Zonal Defence

This term is relatively vague. A zonal defence basically intends to control the space instead of every opposing player. Since the 1950s and 1960s, various coaches introduced new concepts that included a more space-orientated and ball-orientated defence. The Dutch Totaalvoetbal extended the idea, with Rinus Micheals using a space-orientated concept. Milan’s Arrigo Sacchi eventually refined the zonal defence with intense pressing and the compression of space. Moreover, the modern back four with the procedure of constant shiftings made the breakthrough. There are four different types of zonal defence: man-orientated, space-orientated, position-orientated, and ball-orientated.