Weekly Football Phrase: Back Four

This week's football phrase is the term 'back four' which refers to a team's defence. Find out more about this phrase by reading the transcript below and listening to the audio. You can also find many more examples of soccer vocabulary by going to our football cliches page here and our huge football glossary here.

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Back Four

All teams start each game with eleven players but not all of them organise these players in the same way. They may play with five in midfield, one up front or even three at the back as they try to outsmart their opponents. One of the more typical settings for the defence is to have four players situated there: two full backs (left and right) and two centre halves and these four players are known collectively as the back four.



* For example: Manchester United experimented with a back three earlier this season before reverting to a back four after some surprise defeats.

* For example: The English national team tend to play with a flat back four rather than a sweeper system.