A football defender is a player whose primary role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. They position themselves near their own goal and work to block, tackle, and intercept the ball from attackers. Defenders are crucial for maintaining a strong defense and often work closely with the goalkeeper to protect the goal area. Defenders can be categorized into different types, such as center-backs and full-backs. Center-backs typically play in the middle of the defense, while full-backs operate on the flanks. Effective defenders possess skills like positioning, tackling, and reading the game to anticipate the opponent's moves.