How the role of a defender has evolved in football

Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer was among the finest players to have graced the sweeper role

If we look back at football from the 1950’s onwards, there have been definite periods when the evolution of the game has been notable. In basic, general terms, World Cups have often authored thinking in terms of styles. Think of the all-out attack of Brazil 1970 or the studious defensive ethic of Franz Beckenbauer’s Germany four years later.

Most point to a Cruyff-inspired Holland in that year but few recall just how well the Germans played throughout the competition. Then, as now, brutally effective if not always so pleasing on the eye.

When we look at the make up of a team there are definite strides made in terms of a defender’s evolution.

Full-backs

Today’s game demands that those players in the left or right-back slots are athletes. Players who can shuttle back and forth from first minute to last. Call them wing-backs if you prefer.

Where once a player in either of those positions rarely ventured forward, preferring to sit and hold and then show the opposition “down the line,” now such players are as celebrated for their attacking skills as their defensive ones. Some would say more so.

They’re not a new phenomenon mind you. Roberto Carlos anyone?

Speed would appear to be a pre-requisite to make a success of the position and we can look at Jordi Alba at Barcelona as a shining example of someone who almost has it exactly right. His defensive abilities could be improved upon, but his engine, desire to get forward and accuracy in the pass are all of the highest quality.

Philipp Lahm of Bayern Munich, before he was moved to midfield by Pep Guardiola would be one of the best exponents of the role, Ashley Cole too.

In many respects the modern full-back role isn’t a defensive one at all. It relies on the capabilities of the individual to support the attack as best they can, with defence a slightly less important and secondary role.

If executed correctly, it gives the attacking team one, sometimes two extra bodies in support which very often will have the effect of pulling the defensive line wider than perhaps the opposition would like. How often nowadays do we see the overlap from full backs? It’s an essential part of the modern game but wholly different from the early days.

You might also find teams that will have one full back that attacks and one who “stays at home.”

Unlike Barcelona, for example, many teams, however good their players, won’t go gung-ho with a “you score four and we’ll score five” template. If one of the wider defensive players shows more prowess in an attacking sense, then he will be the one, quite obviously, who supports his front men, whilst the player on the opposite side will slot in to make a back three with his two central defenders, thus covering the others wanderlust.

It can’t work for every team of course. The right exponents need to be in place for this particular brand of defence to be successful. Bayern Munich and Barca are expert at it, but Liverpool, for all of Brendan Rodgers’ tactical acumen, haven’t quite managed to pull it off with the same degree of potency as yet.

The growing role of a defensive midfielder

The typical “back four” has certainly gained something of a makeover over the years, to the extent where a back three is now more than acceptable with the modern tactical styles that are developing in the game.

This is achieved by the defensive midfielder dropping into the middle, splitting the centre backs either side of him, or the scenario described above where a more defensive minded full back slots in to cover.

Having a three rather than a more traditional defensive set up has given a lot of teams greater tactical freedom in an attacking sense, whilst still not losing too much defensively.

And what about those teams that continue to utilise the libero or “sweeper”. Beckenbauer and Franco Baresi are just about the best examples of players who understand every aspect of that precise role. Liverpool of the 1980’s had Alan Hansen doing a masterful job in the role, but it has largely disappeared in the modern game.

Coaches seem to favour a defensive midfielder sat in front of a back four, or a double pivot for a little extra security when required.

Playing a libero type role would mean acknowledging that the defence were, in the main, incapable of “keeping the door closed” leaving matters for essentially the last line of defence to dig them out of a hole.

Not forgetting of course that in order for a sweeper to work effectively, he must sit a few yards behind his centre-backs, thus giving the impetus to the attackers who can break the offside trap at will.

Centre-back pairings

Back in the day, you would have two six foot plus lumps of granite protecting the keeper. They would give as good as they got and naturally overlooked the more technical aspects of the game in favour of row z when required. John Terry and Gary Cahill are arguably the most “old school” pairing in today’s game but benefit from the new ideas of Jose Mourinho.

Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano are an entirely different kettle of fish. One has finally found his mojo again and is dominating the aerial exchanges once more, whilst the other has pace to burn and is rarely beaten in a foot race.

Both are adept are bringing the ball out of defence, and are technically very good.

In short, despite the evolution of the game per se, without the right exponents in place any of the positions, a more modern take on the defensive art is moribund. So hats off to both players and coaches who are able to adapt to the modern tactical variants and still keep their teams effective and challenging for honours.