11v11 4-5-1 lineup sheet

The 11v11 4-5-1 formation

The 4-5-1 packs five players across midfield in front of a back four and leaves one striker forward. It is a compact, hard-to-break-down shape that turns into a 4-3-3 when the wide midfielders push on.

Strengths

• Five in midfield makes it very hard for opponents to pass through
• Wide midfielders can spring forward to support the striker
• Good for protecting a lead

Weaknesses

• The striker spends long spells alone
• Can invite pressure if the midfield line sits too deep

Best for

Teams facing a stronger opponent, or sides built around hard-working midfielders.

Coaching tip

Give the striker a simple job: hold the ball for three seconds so the midfield can arrive.

Positions in a 11v11 4-5-1

The lineup sheet has a box for each of these 11 positions in every quarter: Goalkeeper, Left Back, Left Center Back, Right Center Back, Right Back, Left Mid, Left Center Mid, Center Mid, Right Center Mid, Right Mid, Striker.

Other 11v11 formations

Want it filled in for you?

The free SOXY app does the parts a web page cannot. It keeps your roster, knows which players have said they are coming, and fills all four quarters so playing time comes out even. It rotates the goalkeeper, lets you drag players between positions, saves a lineup for every game, and prints this same sheet with the field, both coaches and the referees already on it.