Is There a Name For Zlatan’s Trick vs Mallorca?

By: Daryl | November 10th, 2009

I hope everyone has seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s magical assist for Barcelona vs Mallorca this weekend. I saw it live on TV and instinctively applauded. Even though I was alone. Bit odd maybe, but a testament to Zlatan’s talents.

Chris spotted the above YouTube vid of the clip over at Unprofessional Foul and posted it on Water Cooler Offside (where we post all kinds of excellent random videos and stuff, so go visit).

But one thing has been bugging me: I don’t know what to call Zlatan’s move. All the best tricks have a name we can use as shorthand. The 360°, the rabona, the Daniel-san. But so far nothing (that I know of) for the move above. It’s basically a drag back followed by a pass with the instep of the same foot, which is then behind the other foot when the ball is played. But that’s not very succinct. So, please, help me out. What should this trick be called?

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Waterfromavineleaf

I was there sitting on the 2nd latteral, behind the goal andl slithly to the left from my point of view. Amazing stuff...As Swedes, me and my wife felt great pride in that moment.
wob

@Rob, Thomas

He doesn't use his toe but he uses the sole of his foot instead. So that is also how it differs from the Cruyff Turn.
Dave

Just watching the video now, if that other player that doesn't receive the pass is not there to pick the defender, that pass never ends up on a barca foot. At least that is the view from this angle.
Thomas

It's like a Cruyff pass. It is a Cruyff turn, but instead of using it as a move to make space, it turns into a pass.
evaldo

gourcuff does this all the time just no to such great effect: a direct assist

it isn't physically hard to do but props to zlatan for the execution. the creativity to unlock a defense is what is so awesome about this: creating something out of nothing. that said, shitty defending. you have to know zlatan is all about the tricks and flicks and not give him that space

best trick comps on the net= http://www.youtube.com/user/Al...
Johonna

See, this is why I continue to love him helplessly. He breaks my heart - tramples it really - and I still come back for more.
Shazback

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... -1:38 to 1:43-

Zidane did this quite a lot. It's pretty much a pass rabona, no?
Rob

This is the closest thing to a TOEDRAG I have seen in soccer yet.

A toedrag is a move in Ice Hockey where you pull the stick up and pull the puck back with the toe of the blade to the heel. In gameplay, you usually "pull" a toedrag when trying to get around a defender or trying to settle the puck. I personally like to toedrag when I'm going to make a pass or try to change the angle of a shot I'm going to take.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... - simplest video that shows you a toedrag.

Zlatan brought the foot up, toed the ball backwards, and passed it side-heel to Messi. I would call it a toedrag, for the most part.
alex

back heel pass
Oli

Drag flick is a type of shot in field hockey.

It's also a good name for this move. Descriptive, but at the same time cool.

So, yeah, I say drag flick, but the real reason for that is that I did one of these before, and what do you think I called it? A drag flick.
Daryl

I'm liking the dragflick wob. Anyone want to second that?
wob

Dragpass
Dragflick

@ Elliot: I don't think he used his heel...
Elliott

In Spanish, a heel pass like that would be a tacon or taconcito. But "heel" just does not sound beautiful enough in English...
martin

Its only the fact that he beat 3 players with the ball, the footwork itself wasn't that great. Still very impressive though.
chris

Nothing to brag about?

Clearly weighting the ball, accuracy and awareness of a teammate mean something, yes? In fact it's what Barcelona's built on.
Gaston

i used to do this trick on the playground when i was young

and i'm sure others have done it too, just because its on tv doesn't mean its new

perhaps its the variation n angle and the end product of it, but its nothing to brag about
evaldo

did you guys see joe cole's rabona against bolton. THAT was impressive although there was no end product.
Ryan McManus

Well, we all know Ibra isn't the first to do it, so I do not think he deserves credit for it.
Kxevin

Ours, beeyotches!

Oh, wait .... a real name. What else? The Ibracadabra!