Central Defender Roles | Football Manager 2022 Guide

Central defender roles include all player roles in central defender playing positions*, which are:

Sweeper (SW)
Centre back (CB)

Provided below is an analysis of how tactical theory* concepts relate to each central defender role (including all of the variations for each role), if used with its default player instructions. This information will be used in subsequent guides as part of the framework for creating tactics.

For a general analysis of all player roles and duties see the Player Roles & Duties guide. For an analysis of how to combine roles and duties so as to balance central defence see the Balancing Central Defence guide.

Detailed for each central defender role, where relevant, are:

Description – the description of the role in terms of its component* (and composite*) role types and its auxiliary playing position role types* (used for auxiliary players* – players who move into other positional areas*).

Penetration score – the number that the role adds to the team’s penetration score*. This is based on the role’s use of the Get Further Forward and Hold Position player instructions.

Solidity score – the number that the role adds to the team’s solidity score*. This is also based on the role’s use of the Get Further Forward and Hold Position player instructions.

Role specialisation* – a summary of the extent to which the role performs positional responsibilities*, including positional responsibilities performed in other positional areas as a result of an auxiliary playing position role type.

Focus level* – the extent to which the role concentrates on performing particular positional responsibilities. This determines how appropriate the role is for your team’s system fluidity, as detailed in the System Fluidity guide. Focus levels are calculated as 1.0 multiplied by the number of conflicting role types* plus 0.5 multiplied by the number of adverse role types*.

Role categories* – the groups that the role can be categorised in according to its role specialisation.

Role category implementations – any implementations that apply to the role. These are explained in the tactical theory Role Categories* guide.

Sweeper

Sweeper (SW Defend)

Description:

Holding, restricted-dribbling, restricted-shooting, disciplined and cautious sweeper.

Penetration score: 0.00

Solidity score: 1.25

Role specialisation:

Designated responsibilities

Specialist responsibilities – providing cover; providing attacking cover; providing defensive cover.

Supported responsibilities

Supplementary responsibilities – playing safe.

Weak-supported responsibilities – creating chances.

Non-contributive responsibilities – applying defensive pressure; stretching play.

Focus level: 4.0

Role categories:

Covering central defender
- Specialist – restrained central defender
- Orthodox central defender
  - Specialist – withdrawn central defender
- Specialist – protecting central defender

Safe-playing central defender
- Supplementary – restricted central defender

Libero

Libero (SW Support)

Description:

Supporting, ball-playing, creative and cautious sweeper

Supporting sweeper => attacking phase auxiliary sitting, ball-playing and creative defensive midfielder

Penetration score: 0.00

Solidity score: 0.75

Role specialisation:

Designated responsibilities

Specialist responsibilities – providing defensive cover; creating chances.
- In central midfield – creating chances.

Supported responsibilities – stretching play.
- Atypical in central midfield – taking chances (sitting player).

Supplementary responsibilities – providing cover; providing attacking cover.
- In central midfield – providing attacking cover.

Non-contributive responsibilities – applying defensive pressure; playing safe.
- In central midfield – playing safe.

Focus level: 3.0

Role categories:

Supplementary – restrained central defender
- Supplementary – withdrawn central defender
- Specialist – protecting central defender

Supported – running central defender

Specialist – skilled central defender

Supplementary – auxiliary withdrawn central midfielder

Specialist – auxiliary central midfield creator

Supported – auxiliary central midfield goal-scorer (atypical – sitting player)

Role category implementations:

Central defence countering-playmaker* (ball-playing and creative skilled central defender)

Auxiliary defensive midfield countering-playmaker* (auxiliary ball-playing and creative defensive midfield creator)

Libero (SW Attack)

Description:

Offensive, ball-playing, shot-taking, creative and cautious sweeper

Offensive sweeper => attacking phase auxiliary supporting, ball-playing, shot-taking and creative defensive midfielder

Penetration score: 0.00

Solidity score: 0.50

Role specialisation:

Designated responsibilities – stretching play.
- In central midfield – taking chances.

Specialist responsibilities – providing defensive cover; creating chances.
- Atypical in central midfield – creating chances (shot-taking player).

Supported responsibilities
- In central midfield – stretching play.

Non-contributive responsibilities – providing cover; providing attacking cover; applying defensive pressure; playing safe.
- In central midfield – playing safe.

Focus level: 4.0

Role categories:

Specialist – protecting central defender

Designated – running central defender

Specialist – skilled central defender

Supported – auxiliary number-eight central midfielder

Specialist – auxiliary central midfield creator (atypical – shot-taking player)

Designated – auxiliary central midfield goal-scorer

Role category implementations:

Central defence countering-playmaker* (ball-playing and creative skilled central defender)

Auxiliary defensive midfield countering-playmaker* (auxiliary ball-playing and creative defensive midfield creator)