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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Positions & Players

Sweeper-keeper

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

nounAdvanced term

In football (soccer), sweeper-keeper means: A goalkeeper who regularly operates well away from the goal to deal with balls behind the defence.

In Turkish: libero kaleci

How it is used

Used in tactical analysis, especially when a team defends high up the pitch.

Example sentences

  1. Our sweeper-keeper reached the long pass before their striker.

    The goalkeeper protects the space left behind the defenders.

  2. The coach wants a sweeper-keeper who can also pass under pressure.

    Recruitment considers work beyond stopping shots near the goal.

Common collocations

  • play as a sweeper-keeper
  • sweeper-keeper role
  • mobile sweeper-keeper
  • goalkeeperThe player who defends the goal and is the only one allowed to handle the ball, but only inside their own penalty area.
  • high lineA defensive set-up in which the back line stays far up the pitch, keeping the team compact and catching attackers offside, but leaving space behind.

More terms: Positions & Players

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