catenaccio
thumb|Karl Rappan's verrou, a predecessor to the catenaccio
~28 min read
Article
12 sectionsContents
- History
- Predecessors and influences
- Italian ''catenaccio''
- Decline of ''catenaccio'' with the advent of ''total football'', and the birth of ''zona mista''
- Modern use of ''catenaccio''
- Derivative defensive strategies
- Italian football
- Other examples
- Legacy
- See also
- References
- Notes
thumb|Karl Rappan's verrou, a predecessor to the catenaccio
Catenaccio () or The Chain is a tactical system in football with a strong emphasis on defence. In Italian, catenaccio means "door-bolt", which implies a highly organised and effective backline defence focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities.