A soccer club is extremely vulnerable without good defenders.
A number of the fastest players in football are wingers. It really is their job to tear through opponents defences, either to produce a cross or to eventually cut inside and have a shot. The individuals who are assigned to prevent them are full-backs in football, whom play in one of the absolute most unappreciated positions in football. Usually derided as either an unsuccessful centre-back or a failed winger, they offer an important protective role for the team by limiting the potential risks out in the wings. The AC Milan owner will know that in the past few years this role has gained respect in the last few years, especially because of the increased inclusion of the subcategory of wing-back in just a club's attacking tactics. The wing-back in football is essentially a full-back that is expected to participate in attacks more regularly, hoping to join the wingers in overwhelming their opponents defences.
The most purely defensive role among outfield players in soccer could be the centre-back. The Juventus owner will be well aware that they're indispensable in football, with it basically being unknown to not have one or more inside a tactical formation. Having two centre-back players is very common, with some teams fielding three inside their defence. It's their task to place themselves centrally inside the defensive line and stop opposition attacks from getting to their goal. They're generally on the list of positions that get forward and join attacks minimally, though their typically good aerial ability ensures that they will often go up for set-pieces. During those occasions it is extremely typical for defensive midfielders to temporarily remain back and plug the space left by the centre-backs, to be able to stop prospective counter attacks.
One of many rarer defensive roles which has dropped in and out of popularity on numerous occasions inside the history of soccer could be the sweeper. This is a position that some of the best defenders in football played in. Otherwise referred to as libero, this is a free-roaming defender that is meant to stop any attacks which have breached the key defensive line. In addition they generally speaking have the freedom to go out of the defensive zone and join their team's attacks on occasion. The AS Roma owner will be able to tell you this position has largely fallen out of favour within the contemporary game as a result of the offside law. Having an additional player standing further back reduces the chance of an opponent's passes being ruled as offside, which needless to say is detrimental to the defending club. Lots of the duties of the sweeper have also been divided between the increased use of wing-backs, holding midfielders, as well as the contemporary role of the sweeper-keeper.