General
dirty work
What does dirty work mean?
The tackling, tracking and pass-breaking that a hard-working midfielder does so flair players can shine.
"He does all the dirty work so the playmaker can create."
Origin
Figurative use of 'dirty work' for thankless, gritty labour.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'dirty work' mean in football?
It's the unglamorous graft — tackling, tracking runners and breaking up play — that frees up the creative players to shine.
Which players do the dirty work?
Typically holding or box-to-box midfielders and hard-working defenders whose effort rarely shows up on the scoresheet.
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