A Glossary of Football Management Terms

How to use this glossary

Football has its own language, and football management adds even more terms. This glossary explains the words you are most likely to meet when you manage a club in TAC FC, in plain English. Where a term describes something you control in the game, the definition says so. Use it as a reference when an article or a match report uses a word you are not sure about.

Tactics and shape

Formation: the basic shape of your team, written as numbers from defence to attack, such as 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. It decides how many players are in each line. In TAC FC you choose it on the Tactics page.

Mentality: how much risk your team takes. A cautious mentality keeps players behind the ball; an attacking one sends more players forward. You set it on the Tactics page and can change it during a match.

Pressing: how hard and how high your team tries to win the ball back when the opponent has it. High pressing wins the ball nearer the opponent's goal but is tiring.

Defensive line: how far up the pitch your defenders stand. A high line keeps the team compact but leaves space behind; a deep line protects that space but invites pressure.

Attacking style: how your team moves the ball forward, for example quickly and directly or patiently with short passes.

Compact: a team whose players stay close together, with little space between the lines. Compact teams are hard to play through.

Counter-attack: an attack launched quickly after winning the ball, while the opponent is out of shape.

Possession: having the ball. A possession team tries to keep the ball for long periods.

Between the lines: the space between the opponent's midfield and defence, where creative players look to receive the ball.

Width: how much your team uses the full width of the pitch. Width stretches the opponent's defence and creates space in the middle.

Overlap: when a full-back runs past a winger on the outside to receive the ball and cross.

Positions and roles

Goalkeeper: the player in goal, the only one allowed to handle the ball in his own penalty area.

Centre-back: a central defender. Usually strong in the air and in tackles.

Full-back: a defender on the side of a back four.

Wing-back: a wide player in a formation with three centre-backs, responsible for the whole flank.

Defensive midfielder: a midfielder who sits in front of the defence and protects it.

Box-to-box midfielder: a midfielder who defends and attacks, covering a lot of ground.

Playmaker: a creative player who sets up chances. A number 10 is a playmaker who plays behind the strikers.

Winger: a wide attacking player who crosses or cuts inside.

Target man: a tall, strong striker who holds the ball up and wins headers.

Poacher: a striker who scores from close range and lives in the penalty area.

False nine: a striker who drops deep into midfield to pull defenders out of position.

Main position and second position: in TAC FC, the positions where a player is at his strongest. Far from them, he plays weaker.

Player roles and instructions: settings on the Tactics page that tell individual players how to behave within the formation.

Set pieces and leadership

Set piece: a restart from a stopped ball, such as a corner, free kick, penalty or throw-in.

Set-piece taker: the player chosen to take corners, free kicks or penalties. In TAC FC you choose takers on the Tactics page.

Zonal marking: defending set pieces by guarding areas of the box rather than particular players.

Man marking: defending by following a specific opponent.

Captain: the leader on the pitch, chosen on the Tactics page.

Players and development

Stars: in TAC FC, the measure of a player's strength in his position. The stars on the pitch show his real strength in the spot you have chosen.

Potential: how good a player can become. Young players with high potential can improve a lot.

Form: how well a player or a team has performed recently.

Morale: how confident and happy the players are. Results in TAC FC follow strength, form, fitness and morale.

Fitness: how much energy a player has. Matches and hard training reduce it, rest restores it.

Training intensity: how hard your players train. In TAC FC, harder training improves players faster but tires them more.

Drill group: a training group focusing on one area, such as fitness, shooting or crossing.

Youth academy: where young prospects come into the club. In TAC FC you can bring in prospects once a week and promote the best.

Rotation: changing the starting eleven between matches to keep players fresh.

Transfers and money

Transfer fee: the price paid to sign a player from another club.

Starting price: the price at which bidding opens when a player is listed on the TAC FC transfer market. Each new bid must beat the last.

Free player: a player without a club who can be signed without a fee. You pay only his wages.

Wages: what players are paid. In TAC FC, wages are paid every week.

Squad minimum: in TAC FC you must keep at least 19 players.

Upkeep: the running cost of the club and its stadium.

Ticket price: what fans pay to watch home matches. You set it in TAC FC.

Sponsor goals: targets for the season that pay bonuses and affect board confidence.

Board confidence: how satisfied the club's board is with your work.

Competitions and calendar

League round: a set of league matches played on the same day. TAC FC has four a week, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Promotion and relegation: moving up to a higher division or down to a lower one based on league position.

Cup tie: a knockout match in a cup competition. Lose and you are out.

International competitions: competitions between the best clubs of different countries.

Live match: a match you watch as it is played. In TAC FC it lasts about fifteen minutes with a short half-time break.

Replay: a recording of a match that you can watch later.