In association football a defender is a player whose position of play is behind the midfielders and first and foremost provide support to the goalkeeper.

The main types of defender are center back, full back, wing back, and sweeper. Defenders are by and large robust, and they also tend to be tall, though there have been several very successful short defenders (usually as wing backs, where height is rarely an issue). All defenders need to be versed in tackling and need a modicum of ball control skills.

They usually remain in the half of the field that contains the goal they are defending. The taller defenders tend to move forward to the opposing team's penalty box when their team takes corner kicks or free kicks where scoring with one's head is a possibility.

Famous defenders

• Tony Adams
• Franz Beckenbauer
• Cafu
• Fabio Cannavaro
• Roberto Carlos
• Ivan Cordoba
• Marcel Desailly
• Rio Ferdinand
• Hong Myung-Bo
• Paolo Maldini
• Alessandro Nesta
• Jaap Stam
• Lilian Thuram

See also

• Football (soccer) positions