General
sweeper
What does sweeper mean?
A defender positioned behind the main defence who 'sweeps up' loose balls and starts attacks with intelligent distribution.
"The sweeper mopped up everything that got past the centre-halves."
Origin
Descriptive: he 'sweeps' up danger; German 'libero'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sweeper in football?
It is a defender who plays behind the main defensive line, sweeping up loose balls and starting attacks with intelligent passing.
What is the difference between a sweeper and a libero?
They are the same role; 'libero', meaning free man in Italian, is the continental name for a sweeper who is free of direct man-marking duties.
Is the sweeper role still used today?
The classic sweeper is rare in the modern game, but the idea lives on in the 'sweeper-keeper', a goalkeeper who patrols behind the defence.
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