5 players who succeeded after being played out of position in 2014/15

A fascinating 2014/15 season is drawing to its close and fans across Europe have certainly been treated to some fantastic football this term. However, whilst many stars have flourished in their preferred roles, a number of players have managed to reinvent themselves in new positions, to devastating effect.

In some cases, the switch has been born out of necessity, but in others it’s simply a case of world-class talent showcasing versatility to produce phenomenal performances.

Here are five players that have excelled after a role change in 2014/15:

1) Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann moved to Atletico Madrid last summer and is this season’s top goalscorer at the club

Replacing Diego Costa after losing him last summer to Chelsea was always going to be one of Diego Simeone's hardest challenges at the Vicente Calderon in 2014/15. However, whilst Mario Mandzukic has done well since joining from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, it is one of Atletico's other signings that has really stunned followers of La Liga.

French star Antoine Griezmann was brilliant for Real Sociedad in 2013/14 but was very much a left-sided winger prior to his €30 million switch from the Anoeta. Whilst the 24-year-old has played the occasional match out wide, as well as a secondary striker, Atletico's ability to mould the youngster into an out-and-out forward has been crucial to keeping the Madrid club residing in the upper echelons of Spanish football.

A return of 22 goals sees Greizmann comfortably take the club's leading goalscorer crown in 2014/15. Of those 22 goals, 15 have come from 20 starts as a centre forward, compared to eight in 13 when playing elsewhere and 16 in 31 Liga appearances for Sociedad in 2013/14. Moreover, his ability to bamboozle defences from a central role has undoubtedly made him one of the most feared attacking figures in Europe this term.

Some eyebrows had been raised following the big money transfer, especially as Atletico are blessed with quality attacking wingers. In hindsight, we should never have questioned Simeone's masterplan.

2) Emre Can – Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers has failed to replicate the success of last season in 2014/15, which has ultimately seen his Liverpool side miss out on Champions League qualification. Whilst a lot of fingers have been pointed to the manager's poor dealings last summer, there is one signing that has proved to be worth every penny: the versatile Emre Can is a star of the future.

The 21-year-old German was bought from Bayer Leverkusen to play in central midfield, but following a calamitous start to Liverpool's campaign, the £9.75 million signing soon found himself joining Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho at the heart of the Reds' makeshift defensive trio.

Can's impressive showings were central to Liverpool's mid-season revival and very nearly helped them salvage a top four finish. It is no coincidence that the Reds improved once the German’s calming influence helped steady the defensive ship. In an otherwise very disappointing campaign for the Reds, the German stands out as one of the few shining positives.

With Steven Gerrard departing Anfield for Los Angeles this summer, the Kop will be hoping to see Can link up with the likes of Jordan Henderson in his preferred midfield role next term. Nonetheless, Rodgers can rest assured he has a capable deputy should injuries hit his defence.

3) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp's final season at Signal Iduna Park hasn't quite gone to plan, although Dortmund can still salvage some pride by lifting the DFB Pokal against Wolfsburg. But the individual performances of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have pleased the BVB head coach.

While summer signing Ciro Immobile failed to live up to the reputation of becoming Robert Lewandowski’s heir, the 25-year-old Aubameyang has stepped up to prove himself in a new position – that of the centre forward. This season has seen the Gabon star up his goal tally from 16 in all competitions to a much healthier 23 goals, which is even more impressive when you consider the regression of the team as a whole.

That increase of nearly 50% has to be attributed to the change from wide right to centre-forward, a theory underlined by this year’s statistics. The Dortmund star has scored 14 goals from 25 starts up front, compared to just one in nine operating from the right flank that he occupied for most of 2013/14.

Dortmund’s season hasn’t seen too many positives, but Aubameyang’s evolution has been one of them.

4) Nabil Fekir – Lyon

Nabil Fekir goal — Nabil Fekir won Lyon’s Young Player of the Year award this season

Paris Saint-Germain might have eventually retained their Ligue 1 title once again, but the return of Lyon has been a major talking point in 2014/15. However, whilst most fans have rightly eulogised the quality of star man Alexandre Lacazette, it is worth noting how vital the versaility of Nabil Fekir has been for Hubert Fournier's men.

The 21-year-old Fekir has developed from being an attacking midfielder to an outright forward throughout the course of this campaign, and his quality has been underlined by a Ligue 1 return of 13 goals and nine assists. Notably, a goal ratio of 0.45 per game (9 in 20) from the attacking role easily outweighs the return of 0.3 (4 in 13) from attacking midfield.

Equally important is the fact that Fekir's reinvention has provided a liberating influence for the more experienced Yoann Gourcuff (when fit) and helped Steed Malbranque operate the No. 10 role, whilst additionally allowing the impressive Lacazette to thrive. Fekir has still been a regular option for the No. 10 position, but his adaptability to join Lacazette up top has been a major contribution to Lyon's success.

With Lacazette seemingly destined for a move away, next season could see the youngster promoted to top billing. Fournier will be thrilled to know he still has one great forward at his disposal.

5) Lionel Messi – Barcelona

Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi was a little shy of his imperial best in 2013/14, but this season has seen the Argentina skipper rediscover his position as the world's greatest footballer. His return to form has been largely down to a slight change in his role.

Once summer arrival Luis Suarez found his feet at the Camp Nou, the fearsome trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar have relentlessly terrorised opposing defences. Between them, the three attacking superstars boast over 110 goals this season; Messi alone has netted 54 goals whilst primarily operating from the right channel!

The work ethic of Suarez has certainly helped his Barcelona teammate, allowing the No. 10 to claim 23 assists in addition to those 54 goals. It seemed scarcely possible, but this is an improved Messi, and the key man's positional shift has played a monumental factor as the Blaugrana race towards an incredible treble.

He has scored a massive 31 goals in 28 matches from the right, compared to ‘just’ 20 goals in 20 games from the central positions. Moreover, those stats from the right-hand side are also an improvement on his 2013/14 contribution of 28 goals in 31 Liga matches.

Seeing Messi out wide isn't entirely unfamiliar as we'd seen him play this role regularly during his early career. However, over the past few years we had become accustomed to watching him dominate the central areas.

Somehow, he has managed to make an even bigger impact back out on the wing.

Edited by Staff Editor