Glossary of association football terms

Association football (more commonly known as football or soccer) was first codified in 1863 in England, although games that involved the kicking of a ball were evident considerably earlier. A large number of football-related terms have since emerged to describe various aspects of the sport and its culture. The evolution of the sport has been mirrored by changes in this terminology over time. For instance, the role of an in variants of a formation has many parallels to that of an , although the positions are nonetheless distinct. Similarly, a 2–3–5 can in many ways be compared to a in a .

Glossary of association football terms

Association football (more commonly known as football or soccer) was first codified in 1863 in England, although games that involved the kicking of a ball were evident considerably earlier. A large number of football-related terms have since emerged to describe various aspects of the sport and its culture. The evolution of the sport has been mirrored by changes in this terminology over time. For instance, the role of an in variants of a formation has many parallels to that of an , although the positions are nonetheless distinct. Similarly, a 2–3–5 can in many ways be compared to a in a .