Guide: Fullback

How the fullback rating is built

The position rating is calculated from the following attributes:

• Defending — the base of your position rating.
• Pace — you run the whole flank, up and back.
• Crossing — what separates a good fullback from an average one.
• Stamina — or you fade in the second half.
• Experience — only built through matches played.
• Passing — short combinations down the flank.
• Mental strength — composure in foot races and tight moments.
• Technique — first touch and dribbling in tight areas.
• Playmaking — helping the team move the ball forward.
• Heading — defensive headers on crosses into your side. Also applies to attacking set pieces.
• Set pieces — throw-ins, corners, defending dead balls and attacking variants. A high set pieces rating makes you the coach's choice for attacking free kicks and corners.
• Shooting — the occasional strike from the flank.

Speciality

Quick and Workhorse are the strongest picks. Technical suits an attacking fullback.

In the match

Fullbacks get a lot of touches and won free kicks. High stamina means more involvement late in matches, which in turn means more experience.

There are several routes to the top

No single build is the correct one. Two players in the same position can reach Division 1 and the national team in completely different ways — a specialist who is extreme in one or two attributes, or a broader player who is solid at everything and therefore fits more tactics.

• The specialist route: pour everything into the heaviest attributes of your position and become irreplaceable in that role.
• The all-round route: build several position ratings at once so you always get minutes — minutes give experience, and experience can only be trained through matches.
• Set pieces and mental strength lift every position and are often underrated.
• Adapt to your coach's philosophy and to the positions your squad is thin in.
• The national team picks the best in the country per position — there is room for both specialists and complete players.