catenaccio

/ kateˈnattʃo /

noun

1. soccer an extremely defensive style of play

Word History and Origins

Origin of catenaccio¹

C20: from Latin catena chain

Example Sentences

Sacchi went on to revolutionize the game with his offensive tactics in a country that was better known for “catenaccio,” or lockdown defense.

From Seattle Times

For the opening stages, Italy keep the door bolted, their solid catenaccio style doing its job.

From BBC

"We start to see the beginnings of the catenaccio defence where the centre-half is a kind of stopper," Williams explains.

From BBC

For the opening stages, Italy keep the door bolted, their solid catenaccio style doing its job.

From BBC

The same Inter Milan team from the 1960’s that gave the world the catenaccio style and Italy its ultra-defensive reputation also introduced the world to Giacinto Facchetti, perhaps the first fullback to be an attacking star in his own right.

From Slate