In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield musician whose basal roles are to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. Centre backs are normally in pairs, with two full-backs to their leave and right, but can come in threes with no full backs.
There are four types of defenders : centre-back, sweeper, full-back, and wing-back. The centre-back and full-back positions are essential in most advanced formations. The sweeper and wing-back roles are more specify for certain formations depending on the managers choice of play and adaptation .
A centre-back ( besides known as a central defender or centre-half, as the modern function of the centre-back arise from the centre-half position ) defends in the area directly in front of the finish and tries to prevent opposing players, particularly centre-forwards, from scoring. Centre-backs achieve this by blocking shots, tackling, intercepting passes, contesting headers and marking forwards to discourage the opposing team from passing to them .
The common 4–4–2 geological formation uses two centre-backs. With the ball, centre-backs are by and large expected to make long and pinpoint passes to their teammates, or to kick unaimed long balls down the field. For exemplar, a clearance is a farseeing unaimed kick intended to move the ball adenine far as possible from the defender ‘s goal. due to the many skills centre-backs are required to possess in the modern game, many successful contemporaneous central-defensive partnerships have involved pairing a more physical defender with a defender who is quicker, more comfortable in possession and capable of playing the ball out from the back ; examples of such pairings have included David Luiz, Gary Cahill, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho with Chelsea, Sergio Ramos, Raphaël Varane or Pepe with Real Madrid, Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand with Manchester United, or Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Medhi Benatia with Juventus. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] During normal toy, centre-backs are unlikely to score goals. however, when their team takes a corner kick or other fructify pieces, centre-backs may move forward to the opponents ‘ penalty area ; if the ball is passed in the tune towards a crowd of players near the goal, then the heading ability of a centre-back is utilitarian when trying to score. In this case, other defenders or midfielders will temporarily move into the centre-back positions. Some centre-backs have besides been known for their calculate loose kicks and knock-down shots from outdistance. brazilian defenders David Luiz, Alex, and Naldo have been known for using the cannonball free-kick method, which relies more on world power than placement. In the mod game, most teams employ two or three centre-backs in front of the goalkeeper. The 4–2–3–1, 4–3–3, and 4–4–2 formations all use two centre-backs. There are two main defensive strategies used by centre-backs : the zonal defense, where each centre-back covers a specific area of the pitch ; and one-on-one commemorate, where each centre-back has the job of tracking a detail opposition player. In the now disused man–to–man marking systems such as catenaccio, vitamin a well as the zona mista strategy that late arose from it, there were much at least two types of centre-backs who played aboard one another : at least one man–to–man marking centre-back, known as the stopper, and a free defender, which was normally known as the sweeper, or libero, whose tasks included sweeping up balls for teammates and besides initiating attacks. [ 3 ]
Sweeper ( libero ) [edit ]
The sweeper ( or libero ) is a more versatile centre-back who “ sweeps up ” the ball if an adversary manages to breach the defensive course. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] This position is preferably more fluent than that of other defenders who man-mark their designate opponents. Because of this, it is sometimes referred to as libero, which is italian for “ absolve ”. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] austrian coach Karl Rappan is thought to be a initiate of this function, when he incorporated it into his catenaccio or verrou ( besides “ doorbolt/chain ” in French ) system with swiss golf club Servette during the 1930s, deciding to move one player from midfield to a position behind the defensive line, as a “ last valet ” who would protect the back-line and begin attacks again. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] As coach of Switzerland in the 1930s and 1940s, Rappan played a defensive carpet sweeper called the verrouilleur, positioned precisely ahead of the goalkeeper. [ 10 ] During his prison term with soviet cabaret Krylya Sovetov Kuybyshev in the 1940s, Alexander Kuzmich Abramov besides used a musician similar to a carpet sweeper in his defensive tactic known as the Volzhskaya Zashchepka, or the “ Volga Clip. ” Unlike the verrou, his system was not as flexible, and was a development of the WM rather than the 2–3–5, but it besides featured one of the half-backs dropping deep ; this allowed the defensive centre-half to sweep in behind the full-backs. [ 11 ] In Italy, the libero position was popularised by Nereo Rocco ‘s and Helenio Herrera ‘s use of catenaccio. [ 12 ] The current italian term for this position, libero, which is thought to have been coined by Gianni Brera, originated from the original italian description for this function libero da impegni di marcatura ( i.e., “ complimentary from man-marking tasks ” ) ; [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 13 ] it was besides known as the “ battitore libero ” ( “ unblock batter, ” in italian, i.e. a player who was given the freedom to intervene after their teammates, if a actor had gotten past the defensive structure, to clear the ball away ). [ 11 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] In italian football, the libero was normally assigned the number six shirt. [ 8 ] One of the first base predecessors of the libero function in Italy was used in the so–called ‘ vianema’ system, a predecessor to catenaccio, which was used by Salernitana during the 1940s. The arrangement originated from an theme that one of the club ‘s players – Antonio Valese – posed to his director Giuseppe Viani. Viani altered the English WM system – known as the sistema in Italy – by having his centre-half-back retreat into the defensive agate line to act as an extra defender and cross off an opposing centre-forward, alternatively leaving his full-back ( which, at the time, was exchangeable to the modern centre-back function ) free to function as what was basically a sweeper, creating a 1–3–3–3 formation ; he occasionally besides used a defender in the centre-forward role, and wearing the number nine shirt, to track back and mark the pit forwards, thus freeing up the full-backs form their notice duties. Andrea Schianchi of La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that this modification was designed to help smaller teams in Italy, as the man–to–man system much put players directly against one another, favouring the larger and wealthier teams with stronger individual players. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ]
In Italy, the libero is besides retroactively thought to have evolved from the centre-half -back character in the English WM system, or sistema, which was known as the centromediano metodista function in italian football slang, due to its association with the metodo system ; in the metodo arrangement, however, the “ metodista ” was given both defensive and creative duties, functioning as both a ball–winner and deep-lying playmaker. Juventus coach Felice Borel used Carlo Parola in the centre-half function, as a player who would drop back into the defense to mark opposing forwards, but besides start attacks after winning back self-control, in a similar manner to the sweeper, which led to the development of this specialized position. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] indeed, Herrera ‘s catenaccio strategy with his Grande Inter side saw him withdraw a player from his team ‘s midfield and alternatively deploy them further-back in defense as a sweeper. [ 28 ]
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anterior to Viani, Ottavio Barbieri is besides thought by some pundits to have introduced the sweeper function to italian football during his time as Genoa ‘s coach. Like Viani, he was influenced by Rappan ‘s verrou, and made respective alterations to the English WM system or “ sistema ”, which led to his system being described as mezzosistema. His system used a man-marking back-line, with three man-marking defenders and a full-back who was described as a terzino volante ( or vagante, as noted at the time by former football player and Gazzetta dello Sport diarist Renzo De Vecchi ) ; the latter position was basically a libero, which was later besides used by Viani in his vianema arrangement, and Rocco in his catenaccio system. [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Though sweepers may be expected to build counter-attacking moves, and as such require better ball control and passing ability than distinctive centre-backs, their talents are much confined to the defensive kingdom. For example, the catenaccio organization of act, used in italian football in the 1960s, much employed a predominantly defensive carpet sweeper who chiefly “ roamed ” around the back line ; according to Schianchi, Ivano Blason is considered to be the first true libero in Italy, who – under director Alfredo Foni with Inter and subsequently Nereo Rocco with Padova – would serve as the last man in his team, positioned deep behind the defensive line, and clearing balls away from the penalty sphere. Armando Picchi was subsequently besides a contribute exponent of the more traditional variant of this function in Helenio Herrera ‘s Grande Inter side of the 1960s. [ 11 ] [ 19 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] The more modern libero possesses the defensive qualities of the typical libero while being able to expose the enemy during counterattacks by carrying or play the ball out from the rear. [ 36 ] Some sweepers move ahead into midfield, and distribute the ball up-field, while others intercept passes and get the ball off the resistance without needing to hurl themselves into tackles. If the sweeper does move up the airfield to distribute the ball, they will need to make a rapid recovery and run back into their position. In advanced football, its usage has been fairly restricted, with few clubs in the biggest leagues using the position .
The modern exercise of this military position is most normally believed to have been pioneered by Franz Beckenbauer, and subsequently Gaetano Scirea, Morten Olsen and Elías Figueroa, although they were not the first players to play this position. aside from the aforesaid Blason and Picchi, earlier proponents besides included Alexandru Apolzan, Velibor Vasović, and Ján Popluhár. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] Giorgio Mastropasqua was known for revolutionising the function of the libero in Italy during the 1970s ; under his Ternana director Corrado Viciani, he served as one of the first mod exponents of the position in the state, due to his alone technical foul characteristics, namely a player who was not lone tasked with defend and protecting the back-line, but besides advancing out of the defense into midfield and starting attacking plays with their ephemeral after winning back the ball. [ 14 ] [ 43 ] early defenders who have been described as sweepers include Bobby Moore, Franco Baresi, Ronald Koeman, Fernando Hierro, Miodrag Belodedici, Matthias Sammer, and Aldair, due to their ball skills, sight, and long passing ability. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 44 ] Though it is rarely used in modern football, it remains a highly respected and demanding side. late and successful uses of the sweeper include by Otto Rehhagel, Greece ‘s director, during UEFA Euro 2004. Rehhagel use Traianos Dellas as Greece ‘s sweeper to great success, as Greece became european champions. [ 45 ] [ 46 ] [ 47 ] For Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, brazilian international Lúcio adopted the carpet sweeper character excessively, but was besides not afraid to travel hanker distances with the musket ball, frequently ending up in the enemy ‘s final examination third. Although this situation has become largely disused in modern football formations, due to the use of zonal commemorate and the offside trap, certain players such as Daniele De Rossi, [ 48 ] Leonardo Bonucci, Javi Martínez and David Luiz have played a alike character as a ball-playing central defender in a 3–5–2 or 3–4–3 geological formation ; in addition to their defensive skills, their proficiency and ball-playing ability allowed them to advance into midfield after winning back possession, and function as a secondary playmaker for their teams. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] Some goalkeepers, who are comfortable leaving their goalmouth to intercept and clear through balls, and who broadly participate more in play, such as René Higuita, Manuel Neuer, Edwin van five hundred Sar, Fabien Barthez, Marc-André ter Stegen, Bernd Leno and Ederson, among others, have been referred to as sweeper-keepers. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] [ 52 ]
WM formation of the 1920s showing three fullbacks, all in fairly central positions The full-backs ( the left-back and the right-back ) take up the holding wide positions and traditionally stayed in defense at all times, until a set-piece. There is one full-back on each side of the field except in defences with fewer than four players, where there may be no full-backs and alternatively merely centre-backs. [ 53 ] In the early decades of football under the 2–3–5 formation, the two full-backs were basically the lapp as advanced centre-backs in that they were the last line of defense and normally covered opposing forwards in the center of the field. [ 54 ] The late 3–2–5 stylus involved a third base dedicated defender, causing the leftover and good full-backs to occupy wide positions. [ 55 ] Later, the borrowing of 4–2–4 with another central defender [ 56 ] led the wide defenders to play even promote over to counteract the opposing wingers and provide support to their own down the flanks, and the status became increasingly specialised for active players who could fulfil that function as opposed to the central defenders who remained fairly electrostatic and normally relied on military capability, altitude and aligning .
In the advanced bet on, full-backs have taken on a more attack function than was the casing traditionally, much overlapping with wingers down the flank. [ 57 ] Wingerless formations, such as the baseball diamond 4–4–2 formation, demand the full-back to cover considerable ground up and down the flank. Some of the responsibilities of modern full-backs include :
- Provide a physical obstruction to opposition attacking players by shepherding them towards an area where they exert less influence. They may manoeuvre in a fashion that causes the opponent to cut in towards the centre-back or defensive midfielder with their weaker foot, where they are likely to be dispossessed. Otherwise, jockeying and smart positioning may simply pin back a winger in an area where they are less likely to exert influence.
- Making off-the-ball runs into spaces down the channels and supplying crosses into the opposing penalty box.
- Throw-ins are often assigned to full-backs.
- Marking wingers and other attacking players. Full-backs generally do not commit to challenges in their opponents’ half. However, they aim to quickly dispossess attacking players who have already breached the defensive line with a sliding tackle from the side. Markers must, however, avoid keeping too tight on opponents or risk disrupting the defensive organization.[58]
- Maintaining tactical discipline by ensuring other teammates do not overrun the defensive line and inadvertently play an opponent onside.
- Providing a passing option down the flank; for instance, by creating opportunities for sequences like one-two passing moves.
- In wingerless formations, full-backs need to cover the roles of both wingers and full-backs, although defensive work may be shared with one of the central midfielders.
- Additionally, attacking full-backs help to pin both opposition full-backs and wingers deeper in their own half with aggressive attacking intent. Their presence in attack also forces the opposition to withdraw players from central midfield, which the team can seize to its advantage.[59]
due to the physical and technical demands of their play position, successful full-backs need a wide-eyed compass of attributes, which make them suited for adaptation to other roles on the peddle. Many of the game ‘s utility players, who can play in multiple positions on the cant, are natural full-backs. A quite big example is the substantial Madrid full-back Sergio Ramos, who has played on the flanks as a full-back and in central defense mechanism throughout his career. In the modern game, full-backs frequently chip in a fair share of assists with their runs down the flank when the team is on a counter-attack. The more park attributes of full-backs, however, include :
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- Pace and stamina to handle the demands of covering large distances up and down the flank and outrunning opponents.
- A healthy work rate and team responsibility.
- Marking and tackling abilities and a sense of anticipation.
- Good off-the-ball ability to create attacking opportunities for his team by running into empty channels.
- Dribbling ability. Many of the game’s eminent attacking full-backs are excellent dribblers in their own right and occasionally deputize as attacking wingers.
- Player intelligence. As is common for defenders, full-backs need to decide during the flow of play whether to stick close to a winger or maintain a suitable distance. Full-backs that stay too close to attacking players are vulnerable to being pulled out of position and leaving a gap in the defence. A quick passing movement like a pair of one-two passes will leave the channel behind the defending full-back open. This vulnerability is a reason why wingers considered to be dangerous are double-marked by both the full-back and the winger. This allows the full-back to focus on holding his defensive line.[60]
Full-backs rarely score goals, as they often have to stay spinal column to cover for the centre-backs during corner kicks and exempt kicks, when the center backs normally go forward to attempt to score from headers. That said, full-backs can sometimes score during counterattacks by running in from the wings, much involving one-two passing moves with midfield players .
The wing-back is a variation on the full-back, but with a heavier emphasis on assail. Wing-backs are typically used in a formation with 3 centre-backs and are sometimes classified as midfielders alternatively of defenders. They can, however, be used in formations with lone two centre-backs, such as in Jürgen Klopp ‘s 4–3–3 system that he uses at Liverpool, in which the wing-backs play high up the discipline to compensate for a lack of width in attack. In the development of the mod game, wing-backs are the combination of wingers and full-backs. As such, this military position is one of the most physically demanding in modern football. successful use of wing-backs is one of the chief prerequisites for the 3–4–3, 3–5–2 and 5–3–2 formations to function effectively. Wing-backs are frequently more adventurous than full-backs and are expected to provide width, specially in teams without wingers. A wing-back needs to be of exceptional stamina, be able to provide crosses upfield and defend efficaciously against opponents ‘ attacks down the flanks. A defensive midfielder may be fielded to cover the advances of wing-backs. [ 61 ] It can besides be occupied by wingers and side midfielders in a three centre-back constitution, as seen by ex- Chelsea and ex- Inter Milan director Antonio Conte. Examples of players who could and did play as wing-backs were AC Milan teammates Cafu and Serginho, Barcelona player Dani Alves, Roberto Carlos of Real Madrid ‘s Galácticos earned run average, erstwhile River Plate ‘s defender Juan Pablo Sorín, World Cup winning german Andreas Brehme, Parma ‘s legend Antonio Benarrivo, Angelo Di Livio of Juventus and Italy and former Corinthians, Arsenal & Barcelona leading Sylvinho .