Oct
2009 11
2009 11
Is 5 Foot 7 Inches Too Small To Play Centre Back (soccer/football)?
i can play anywhere through the middle (centre back,centre midfield and centre forward) but i feel most comfortable and think my best performances come playing centre back but i feel my height is a disadvantage…. what do you think?
PLAY IN MIDFIELD. 5’7″ IS A BIT SHORT AS A CENTRE BACK. BUT YOU CAN PLAY AS A FULL BACK IF YOU WANT TO.
I really like questions like this. I wish to explore other sports to give you an answer. I apologize ahead of time if your unfamiliar with these sports.
First I want to say, no matter your height, you should never think your too small.
Eddie Gaedel was 3’7, he played in 1 major league baseball appearance getting a walk on 4 pitches. Afterwards he had his contracted voided by the president of Major League Baseball.
Mugsy Bogues had a long successful NBA career. He was only 5’3.
Nate Robinson who is listed at 5’9 is actually less than 5’8 and is an NBA slam dunk champion.
Spud Webb a player at your height is also a NBA slam dunk champion.
Size doesn’t always matter.
Now on to our sport soccer.
My best example to you is Ivan Cordoba. The Inter Milan and Columbian converted centre back (from left back). He is 5 foot 7 inches and a half, so basically he is your height. For a player of his size playing on a high profile team like Inter Milan, it is surely doable.
The thing I don’t know is what level of football you play at. If your playing at a level where a coach makes the decisions, maybe its best to play at where the coach thinks your best put. Generally if your short and you have a lot of speed, most players than usually play on a sideline, but then there are a few exceptions, like Cordoba or look at a Maximiliano Moralez who is only 5’2 1/2.
Fabio Cannovaro is only 5’9 1/2. Carlos Puyol is only 5’10. They distinguish themselves with their defensive intensity, marking and tackling ability, and ability to keep the ball out of the box.
This is just easy proof of size does not matter, if you wish to achieve something, its in your own will power. If you want to be a centre back than its up to you to prove your worth at the position. You most likely need to be able to jump pretty high to compete with the taller players you’ll be up against, but keep this in mind, if you hold your position in a cross and a player goes up against you off balance and wins the ball but more or less flattens your or indirectly impedes your space, the referee will give you the benefit of the doubt due to your size. You see it all the time on tv. Use your size (or lack of size) to your advantage, you can always frustrate taller players with your speed and craftiness.
by Martin de Porres on October 12, 2009 at 8:15 pm.
nope, height isn’t a major factor when it comes to soccer.
Just make sure you’re really fast and agressive, so people won’t be able to pass you.
Lahm (a German soccer player) is a defender and he’s “5’7″
so don’t worry about it lol
by prizby on October 13, 2009 at 9:23 pm.
Height doesnt matter in football…Look at Diego Armando Maradona (arguably the greatest player of all time)….Its all about a matter of skill and if you feel that your too short..Than i would consider being more agressive.
by Ronny's Girl! on October 14, 2009 at 1:19 am.
No i’m 5″9′ and i play everywhere as long as your really good you can play anywhere you want. so no your never too small but being taller could help a little so don’t worry about it
by The Brazilian on October 14, 2009 at 10:40 am.
hey ur taller than me im a 5’6 anywhere forward and i say im just fine so i think ur gonna b just fine too dont worry just try if ur smaller to put into an advantage like im good at usin my speed to get passed people
by Zebra on October 16, 2009 at 8:34 am.
I am quite sure that you can play any game in the world at any time no matter what size you are. you can not be too small or too big.
by curious young soul on October 17, 2009 at 2:16 pm.
no thats about cannavaro’s height
by Princess on October 18, 2009 at 5:43 am.
as long as you’ve got a good leap you’ll be fine
by chrissal on October 19, 2009 at 1:25 pm.
it can be.
by Stef on October 19, 2009 at 6:58 pm.
yup my height is the same.
u will need to learn to jump high because those forward will just push u away
by steven e on October 21, 2009 at 2:51 pm.