General
holding role
What does holding role mean?
A midfield position focused on sitting deep, breaking up attacks and protecting the defenders behind.
"He sat in the holding role and let the others get forward."
Origin
Tactical term; the player 'holds' the position in front of defence.
Frequently asked questions
What is a holding role in football?
It's a deep-lying midfield position that shields the back four, breaks up opposition attacks and lets other midfielders push forward.
Is a holding midfielder the same as a defensive midfielder?
Largely yes. Both terms describe the player who sits in front of the defence and does the protective, ball-winning work.
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