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Football (Soccer) vocabulary · Positions & Players

False nine

Meaning in football (soccer), with examples

nounAdvanced term

In football (soccer), false nine means: A central forward who drops into deeper areas to link play and draw defenders out of position.

In Turkish: sahte dokuz numara

How it is used

Use for a tactical role; the player need not wear the number nine shirt.

Example sentences

  1. Their false nine dropped into midfield, leaving space for the winger.

    The forward's movement changes which space the defence must protect.

  2. We used a false nine because our best passer could link the attack.

    The selection favours a linking role over a fixed central target.

Common collocations

  • play as a false nine
  • use a false nine
  • false-nine role
  • strikerAn attacking player who plays closest to the opponents' goal and whose main job is to score goals.
  • playmakerA creative player, often a midfielder, who directs the team's attacking play and creates chances with clever passes and vision.

More terms: Positions & Players

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