{
  "id": 9322745,
  "title": "From Henry to Raphinha: 15 footballers who thrived after switching positions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/from-henry-to-raphinha-15-footballers-who-thrived-after-switching-9322745",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T11:24:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/from-henry-to-raphinha-15-footballers-who-thrived-after-switching-positions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The story highlights a selection of 15 footballers who experienced significant success following a change in their positions. Thierry Henry, initially a winger at Arsenal, thrived as the club's central striker, scoring 228 goals in 376 games. Gareth Bale, who started his career as a left-back, demonstrated his versatility by playing as a forward at Tottenham, where he scored a memorable hat-trick. Cristiano Ronaldo, initially playing on the wing for Real Madrid, was eventually moved to a central striker role under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ousmane Dembélé, despite his injury struggles at Barcelona, became the main striker at Paris Saint-Germain and won back-to-back Champions League titles and a Ballon d'Or. Ryan Giggs, known for his skills as a winger, found a new role as a calming influence in midfield during his later years with Manchester United. Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had a successful career as a central midfielder, also showcased his defensive abilities when playing out wide. Andrea Pirlo, originally a No. 10, transitioned into a deeper role at AC Milan, where he had a profound impact. Fabinho, who began his career as a full-back, redefined himself as a defensive midfielder and later became one of Liverpool's best defensive midfielders. Ben White, initially a central defender, transitioned to right-back, becoming one of the Premier League's top defenders and helping Arsenal win the title in 2025-26. Javier Mascherano, unable to break into Barcelona's midfield, reinvented himself as a centre-back and enjoyed a successful 334-game career at the club. Antonio Valencia, a winger who struggled with pressure after joining Manchester United, found a more comfortable role in midfield under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United.",
  "summary": "Discover 15 top footballers, including Thierry Henry, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved greater success after switching playing positions. Read More: https://punchng.com/from-henry-to-raphinha-15-footballers-who-thrived-after-switching-positions/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "From Henry to Raphinha: 15 footballers who thrived after switching positions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/from-henry-to-raphinha-15-footballers-who-thrived-after-switching",
        "published": "2026-09-23T11:14:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}