Backheel
A pass or shot played with the back of the heel rather than the front of the boot. Used for trickery, surprise, or to release a teammate running behind.
Glossary
Slang and commentary
Slang and commentary vocabulary — the everyday football language used in matchday coverage, punditry, and fan culture, including match-action slang, result language, and named rivalries.
Slang and commentary explained
Every term in the slang and commentary category, with a short definition.
Slang and commentary vocabulary — the everyday football language used in matchday coverage, punditry, and fan culture, including match-action slang, result language, and named rivalries.
There are 65 terms in this category. Each entry below includes a short definition and, where one exists, a link to the relevant page elsewhere on the site.
Slang and commentary
Banger (also: cracker, pearler, rocket, screamer, thunderbolt)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with cracker, pearler, rocket, screamer and thunderbolt.
Bicycle kick (also: overhead kick)
A spectacular volley in which the player throws their body backwards into the air and strikes the ball with one foot over their head. Also called an overhead kick.
Boss (also: gaffer)
An informal term for the manager — often used by players and supporters. Often paired with "gaffer" in British football culture.
Brace
Two goals scored by the same player in a single match.
Bullet header
A header struck with great power and precision, usually flat and directly towards the goal.
Captain (also: skipper)
The on-pitch leader of a team, identified by the armband worn over the upper arm. Responsible for representing the team to the referee and at the coin toss.
Chip (also: chipped finish)
A finish in which the player scoops the ball over the goalkeeper rather than driving it through. Requires the goalkeeper to be off their line.
Comeback
A match in which a team recovers from a losing position to win or draw. Famous comebacks are remembered for decades.
Cracker (also: banger, pearler, rocket, screamer, thunderbolt)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with banger, pearler, rocket, screamer and thunderbolt.
Cruyff turn
A dribbling move in which the player feints a pass or cross with the laces, then drags the ball behind the standing leg with the inside of the foot. Named after Dutch forward Johan Cruyff.
Curler
A shot or cross struck with the inside of the foot to put curling spin on the ball, bending it around defenders or a goalkeeper.
Daisy cutter
A shot struck low and hard along the ground, often picking out the bottom corner of the goal.
Derby (also: local derby)
A match between two local rivals — clubs from the same city, region or with a shared history. Derbies typically carry extra meaning beyond the league points at stake.
Dink
A delicate chipped finish over the goalkeeper, lifted gently with the laces rather than struck hard.
Diving header
A header taken while throwing the body forward and parallel to the ground, often to reach a low cross.
Dribble
Carrying the ball forward with a series of short touches, usually while moving past or around opponents.
Dummy
A skill move in which the player lets the ball run past their own legs while feigning to play it, leaving the ball for a teammate behind.
El Clásico
The match between Real Madrid and Barcelona — the most prominent club rivalry in Spanish football and one of the most-watched fixtures in world sport.
Elastico
A dribbling move in which the player flicks the ball one way with the outside of the foot before instantly bringing it back the other way with the inside. Associated with Brazilian forwards.
Far post finish (also: back post finish)
A finish from a cross or cutback that finds the corner of the goal furthest from the player who delivered the ball. Also called a back post finish.
Finishing
The discipline of converting goal-scoring chances into goals. A good finisher converts chances at a higher rate than average.
Foreign legion
An informal phrase for a team's overseas players considered as a group. Used in commentary about squads drawing heavily on international recruitment.
Gaffer (also: boss)
British football slang for the manager. Used by players to and about the boss.
Glancing header
A header in which the player turns the ball with the top of the head rather than meeting it flush — used to redirect crosses subtly across the goal.
Goal of the season
An informal award given to the best goal scored across a competition during a season. Often a long-range strike or a worked team move.
Half-volley
A shot struck the instant after the ball has bounced on the ground. Usually more powerful than a ground shot and less technically difficult than a full volley.
Hat-trick
Three goals scored by the same player in a single match. A perfect hat-trick is one comprised of goals scored with the left foot, right foot, and head.
Header
A pass, shot or clearance played with the head. A key part of the game in the air and at set pieces.
Hospital pass
A pass played to a teammate just as an opponent is about to make heavy contact, putting them at risk of injury.
Howler
A glaring individual error — often by a goalkeeper or defender — that leads directly to a goal.
Knockdown
A header or chest control designed to lay the ball off into the path of a teammate rather than taking control directly. Often produced by a forward for a teammate arriving from behind, but not exclusively.
Lay-off
A quick short pass played for a teammate running onto the ball. Often produced by a player with their back to goal for a teammate arriving from behind, but not exclusively.
Lob
A shot struck up and over the goalkeeper, finding the goal beyond their reach. Chips and dinks are particular types of lob.
Marauding (full back / wing back)
An adjective for an attack-minded full back or wing back who advances aggressively up the wing rather than defending conservatively.
Nutmeg (also: megs)
Passing or dribbling the ball through an opponent's legs. Considered an embarrassment to the defender and a small triumph for the attacker.
Old Firm (also: Old Firm derby)
The collective name for Celtic and Rangers, the two dominant clubs in Scottish football. The Old Firm derby is one of the most intense fixtures in club football.
Overhead kick (also: bicycle kick)
A spectacular volley played with the body inverted and the foot reaching up and over the head. Also called a bicycle kick.
Pearler (also: banger, cracker, rocket, screamer, thunderbolt)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with banger, cracker, rocket, screamer and thunderbolt.
Pinpoint (also: pinpoint pass, pinpoint cross)
An adjective for a pass or cross delivered with great precision, finding its target despite distance or angle.
Postage stamp (also: top corner, top bins)
The very top corner of the goal — where the post meets the crossbar. A shot in the postage stamp is considered unsaveable.
Purple patch
A run of strong form by a player or team — a stretch of matches in which they are scoring, winning, or playing at a level above their usual standard.
Rabona
A skill move in which the player kicks the ball with one foot wrapped around the back of their standing leg. Used as a cross, shot or pass.
Rocket (also: banger, cracker, pearler, screamer, thunderbolt)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with banger, cracker, pearler, screamer and thunderbolt.
Roulette (also: Zidane roulette)
A 360-degree spin around an opponent while keeping the ball under control. Associated with Zinedine Zidane.
Scissor kick
A volley in which the player crosses their legs in mid-air, striking the ball with the front foot in a scissoring motion.
Screamer (also: banger, cracker, pearler, rocket, thunderbolt)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with banger, cracker, pearler, rocket and thunderbolt.
Sitter
An open chance with the goal at the player's mercy. Missing a sitter is a defining commentary moment.
Six-pointer
A league match between two teams close in the table where the result is considered to be worth six points — three for the winner, three withheld from the loser.
Skipper (also: captain)
Informal term for the captain of a team.
Stepover
A skill move in which the player feints to take the ball one way with one foot, then takes it the other way with the other foot.
Stunner
An informal term for a particularly spectacular goal — usually a long-range strike, a worked team move, or an acrobatic finish.
Superclásico
The match between Boca Juniors and River Plate — the biggest club rivalry in Argentine football and one of the most heated fixtures anywhere in the world.
Talisman
A player considered crucial to a team's fortunes — usually the leading scorer or the creative spark whose form determines results.
Tap-in
A simple finish from very close range — usually the easy conversion of a cross, cutback or rebound.
Thunderbolt (also: banger, cracker, pearler, rocket, screamer)
An informal term for a powerful shot, usually struck from distance and finding the back of the net. Used interchangeably with banger, cracker, pearler, rocket and screamer.
Toe-poke (also: toe-punt)
A shot struck with the toe of the boot rather than the laces or inside of the foot. Quick, awkward, and effective at close range.
Top bins (also: top corner, postage stamp)
An informal term for the top corner of the goal — where the upright meets the crossbar.
Top corner (also: top bins, postage stamp)
The corner of the goal where the upright meets the crossbar. A shot in the top corner is considered unsaveable.
Trick
An individual skill or feint used to beat an opponent — for example a stepover, Cruyff turn, rabona or elastico.
Underdog
The team considered less likely to win a particular match — usually because of squad strength, league position, or reputation.
Volley
A shot struck while the ball is in the air, before it touches the ground.
Wing wizard
An informal term for an exciting, skilful winger — usually quick, tricky, and capable of producing moments of magic in wide areas.
Wonderkid
A young player considered to have exceptional potential. The term implies promise rather than achievement.
Worldie
Short for "world-class goal" — an exceptional strike worthy of any setting in world football.
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