By Theo Gardner
Catenaccio is one of the most famous and influential tactical ideologies that has ever been created, its influence can be seen in the defensive principles of many of the most effective teams of recent history.
It is a system of out-and-out defence. The word literally translates to ‘bolt’ in Italian.
It is based upon completely stifling any attempts of opposition attack, forcing them to commit more players forward in a frustrated attempt to break down the resolute defensive block, and then exploiting the gaps left in behind by the opposition.
The Roots of Catenaccio – Verrou
Nowadays, catenaccio is synonymous with the defensive-minded Italian leagues, and that is where it materialised as the system we know today.
However, surprisingly catenaccio’s roots lie north of the boarder, in Geneva-based, semi-professional club Servette.
In the 1930s, Servette was managed by Austrian coach, Karl Rappan. Rappan was faced with the struggle that his side could not compete with Switzerland’s more financially endowed, professional clubs.
Rappan created a system which became known as ‘verrou’ (which also translates to bolt, just in French). In this system, his side would soak up pressure from the opposition in a deep defensive block, before hitting them hard on the counter through quick transitional play.
Alongside this, Rappan tweaked his sides structure. Moving away from a 2-3-5 (the popular formation of the time), instead pulling players back to create what resembled more of a 4-3-3.
Rappan’s side would man-mark their opposition, across the midfield and defence, with the exception of their two central defenders.
When out of possession, the ball side central defender would step towards the ball, while the non-ball side defender would tuck in behind in order to act as a sweeper – cleaning up anything that slipped through the defensive line. This was the early form of the libero.
The system yielded positive results at Servette, and while many didn’t understand it, the club was rewarded with two Nationalliga A (now Swiss Super League) titles during Rappan’s tenure at the club.
Rappan would also go on to use the system to great success with the Swiss national team.
The next stage in the development of catenaccio – Vianema
Giuseppe Viani managed sides all across Italy, including taking over the Italian national team at one point. However, it was his time at Salernitana in the late 1940s, that he developed Rappan’s system further.
It is believed that one of Viani’s players, Antonio Valese, suggested that one of the midfield players in the popular ‘W-M’ system of the time, drop back into the defensive line.
This player, took over the duties of one of the central defenders, allowing a defender to drop back and act as a sweeper for the side.
This was a more clear development of the libero role, as one player consistently took on that role and always acted as the sweeper, whereas, in Rappan’s system the role would be fulfilled by the non-ball side defender.
Similarly to Rappan, Vianema was in many ways ahead of its time – leading to many not understanding the system. This led to a wealth of criticism from the press for being overly defensive, something that was only intensified by the fact that Viani would sometimes opt to put a defender up front in the number nine shirt, in order to track back and free up deeper players from marking duty.
Catenaccio at its peak – Milan in the 1960s
In the early 60s, Nereo Rocco implemented a fully developed catenaccio system at AC Milan.
Rocco’s side set up in a 1-3-3-3, they would sit back in low block, offering little space between the lines and maintaining their structural rigidity off the ball.
They would frustrate the opposition with this stubborn system, before counter-attacking quickly, with an emphasis on long balls to quickly put pressure on the oppositions goal. Midfielder Gianni Rivera was given the responsibility from midfield to kickstart these transitionary moves.
Rocco would claim a Serie A and a European Cup, utilising this system in his first stint at Milan. He would rejoin the club twice more as their manager, ultimately claiming two Serie As, three Coppa Italias, two European Cups, two UEFA Cup Winner’s Cups and, an Intercontinental Cup.
Perhaps the most notable and recognisable form of catenaccio ever also occurred in Milan, in the 1960s. However, it took place at Internazionale under Argentine, Helenio Herrera.
Herrera went one step further, pushing another player back to defence to create a back four, with a libero sitting behind them.
This extra player in defence allowed Herrera to push his fullbacks wider when on the ball, aiming to increase speed in transition.
Herrera’s Inter became a rapid transitory team, as well as a defensive powerhouse, due to their rigidity and high levels of organisation. This led to great success for the Milanese side, most notably, back-to-back European Cups in 1964 and 1965. They were also inches away from a ‘threepeat’ as the side fell to Celtic in the 1967 final.
Catenaccio’s lasting effects
Catenaccio has had lasting effects both in Italy and worldwide. Many sides have achieved great success from either employing a catenaccio system, or employing a system which incorporates much of the tactical framework.
There were clear elements of catenaccio in both of Italy’s World Cup successes that have occurred since the 1960s, and outside of Italy, Greece’s triumph at the 2004 Euros was largely down to the principles of catenaccio.
The system also influenced many of the future managerial greats. Take, for instance, Rinus Michels, whose total football system would have taken inspiration from the catenaccio system.
While, in many ways catenaccio seems to be the antithesis to total football, focusing on rigidity and positional organisation, rather than the free flowing football that could be seen in Michels’ sides, they are actually two sides of the same coin – the intense focus on space creation, manipulation and exploitation sits at the core of both systems.
Final Thoughts
Catenaccio is a highly intelligent and effective tactical system, which allows focussed teamwork to overcome individual ability.
It’s important to emphasise that catenaccio is not just parking the bus, it’s about defensive organisation and discipline as well as swift transition into the attack through calculated space manipulation and exploitation.
As well as the role of a libero, who serves to cover the defensive line, clear up any mistakes, and often kickstart counter-attacks through quick and accurate distribution.
Parking the bus takes the form of putting everyone behind the ball, as well as a focus on territory rather than possession, getting the ball away from your goal rather than trying to build something yourself.
Ultimately, catenaccio is one of the defining tactics of modern football, the game as we know it would simply not be the same had it not been invented and refined in the way it has.