Soccer Slang
In this case, it is SLANG SOCCER TERMS for soccer players that we’ll cover.
Along with some other SOCCER TERMINOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS and advanced players that you should know.
Back heel
Hitting the ball with your heel whether to pass or shoot it.
Balon d’Or
The European Footballer of the Year
Bar Down
A shot that hits the cross bar but still goes into the net.
Bicycle Kick
Kicking the ball out of the air when it is above you.
Brace
When a player scores two goals in a match
Clean sheet
Not letting the other team score
Clearance
Kicking the ball far up the field to reduce pressure of the other team’s offense.
Dead Ball
A free kick.
Derby
A game against a cross town rival.
Direct kick
A free kick where a teammate doesn’t need to touch the ball before you can score
Double
Winning two trophies in a season
El Clasico
Anytime that Barcelona and Real Madrid play each other.
Euros
The largest soccer tournament amongst European nations that occurs once every four years.
Feint
Pretending to take the ball in one direction when dribbling, but then you take it in another.
FIFA
The international governing body of soccer, formed in 1904 and based Switzerland.
Final Whistle
The last whistle of the game to signify the match is done.
Flank
The wide portions along the sidelines of the field
Flop or Dive
Pretending to be fouled and falling to the ground in order to draw a penalty.
Footy
Another Name for football, which is another name for soccer.
Free Transfer
When player leaves a team when their contract ends and the club don’t get any money in return for the player
Gaffer
A team’s coach.
Glut
When a player scores five goals in a match
Goalaso
A Spanish term for an incredible goal
Golden goal
A goal scored in overtime that wins the game and ends the match.
Half volley
Striking the ball out of the air but after it has hit the ground and bounced up.
Hattrick
When a player scores three goals in a match
Haul
When a player scores four goals in a match
Hospital Ball
A poor pass to a teammate that puts them in danger of being hurt.
Howler
A stupid mistake
Indirect kick
A free kick where a teammate must touch the ball before you can score
Injury time
Stoppage time added on to the end of the game because of injuries, fouls, and the other team intentionally wasting time)
In-swinger
A cross that is bending towards the goal and NOT away from the goalkeeper
Jockeying
Holding up a player with the ball by maintaining your distance in front of them without reaching in for the ball.
Knockout stages
The portion of tournaments where if you lose, you are knocked out of the tournament
Knuckle Ball
A shot that zigs and zags on its way to net.
Linesman
An assistant referee with the flag who tells the referee when the ball is out of bounds, when an attacker is off-sides, or when there has been a foul that they’ve seen.
Marking
Closing down or keeping a close eye on an attacking player
Match
A soccer game
Near post
The opponent’s goalpost closest to the player with the ball
Nutmeg
Also called a meg, it is when you push the ball through an opponents leg to pass it to a teammate or retrieve it on the other side of them.
Olympic goal
Scoring directly from a corner kick; bending the ball into the goal right from a corner
Out swinger
A cross that is bending away from the goal
Overlap
When a player runs around a teammate and ahead of the ball for a pass into space
Own Goal
Accidentally scoring on your own team
Panenka
A soft chipped penalty kick
Perfect hat-trick
When a soccer player scores one right-footed goal, one left-footed goal and one headed goal all within the same game
Pitch
A soccer field
PK
A penalty kick
Playmaker
The team’s player who directs the offensive attack.
Professional foul
Also, known as a tactical foul. This is when a player fouls an opponent because they have a clear advantage and may score if not fouled.
Quadruple
Winning four trophies in a season
Self-Pass
When an opponent reaches in to steal the ball from you and you pass it from one foot to the other to get it out of the way of their foot.
Sweeper
The last defensive player who doesn’t mark someone but remains free to clean up mistakes and cover other teammates
Tiki-Taka
A style of soccer where you try to keep possession and play short and quick one and two touch passes
Toe Blow
Also, known as a toe punch, toe kick, or toe punt and it is when you kick the ball with your toe.
Treble
Winning three trophies in a season
UCL
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
UEFA
Union of European Football Associations, the governing body of soccer in Europe.
Upper 90
Also known as top bins, it is the portion inside the net where the crossbar meets the post.
VAR
Video assistant referee
Volley
Striking the ball out of the air.
Wall pass
Also called a 1-2, it is when you pass to a teammate and they one-touch the ball back to you, just as if you passed it off a wall.