Centre-back
Protect the middle of the goal, win the ball, and start attacks with calm passes.
Six-week programme for centre-backs
Where you stand
The same player, four different moments. Play it through and watch how the team's tactic moves you. You are the solid orange player; your teammates are orange rings.
Your job
What every coach will ask of you, whatever the tactic.
With the ball
- Split wide when the keeper has it, so there is an easy pass.
- If nobody comes to you, dribble forward into space. It pulls an opponent out and frees a teammate.
- Look for the pass that skips a line: into midfield or the striker.
Without it
- Protect the middle first.
- One centre-back goes to the ball, the other covers behind at an angle.
- Talk to the full-backs, so the back line moves together.
When it changes hands
- When we lose it, delay their attacker. Do not dive in, and wait for help.
- When we win it, the first pass is often yours. Make it a safe one.
How tactics change your game
Your coach's tactic decides a lot of what you do. Here is the same position under different plans.
High line
Stand 40 m or more from goal. Watch the runner as well as the ball, and step up together. Your keeper sweeps behind you.
Deep line
Stay close to the box. Protect the space in front of goal, block shots and clear the danger first.
Play out
Split to the edge of the box, open your body to the pitch, and take the ball even under pressure.
Go long
Play early to the striker or into the channels, then push up to win the second ball.
Back four
Two centre-backs share the middle. You defend the space between you and your full-back too.
Back three
With three, the wide centre-backs can step out to press and overlap, while the middle one covers.
Try it yourself: change the tactic in the team builder and tap your position to see your job change.
Roles in this position
Coaches ask for different versions of the same position. Know which one you are playing.
Centre-back
Defends first, keeps passes simple.
With the ball. Split wide when the keeper has it. Pass to a free teammate, forward if you can.
Without. Protect the middle of the goal. One goes to the ball, the other covers behind.
Ball-playing centre-back
Carries the ball into midfield and breaks lines with passes.
With the ball. If nobody comes to you, dribble forward until someone does. It frees a teammate. Look for passes that skip a line.
Without. Same as any centre-back: protect the middle first.
Stopper
Steps out to stop the striker turning.
With the ball. Keep it simple and safe.
Without. When the striker drops short, follow them and stop them turning. A teammate covers the space you leave.
Wide centre-back
In a back three, pushes out wide and overlaps.
With the ball. When the wing-back is pinned, carry the ball or run outside them into the space.
Without. Defend the space between the middle centre-back and the touchline.
Practise it in three steps
First the technique on your own, then the decisions in a small game, then the whole team's idea in the match.
Step 1 On your own
first touch · 10 min · Just you
Wall passes across the body
Pass against a wall, take the rebound across your body to the other cone, and pass again. The best way to practise passing and first touch on your own.
dribbling · 10 min · Just you
Run with the ball, then stop it dead
Run with the ball at speed over 20 m, then slow down and stop it on the line with the sole of your foot.
Step 2 In a small game
defending · 15 min · Groups of 4
2v2: pressure and cover
Two defenders work as a pair. The nearest goes to the ball. The other drops in behind at an angle, ready if the first is beaten.
defending · 12 min · Pairs, any number
Defend the gate
The defender learns to close down fast, slow down, and stop the attacker getting through a gate.
Step 3 In the match
- Delay, cover, balanceThree jobs when defending: the nearest player slows the attacker down, the next one covers behind, and the far one balances across.
- Move as a blockWithout the ball, the team keeps its shape and slides across the pitch together, like one unit, staying close to the ball.
- Play out from the backStart attacks with short passes from the goalkeeper, instead of kicking it long and hoping.
Skills to masterJockeying · inside-foot pass · Striking with the laces
What would you do?
Two quick ones for your position. Pick an answer, then see why.
Your match moments
Full moments where your position has a job: see it in a match, make the choice, then practise it.
- Beat the pressSplit to the edge of the box, half-turned to face the pitch.
- Get past their midfieldPlay the firm pass into the striker's front foot.
- We have just lost itStep up so the gap behind the press is small.
- We have just won itIf you win it, find a midfielder facing forward.
- A winger runs at youCover inside your full-back, a few metres behind.
- Press togetherSqueeze up so the gap behind the press stays small.
- Defend a cornerGuard your zone and attack the ball, do not wait for it.
- Press their goal kickPush up to halfway, so the team stays close.
- Defend a throw-inCover inside your full-back, a few metres behind.
- A free kick near their boxTwo stay back, marking their fastest forwards.
- Defend a free kickMark the most dangerous runner.
- Take a cornerStay back and mark their fastest forward.
- Defend a crossGoal side of your striker, half-turned.
- Go round themBe the safe pass if the switch is closed.
- Go over themLook up before the press arrives.
- One against the keeperSprint back towards the goal, not the ball.
- Their keeper has itExpect the long kick. Get in front of their striker and face the ball.
- Ball over the topWhen the passer looks up, take two steps back and turn side-on.
- Two against oneStand between the two attackers.
- They switch itSlide across together, behind the player who goes out.
- Shot from the edgeStay goal side of your runner.
- Defend the cut-backNear post first.
- Five minutes left, one upStay close to their striker.
- One down, time running outStep up to halfway. Stay behind the ball.
- A penalty against usEdge of the box, goal side of their players.
Take it into your next match
Look for
- Where is their striker, and where is the space behind me?
- Is my partner covering me before I step in?
- Am I level with the rest of the back line?
Your challenge. In your next match, every time their striker drops short, tell your partner "go" or "stay" before you move.
In your head
Defenders who talk make fewer mistakes. Organise the players around you, every minute.
For younger players
Under 12, deliberate heading is out of matches, so a young centre-back wins the ball with their feet and their position. Rotate defenders forward sometimes, so they learn the whole game.