Midfielders Known To Log High Total Distance in Matches

The middle is one of the most difficult positions in all of football. Asked to be good on the ball, off the ball, at shooting, at passing, and at just about everything, it is a demanding spot that separates the elite from the rest very easily. The worst part of this position is it requires a real engine to get back and forth to cover large distances. In this, we will discuss some midfielders who are well known for covering the ground with ease.

Midfielders Who Cover the Field Every Match

Distance Work

What makes it difficult for footballers is they usually can’t focus just on distance training. Long distance runners are often able to slim down and use altitude training to improve their cardio. They also wear specialised gear and use specialised machines from places like Cimalp.

This isn’t a luxury afforded to soccer players however, they have to keep their mass and usually add some strenght to handle the rigours of the top divisions while also working on their technical and tactical skills while also keeping their cardio high. It is a juggling routine that would see many fall at the first hurdle.

Declan Rice

At the heart of Arsenal’s current surge is a hard-working physical counter press that sees Declan Rice operate in all areas of the midfield. Whether he is dropping between the defenders in build-up to help progress the ball forward or moving forward with the marauding press that has kept other teams scoreless, he covers a lot of area in every single game.

Enzo Fernandez

While some may consider his teammate Moises Caicedo the hard working one, the reality is Enzo Fernandez is the all-action midfielder at Chelsea. What gives him the edge is the Argentine is a box crasher, not only is his role to drop deeper in the build up but he has to make gut-busting runs into the box to get onto the end of an attack or a cross.

He is also invovled in the counter-press while being asked to come back and defend. He isn’t the most athletically blessed player but Enzo is all over the field, covering more distance than anyone else for the Blues.

N’Golo Kante

Even today as he is past the prime of his career N’Golo Kante is one of football’s scariest midfielders. Blessed with the ability to be eveywhere his team needs him, Kante is where he needs to be at all times, ready to take the ball off the opposition anytime it gets dangerous for his back line. He isn’t just a defensive midfielder and can operate as more of a box-to-box player meaning he also gets forward and adds to his distance covered even when his team is in control.

Pascal Gross

Whether for Brighton & Hove Albion or Borussia Dortmund, Pascal Gross is an engine in the middle of the park. If you look at any list of the most distance covered in a single match he is sure to be on there a number of times. He doesn’t do it in every single outing but when his team needs, he can and will cover every blade of grass.