Defender (football) Facts for Kids

Fabio Cannavaro, an Italian defender, who retired and played for Juventus

A defender in football is a player, who plays in at the back of the formation. There are many positions classed as a defender, mainly:

The defenders are the first number when referring to formations, for example:

4-3-3 is the formation. This formation shows that there are four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.
4-4-2 is the formation. This formation shows that there are four defenders, four midfielders and two attackers.
3-4-3 is the formation. This formation shows that there are three defenders, four midfielders and three attackers.

Famous Defenders

Player	Position	Current Club	Former Clubs	Best Ballon d'Or Position
Dani Alves	Right-Back	São Paulo	Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain	19th (2011)
Paolo Maldini	Left-Back Center-Back	Retired	AC Milan	3rd (1994, 2003)
Franz Beckenbauer	Sweeper	Retired	Bayern Munich, New York Cosmos	Winner (1972, 1976)
Carles Puyol	Center-Back	Retired	Barcelona	11th (2010)
Lilian Thuram	Center-Back	Retired	AS Monaco, Parma, Juventus, Barcelona	25th (1997)

Centre-back John Terry (right) closely marks centre-forward Didier Drogba
Italian defender Franco Baresi (wearing no. 6) pictured anticipating Brazilian striker Romário to the ball in the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final, was often deployed as a modern ball-playing sweeper throughout his career
Edwin van der Sar, pictured playing for Manchester United during the 2010–11 season, is considered to be one of the pioneers of the sweeper-keeper role
Full-back Philipp Lahm (right) marks winger Nani.
Attacking right-back Dani Alves (right) in action for Brazil during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Wing-back Caitlin Foord (right, wearing no. 9) in action with Australia against China at the 2017 Algarve Cup