The lock. Defensive organisation as art. Concede nothing, punish everything.
The Swiss invented it — Karl Rappan's verrou (bolt) in the 1930s, a spare man behind the defence. But the Italians perfected it. Nereo Rocco at Padova and then AC Milan weaponised defensive solidity into a European Cup-winning philosophy. Helenio Herrera's Grande Inter (1963-66) made it infamous: Ta…
Area Marshal — Goalkeeper who commands the area and stabilises the line
Stopper — Aggressive, front-foot, wins duels
Sweeper — Last man, reads play, covers space
Wing-back — IS the width, covers entire flank
Metodista — Metronome, controls rhythm
Mezzala — Half-space creator, arrives in the box
Trequartista — Free-roaming creator in the final third
Poacher — Box instinct, movement, clinical
Seconda Punta — Second striker, plays off the main striker
Centrale — Commanding CB, organises and leads
Auxiliary Centre-Back — Wide defender who behaves like an extra centre-back
Anchor — Sits, disrupts, protects the back line
Tornante — Tracks back, full-flank both phases
Target Forward — Aerial, holds up, physical reference
Prima Punta — Clinical finisher, wins headers, occupies CBs