libero
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libero
In soccer, a defensive player without a fixed opposing player who operates behind the actual defensive line in order to intercept the opponent's attacks and often also build up their own team's attacking play.
Franz Beckenbauer gilt als einer der berühmtesten Liberos der Fußballgeschichte.
Franz Beckenbauer is considered one of the most famous liberos in soccer history.
The word 'Libero' (libero) comes from Italian and means 'free'. This describes the player's role perfectly: they are a 'free man' in defense who has no direct opponent.
Der Libero muss das Spiel gut lesen können, um frei agieren zu können.
The libero has to be able to read the game well in order to act freely.
You can always tell which sport is meant from the context. In sentences about soccer, it refers to the classic defensive position; in sentences about volleyball, it refers to the defensive specialist.
Der Libero organisierte die Abwehr seiner Fußballmannschaft.
The libero organized his soccer team's defense.
The position of the libero in soccer is now more historical. In modern playing systems, this role is hardly used anymore, but it was very popular from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Mein Großvater schwärmt immer von den großen Liberos aus seiner Jugendzeit.
My grandfather always raves about the great liberos from his youth.
The libero in volleyball is very easy to recognize: they are the only player on their team wearing a jersey in a different color.
Wegen seines andersfarbigen Trikots war der Libero auf dem Spielfeld gut zu sehen.
Because of his differently colored jersey, the libero was easy to see on the court.
defender / defense attorney
'der Verteidiger' and 'der Libero' are both connected with defense in sports. 'Verteidiger' is the general word for a player who stops the opposing team's attacks. 'Libero' is more specific: in soccer, it was a free defensive player behind the defense. In volleyball, the libero is a special defensive player with their own rules and a different jersey. The words can be confused because a libero also defends. But not every defender is a libero. Use 'Libero' only for this special role.
Im Volleyball trägt der Libero ein anderes Trikot als seine Mitspieler.
In volleyball, the libero wears a different jersey from his teammates.
Bei schlechtem Wetter rutschte der Verteidiger aus und verlor den Ball.
In bad weather, the defender slipped and lost the ball.