3-3 formation
The 4-3-3 is one of the most popular formations in football. Four defenders, three central midfielders and three forwards give a team width in attack and control in the middle of the pitch.
How the 4-3-3 works
In possession, the full-backs push high and the two wide forwards either stay wide or cut inside, so the team can attack with five or six players. The three midfielders form a triangle that makes short passing easy, and the central striker either stays high to pin the centre-backs or drops in to link play.
Out of possession, the wide forwards drop back to help their full-backs and the shape becomes a compact 4-5-1. Many teams also press high from a 4-3-3, because the front three can close down the opposition defenders straight away.
Strengths
- Width in attack from the wingers and overlapping full-backs.
- Three central midfielders give plenty of passing options.
- A natural shape for a high press, with three forwards ready to close down.
- Easy to make more attacking or more defensive by changing the midfield.
Weaknesses
- Full-backs who push forward leave space behind them on the counter-attack.
- Wingers must track back, or the full-backs are left two against one.
- With one striker, the box can be empty when crosses come in.
- A single holding midfielder can be overloaded by a team with two number 10s.
Player roles in the 4-3-3
GK
Goalkeeper
Comfortable with the ball at their feet, since a 4-3-3 often builds play from the back.
RB / LB
Full-backs
Give width when the wingers cut inside, and need the pace to recover.
CB
Centre-backs
Defend big spaces when the full-backs are high, and start attacks with passes into midfield.
CDM / CM
Central midfield
Usually one holder who protects the defense, plus two box-to-box or creative midfielders.
RW / LW
Wingers
Beat defenders one against one, either hugging the touchline or cutting inside to shoot.
ST
Striker
A finisher who stays high, or a false nine who drops deep to make space for the wingers.
Famous teams that used the 4-3-3
Ajax under Rinus Michels
Built Total Football on a 4-3-3 and won the European Cup in 1971, the first of three in a row for the club.
Chelsea under José Mourinho (2004 to 2006)
Claude Makélélé sat in front of the defense, and the team won back-to-back Premier League titles.
Barcelona under Pep Guardiola (2008 to 2012)
Xavi, Busquets and Iniesta controlled games from midfield, with Messi as a false nine. They won the Champions League in 2009 and 2011.
Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp
A high-pressing 4-3-3 with Salah, Firmino and Mané up front won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020.
Example lineup: All-time World XI
Lev Yashin in goal, Beckenbauer and Baresi at the back, Maradona, Xavi and Zidane in midfield, and Garrincha, Pelé and Cruyff up front.
- ST Pelé
- RW Mané Garrincha
- LW Johan Cruyff
- CM Zinedine Zidane
- CM Diego Maradona
- CM Xavier Hernández
- LB Paolo Maldini
- RB Marcos Cafú
- CB Franz Beckenbauer
- CB Franco Baresi
- GK Lev Yashin
Then swap in your own players, change the theme, and download it.
4-3-3 variations
The lineup builder has 5 versions of the 4-3-3. Each one changes the shape of the midfield or attack.
4-3-3 (c)
Two holding midfielders with one central midfielder ahead of them. A more defensive version.
4-3-3 (d)
An attacking midfielder ahead of two central midfielders, close to a 4-2-1-3 in attack.
4-3-3 (e)
The centre-forward plays deeper than the wingers: the false nine version.