Soccer Slang: The Gegenpress

The Gegenpress in visual form. Study. Execute. Repeat as necessary. Photo: Pexels

Soccer may ultimately be about putting the ball in the net — but today’s game is overflowing with jargon.

With tactics increasingly shaped by data and analytics, players and coaches are creating an ever-evolving and fluid new language — which NYC Footy’s new Soccer Slang series aims to translate.

From Parking the Bus to The Rest Defence, we’ll decode the phrases that make modern soccer sound more like science fiction.

First up, a potent weapon in the armoury of teams intent on playing 'Rock and Roll' soccer: The Gegenpress.

When Jürgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool in 2015, he contrasted his style with the more measured passing of then-Premier League rivals Arsenal, managed by Arsène Wenger.

“I think (Wenger) likes having the ball, playing football, passes — it’s like an orchestra,” said Klopp. “I like heavy metal more. I always want it loud! I want to have this boom!”

True to his word, Klopp turned the Reds into a ferocious, high-intensity machine that conquered England and Europe. At the heart of that success lay one simple principle: Gegenpressing.

Derived from the German for “counter-pressing,” the idea is simple — win the ball back immediately after losing it, ideally high up the pitch. By doing so, teams can catch opponents off guard and create instant scoring chances.

As Klopp once explained, “Gegenpressing lets you win back the ball nearer to the goal. It’s only one pass away from a really good opportunity.”

Executed well, it’s both devastating and beautiful, and we urge our NYC Footy family to give it a whirl in the coming weeks.

Maybe try it before the festive season though — Gegenpressing in January will leave most of us high and dry given our post-Christmas fitness levels!