Do Multi-Position Footballers Actually Play More? A 3-Season Test Across Europe’s Top Leagues
For years, it felt obvious: if a footballer masters more than one position, they should logically get more minutes. Coaches love flexibility, right? But football is full of "obvious truths" that fall apart the moment you look at the data.
Instead of repeating the cliché, we tested it. We dug into the last three seasons of the Premier League and LaLiga to answer one simple question: Does playing multiple positions actually get you more game time?
The short answer: Yes. But not always in the way people think.
🧩 The Hypothesis
The logic is clean. A player who can cover Right-back and Center-back, or an 8 and a 10, should survive rotation better than a specialist. In many squads, that logic holds up perfectly.
🦁 Case Study 1: The Valverde Constant (LaLiga)
If there is a poster boy for modern versatility, it is Federico Valverde. While stars like Vinícius Jr (LW) saw their minutes fluctuate due to form or injuries, Valverde’s minutes remained stubbornly high.
The Multi-Position Math:Valverde has realistically covered four spots to stay on the pitch:
- ✅ Central Midfield: His core role.
- ✅ Right Wing: Tactical balance.
- ✅ Defensive Midfield: Injury cover.
- ✅ Right Back: Emergency duty.
The Reality: When you are the "second-best" option in three different positions, you don't leave the pitch. You just move. That is how he became Real Madrid’s most-used outfield player.
🤖 Case Study 2: The Groß Effect (Premier League)
To prove this is not just a Madrid thing, look at Pascal Groß at Brighton. Across three Premier League seasons, Groß played central midfield, right-back, attacking midfield, and wide roles.
The Pattern: Systems changed. Managers changed. Teammates rotated. But Groß stayed. Not because he was the flashiest player, but because he made the team function no matter the shape.
⚠️ Where the Hypothesis Fails
This is where things get uncomfortable. When we zoomed out to the absolute top of the "minutes played" tables, a different pattern appeared. The real "minute monsters" (excluding Goalkeepers) are usually:
- Centre-backs
- Defensive anchors
- Nailed-on Specialists
Versatility helps you survive, but it doesn't automatically beat a specialist who never rotates. In some squads, being "able to play everywhere" actually turns you into the first solution off the bench, not the first name on the team sheet.
🧠 The Real Truth About Versatility
After three seasons of data, the answer is not a clean true or false. Versatility is a multiplier, not a shortcut.
- Good and versatile: Your minutes usually increase.
- Average and versatile: You rotate.
- Elite and specialized: You still dominate minutes.
🏁 The GoalRush Take
The data from the last three seasons is clear. Being a "Master of One" gives you a high ceiling - you might become the star. But being a "Master of Three" keeps you on the pitch when everything around you changes.
The Multipurpose Premium: Versatile outfield players in top squads consistently log more minutes, not because they are better, but because they are harder to remove. In modern football, survival is a skill. And versatility is the best survival tool there is.
Do you prefer a team of specialists or utility players? Let us know in the comments! 👇