Catenaccio describes a tactical system in football with an emphasis on defence and tactical fouls. In Italian catenaccio means "door-bolt" and it effectively means a highly organized backline defense which is intended to prevent goals. It was made famous by Argentinian trainer Helenio Herrera of Inter Milan in the 1960s who used it to grind out 1-0 wins over opponents in their league games.

Catenaccio could have originated from the verrou or "chain" system invented by Austrian coach Karl Rappan who played a defensive sweeper just ahead of his goalkeeper in the 1940s. Nereo Rocco 's Padua team pioneered the system in Italy in the 1950s where it would be used again by the AC Milan team of the early 1960s.

In Herrera's version in the 1960s, four man-marking defenders are tightly assigned to each opposing attacker while an extra sweeper would pick up any loose ball that escaped the marking of the defenders.

The catenaccio system is often criticized for reducing the quality of football games as a spectacle. In certain parts of Europe it became synonymous with negative football since the attacking aspect of the game is neglected.

Competing Philosophies

• Total Football