'At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world... Sparky and very funny' - Paul Hayward
'Amusing and informative in equal measure' - Oliver Kay, The Athletic
'A wonderful, endlessly delightful book' - When Saturday Comes
A new edition of an expertly compiled and utterly fascinating compendium of the weird and wonderful words and phrases used to describe football around the world.
In this revised glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative global language used by fans, commentators and players.
From placing a shot 'where the owl sleeps' in Brazil, to what it means to use your 'chocolate leg' in the Netherlands, via '
Anglican' - a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal - and the now ubiquitous 'it's coming home', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.
Discover why a 'café crème' is more than a classic bistro order, what it means when an Indian coach uses his 'brain weapon' and why Dundee United supporters should keep their heads down in Nigeria.
With over 750 terms from 89 countries (including 29 ways to describe a nutmeg), this is the definitive guide to the global language of football.
'
Funny, erudite, rich in detail and endlessly readable. Perfect for anyone who thinks they already know about the language of football'? Barney Ronay,
The Guardian
'
A reminder that there are few better means of celebrating both our differences and similarities than the game of football' ?
The Guardian
'
Quirky, addictive, stuffed with anecdote, it's far more than a glossary . The writing is precise, light and often lovely. A treat' ? Jonathan Northcroft,
Sunday Times
'
A fascinating and necessary work' ? Jonathan Wilson, founder of
The Blizzard
'
Ein super Buch!' ? Raphael Honigstein, The Athletic
'
Funny, informative and truly global' ?
11Freunde
'Sparky and very funny... At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world...'
Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph
A new edition of a fascinating round-the-world exploration of the weird and wonderful language of football, with new entertaining entries and a foreword by renowned Dutch midfielder (and polyglot) Clarence Seedorf.
To speak football is to speak a language of a thousand tongues.
In this new and revised global glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative language used by fans, commentators and players across the world.
From placing a shot 'where the spiders nest' in Spain, to what it means to use your 'chocolate leg' in the Netherlands, via 'Anglican' - a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal - and the now legendary 'it's coming home', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.
Discover why a 'café crème' is more than a classic bistro order, what it means when Indonesian players fancy a 'turun minum' and why Dundee United supporters should keep their heads down in Nigeria.
With 750 terms from 88 countries (including 29 ways to describe a nutmeg), this is the definitive guide to the global language of football.
By reading this book, you will discover the complexity, the colour and the power of football's global language. 
