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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Positions & Players

Centre-back

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

/ˌsentər ˈbæk/nounCore term

In football (soccer), centre-back means: A defender who plays in the middle of the back line, marking strikers, winning headers and clearing danger from the penalty area.

In Turkish: stoper, merkez savunma oyuncusu

How it is used

Also called a central defender or centre-half. Most teams play two centre-backs, and a back three uses three. Coaches look for centre-backs who are strong in the air, read the game well and can play out from the back. The American spelling is center-back.

Example sentences

  1. Both centre-backs were outstanding in the air.

  2. He's a ball-playing centre-back who starts most of our attacks.

Common collocations

  • centre-back pairing
  • ball-playing centre-back
  • play at centre-back
  • partner at centre-back
  • defenderA player whose main job is to stop the other team from attacking and scoring, usually playing in the line closest to their own goal.
  • full-backA defender who plays on the right or left side of the back line, defending against wingers and often joining attacks down the flank.
  • headerA shot or pass made by hitting the ball with the head, usually with the forehead.
  • clearanceA kick or header by a defender that sends the ball away from danger near their own goal.

More terms: Positions & Players

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