General
target man
What does target man mean?
A large, physically dominant centre-forward who wins headers, holds the ball up and brings others into play.
"They lump it up to the target man and feed off his knock-downs."
Origin
Descriptive: he is the 'target' for long balls and crosses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a target man in football?
It is a big, physical centre-forward who wins headers, holds the ball up under pressure and brings teammates into play.
Why is he called a target man?
Because he is the 'target' teammates aim for when playing long balls and crosses forward.
What is the target man's main job?
To occupy defenders, win aerial duels, and lay the ball off or knock it down for runners rather than only scoring himself.
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