A lively discussion among football legends in a video posted by WeAreTheOverlap via their official X account. recently explored one of the sport’s most debated questions.
What is the hardest position on the pitch? Opinions varied, showing just how differently players experience the game depending on their role.
Watch the video below:
Softfootball understands that Gary Neville, who recently criticised the Liverpool attack, opened the discussion with a strong, almost stubborn certainty.
He said:
The hardest position on the pitch, goalkeeper. Centre midfield. The second hardest position on the pitch, centre forward. 100%, you’ve got to receive the ball. It’s the only position. where you have to receive the ball with your back to play. On a constant basis.
Neville argued that midfielders usually receive the ball on the half-turn, already facing play, which can make their lives slightly easier.
Jill Scott didn’t hesitate to counter the point, stating that midfield is hard.
Neville still held his ground, adding that goalkeepers play in isolation and one mistake can destroy them. He gave the example of Onana, who recently moved to the Turkish side Trabzonspor on loan from Manchester United, as reported by Softfootball.
He mentioned:
You think of Ramsdale, you think of Onana. Karius at Liverpool. you think of a big club playing as a goalkeeper.
hinting at how tough the scrutiny can be.
Roy Keane, meanwhile, leaned toward midfield being the toughest.
He said:
I think midfielder. Midfield. You’ve got to be able to do it. You’ve got to be able to get up to pitch. got to play with your back to play.
Look at the physical challenges. If you’re playing in the middle of the park, I’m going to go a few years; if you’re a goalkeeper, you can play till you’re 40. Full backs play till they’re 40. Lads in the middle of the park, it’s just different demands on your body.
He also pointed out that goalkeepers and full-backs can play until they’re 40, but the physical demands in midfield eventually wear players down quicker than most appreciate.
In the end, the debate didn’t reach a neat conclusion because football rarely does. But what it did show is how each position carries its own kind of chaos, pressure, and responsibility. Every role feels like the hardest when you’re the one living it.
