Catenaccio

Catenaccio, Italian for 'door-bolt', is a highly organised defensive system that dominated Italian football in the mid-20th century and still shapes how the game is coached today. Its signature feature was the libero, or 'sweeper', a spare defender positioned behind the back line to mop up anything that slipped through, effectively bolting the door in front of goal. The philosophy prized defensive solidity, tight man-marking and lightning counter-attacks over possession and flair, and it made sides like the great Inter Milan teams almost impossible to beat. Today the word is used more loosely for any deeply defensive, low-risk approach, often as a criticism from fans who prefer attacking football. Its influence lives on in the modern low block and in every team that builds from a rock-solid defensive shape. For background on the history of the game, see Britannica.