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Glite Dictionary
🏐 A defensive specialist ⚽ A sweeper
libero

libero

1 8.2
In football, a player who stands behind the defenders to stop attacks and start new plays
  • noun
  • /lɪˈbɛroʊ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : libero
  • Junior libero Catie Fredrich was the only Ball State player to finish with double figures in digs.

Examples

  • Sophomore libero Taryn Graham said that beating the former outright conference leader was made possible by approaching the match with the right mindset.

    Blog text (27)

  • Senior Madeline Garda (committed to Bowling Green), who is competing for the libero role, also returns.

    Blog text (5)

  • The libero plays a crucial role in defense, helping to intercept attacks and initiate new plays.

  • During the match, the libero successfully dug several powerful spikes from the opposing team.

  • The team's libero coordinated with the defenders to create effective plays after winning the ball back.

Synonyms

back
vslibero
373 3.3

A player who defends in football

is a specialized defender who plays behind main defenders to intercept attacks
defensor
vslibero
7.4

A player who stops the other team from scoring, usually near their goal

is a specialized defender positioned behind others to intercept and start plays

How Defensive

libero
  • Jargon
1 8.2
back
373 3.3
midfielder
21 3.3
striker
14 2.9

Surface Forms

libero singular
liberos plural

Etymology

Libero comes from Italian and Latin liber, which means 'free', and it shares the same root as liberty. In football a libero is a defender who is 'free' to move behind the main line and start attacks, so the name shows the player's freedom to cover space and begin plays.