The evolution of the modern defender

[THREAD]

A defender used to be just that, a defender, his primary job was to, you guessed it, to defend.

But lately, a new breed of modern defenders have been born. This thread will explain some parts of how defending has evolved, as the game has too.

Pep Guardiola has a lot to do with defenders being good with their feet, since the tika-taka era, being technically able, no matter what the position, has been copied up and down the footballing world.

And while he did not invent parts of modern defending, he inspired many.

Inverted full-back

The inverted full-back role was made popular by Pep, whilst at Bayern Munich. Essentially it is a system that uses the full-backs to join in the midfield, thus squeezing the pitch, and allowing the wide men ample space.

What is the Inverted full back?

It begins when the CB receives the ball, and plays it to either side, in this instance, the RB. It is critically important the full back be technically adapt, as a turnover in this area, with him hugging the touch line, could prove mighty costly.

Once the RB receives the ball, the attacking teams DM approaches him, and in turn, dragging the opposition out of position. The next ball from the RB to his CB must be in the space ahead of the CB, to create the forward momentum for the attack to build.

With the CB now in control of the ball and driving up field, the RB has joined the midfield, and created a ‘free man’ in the attacking phase. It creates a 3 on 2 situation, and forces the defending team to squeeze in field, thus leaving space for the wide men, in a 1v1 scenario.

During his Barcelona days, Pep Guardiola created a lot of passing triangles, to move the ball quickly, and to give the man in possession several options to pass to. This system was the key to implementing the inverted defender.

During his days at Bayern Munich, Guardiola knew that he had players like Lahm and Alaba, who not only were quality defenders, but were technically gifted. He knew they would be perfect for this system.

Attacking fullback

A full-back in today’s football must be adapt at not only being a solid defender, but also able to support an attack when necessary. At the highest level, a full-back who can defend as well as attack, is crucial.

They provide a way to overload the opposition

defence, but in doing so, they leave an obvious point of vulnerability if they are slow to return to position.

A full back’s defensive roles, no matter the system used, is usually the same, to snuff out an attack high up the pitch, or block a cross from getting into the box

However, their attacking role depends on the players in front of them. In a traditional 4-4-2 their job is to support the wingers, provide an overlapping, off the shoulder run, and get in a quick cross. Benjamin Pavard is a prime example of this trait, quick balls in, no fuss.

In a formation where the opposition has a narrow midfield, say in a 4-3-3, they are often the primary providers of width, responsible for launching attacks via dribbling, or a cross in.

When a full-back gets forward, it is normally the job of the winger, or a DM, who shifts wide

to cover their position, but it is always the full-backs responsibility to get back into position swiftly.

At the back, the perfect full-back must be intelligent in how he positions himself, as the FB role is the single most demanding position in the game today.

“Philipp Lahm is perhaps the most intelligent player I have ever trained”, Pep Guardiola once said.

Lahm could be a huge argument for the last ‘perfect full back’ to have played the game. A defender who was equally as effective going forward, as he was at the back.

Centre back evolution

A centre back used to have one job, to defend. They were tough-tackling, menacing, intimidating players. Much like the role of the full-back and the GK; the centre back’s job has evolved rapidly.

In the past 20 years, a new breed of centre backs have emerged. They still had the primary job of defending, but they read the game differently, were more comfortable with the ball at their feet. To be a good tackler wasn’t as important as to be aware of your surroundings

Paolo Maldini once said, “If I have to make a tackle, then I’ve already made a mistake”

Centre backs were becoming competent ball players, they still had to defend, but their ability to play out from the back, was an added string to their bow.

Italian defenders were at the forefront of this new breed of defending. Fabio Cannavaro, some consider to be the best of his generation, along with the great Maldini, who moved from full-back to centre back. Defending has suddenly moved from the aggressive to the elegant.

Fast forward to defenders of today, players such as Van Dijk, Jerome Boateng and Lucas Hernandez. These are defenders who are comfortable carrying the ball, and starting an attack by playing through the lines of the midfield.

Lucas Hernandez is one of the best defenders of the game now, when it comes to carrying the ball up field. A huge reason why Bayern should be playing him regularly. Hernandez’s ability to turn quickly, and his quick footwork, give him an unrivalled skill at Bayern for a CB

Jerome Boateng is possibly the next best at Bayern, when it comes to being that comfortable going forward, playing through the lines.

Boateng’s long diagonal balls are well known throughout the footballing world, a huge quality to have, when opposition push up deeper

and it is too risky to carry the ball into the midfield, or as a way to catch out a high line from the opponent.

Having an eye for a pass like Boateng does, gives another dimension to the centre backs of today.

The most expensive defender in the world, Harry McGuire

went for 80m. As the role of the modern centre back has developed; so has the price you need to pay to land one that ticks all the boxes. Previously, the price for defenders, dwarfed that of their attacking counterparts. Perhaps, the desire to defend, is now equal to that of a ST

All in all, the evolution of defending has definitely come a long way in the last decade or two. It will no doubt keep evolving. I hope that someday soon, defenders and GK’a alike, will get recognised alongside attackers

After all, great defenders will win you titles.