Bicycle kick
Encyclopedia
A Bicycle kick or Scissor kick is a physical move made by throwing the body up into the air, making a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other without holding on to the ground. The move can either be done backwards or sideways. Performed in ball games, when the move is done with one leg high over the head to reach the ball (located in the original head height), it is also called an overhead kick. The move is generally linked with association football, but bicycle kicks are also used in various other sports. It is the iconic movement in the game of Sepak takraw
, a popular sport played in Southeast Asia
(especifically Malaysia, Thailand
, and Indonesia
); and also rarely occurs in Australian football
where it is commonly categorised as a snap kick
.
Regarding the origin of the move, there exists a controversy among the different claims of invention from the countries of Brazil
, Chile
, Italy
, and Peru
. Attributions of invention have been given to people such as Brazilian Leônidas da Silva
, Basque-Chilean Ramón Unzaga
, Italian Carlo Parola
, and the Afro-Peruvian
people of Callao
. The controversy is particularly great among the Peruvian and Chilean positions, both which consider their respective terms (chalaca and chilena) as the legitimate ways to name this move. However, despite these claims, FIFA
does not hold a registry of ownership.
In association football, the difficulty of the bicycle kick in football is such that even Pelé
, one of professional football's most renowned players, describes it as "not easy to do". Due to its difficulty, only a few players have been able to perform the move (either as a defensive or offensive play) in an official football match. As such, the move is one of the most praised plays in the game, especially when a goal
is managed to be scored from it.
, with one leg going forward to the ball and the other backward to create an opposite moment. The move is also called a scissors kick due to the its motion resembling "scissors in the air."
According to Chile
an newspaper El Mercurio
, most languages in the world name the action by the acrobatic form it resembles. The newspaper's list, which mentions mostly European languages
, shows most of these name the move "scissors kick" followed by "bicycle kick." Other names that describe the acrobacy include the German
Fallrückzieher (falling backward kick), which emphasises the sacrifice of the player falling on his back, and the Italian
name Rovesciata, which literally means "reversed." Some exceptions to this naming standard include those languages in which the move is attributed to a specific national origin. In the Spanish speaking world the bicycle kick is not only called tijera (scissors), but is also commonly known as either chalaca or chilena. In Norway, the move is known as Brassespark (Brazil
ian kick).
Performing a bicycle kick can be quite dangerous when performed incorrectly. The main aspect to remember when executing a bicycle kick, is to brace yourself with your arms as you land back on the ground. One should also keep in mind that the difficulty of the move makes it unanticipated and, therefore, the player runs the potential risk of getting hurt or harming another player. However, as described by BBC Sport
, this is one of the acrobatic moves that makes the game much "richer."
, the move is attributed to the players of Callao
, and it is often told that they invented the move when playing with English sailors in the late 19th century. In Chile
, Basque
Ramón Unzaga
is credited with being the first player to create the bicycle kick in 1914 and exhibit it in an official football match. In Italy, the invention is usually credited to Carlo Parola
, who allegedly invented the move on 15 January 1950. Further contributing to the controversy, some players that have performed the move attribute the invention to someone else or themselves. Per sé, Leônidas
, a famous player from Brazil
, attributed the invention of this move to another Brazilian player, Petronilho de Brito. If that were not enough, sometimes the attributions of invention get jumbled, and people begin to attribute the invention of the kick to famous players who performed, but did not claim invention of, the kick such as Hugo Sánchez
from Mexico and David Arellano
from Chile.
On May 12, 1957 Indonesian player Ramang
converted a bicycle kick to gain a (2-0) victory against China PR in the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
. Ramang was a famous "Pa'Raga" (Sepak takraw
) player in Indonesia before he played football. Bicycle kicks are a basic movement in Sepak takraw
.
On November 9, 1986 Dutch star player Marco van Basten executed a bicycle kick which is still remembered all over the world.
In the arena of national football teams, a famous bicycle kick was made during the international tournament of the 1975 Copa America
when Juan Carlos Oblitas
scored against the Chilean football team
with a bicycle kick that gave the Peruvian football team
a 2–0 lead against the visiting team.
Klaus Fischer
of Germany scored an overhead kick in the 108th minute of extra time for the tying goal for Germany, making it 3–3. (France had been leading 3–1 in extra time at one point). Germany won the game by penalties 5–4. The goal was voted that year's "Goal of the year".
Hernan Crespo scored a "chilena" for River Plate in the round of 16 match against Sporting Cristal that gave the Argentines a win en route to the championship they would later win. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LbpdUIbgWA
In the group stage of AFC Asian Cup 1996, Widodo C Putro
of Indonesia
scored his goal by a spectacular bicycle kick from outside the penalty area. That goal was created in a match against Kuwait
while the game was ended (2-2). His goal was awarded as The Best Asian Goal in 1996 by AFC.
QPR's Trevor Sinclair
scored a memorable bicycle kick from the edge of the penalty area in the fourth round of the 1996-1997 FA Cup. The goal would go on to win the Match of the Day
Goal of the Season
.
Nick Wright
scored an overhead kick for Watford against Bolton in a Division one Play-off final match on 31 May 1999 which helped them get promotion to the Premier league.
Italy's Mauro Bressan
in a UEFA Champions League match (3-3) against Barcelona on 2 November 1999. After 14 minutes he scored a spectacular 25 yards bicycle kick which is considered one of the greatest goals of all time.
Barcelona's Rivaldo
scored in the 89th minute and thus gave the team the chance to participate in the Champions League
.
In an FA Premier League
encounter at Stamford Bridge
, Chelsea's Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised United's opening goal with a spectacular bicycle kick from Frank Lampard
's cross. The home side went on to win the game, thus reigniting that season's title race.
A famous bicycle kick was scored in the Copa Libertadores 2004
by Jorge Soto
while playing for Sporting Cristal
against Rosario Central
. Said game was being played in Peru
, and the Argentine
Rosario Central had previously tied Sporting Cristal with a score of 1–1 in Argentina
. Soto's bicycle kick goal opened up what would turn into a 4–1 victory for the Peruvian squad, and his goal is considered one of the best in the Copa Libertadores tournament.
In a highly anticipated Midlands Derby, Gary Cahill
scored his only Aston Villa goal with a near post overhead kick to give Villa the lead and a eventual 3-1 win.
In the club level, one of the most famous modern bicycle kicks was done by Ronaldinho
while playing for Barcelona and scoring with what was considered a bicycle kick against Villarreal. The importance of this move came about because it served as the spark that once again set in motion the controversy of the move's origin: the ongoing dispute between Peru
and Chile
.
Panamanian Luis Tejada
scored an overhead kick against Mexico which was voted goal of the year by Fox Sports
.
Emmanuel Adebayor
scored an overhead kick for Arsenal against Villareal in a Champions League
quarter final match on 7 April 2009.
Martín Palermo
of Boca Juniors
scored his 200th goal with the club in the form of a bicycle kick in a Copa Libertadores group stage match against Deportivo Táchira
.
Angelo Barletta
of the German 3.-Division-ClubVfL Osnabrueck
scored the 1:0 against the Bundesliga
-Club Borussia Dortmund
in the 3rd round of the German DFB-Pokal
with a perfect bicycle-kick after a throw-in. Osnabrueck won the game with 3:2.
Gary Medel
of the Chilean national team
scored a bicycle kick against Bolivia
, when playing in La Paz
. As the ball was rebounded into the box after a strike off a free kick Medel, with his back to goal, hooked the ball into the net with an overhead kick from the penalty spot. The match would end 2–0 for the visiting team.
Deco
of Chelsea scored his 3rd goal with the club in the form of a bicycle kick in a Premier League match against Bolton. Chelsea won the game 2-0.
Wayne Rooney
scored a bicycle kick for Manchester United in the 78th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Julio Gómez González
In the play that derived in the second goal for Mexico, an Olympic goal by Jonathan Espericueta, Gomez's head collided with Samed Yesil's, after which he was left lying on the field, bleeding heavily. With no substitutions left, he returned to the field and scored the winning goal with a memorable bicycle kick on the last minutes of the match, and gave Mexico the pass to the final against Uruguay.
. The oval shaped ball makes it much more difficult to control the direction of the snap, however the area of the goals is larger. Some notable goal attempts using the kick in the Australian Football League
include:
Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw , or kick volleyball, is a sport native to the Malay-Thai Peninsula...
, a popular sport played in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
(especifically Malaysia, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
); and also rarely occurs in Australian football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
where it is commonly categorised as a snap kick
Snap kick
The snap kick is a kicking technique used in many martial arts including karate as well as in Australian rules football.-Australian rules football:...
.
Regarding the origin of the move, there exists a controversy among the different claims of invention from the countries of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Attributions of invention have been given to people such as Brazilian Leônidas da Silva
Leônidas da Silva
Leônidas da Silva was an association footballer and commentator. He is regarded to be one of the most important players of the first half of the 20th century. He played for Brazil in two World Cups, and was the top scorer of the 1938 World Cup....
, Basque-Chilean Ramón Unzaga
Ramón Unzaga
Ramón Unzaga Asla was a Chilean citizen football player. He was born in Bilbao, Spain. Unzaga, with his parents emigrated to Talcahuano, Chile in 1906 at 12 years of age. In 1912 the eighteen year old Unzaga impresses the Talcahuano sports delegation with his football ability that they sign him...
, Italian Carlo Parola
Carlo Parola
Carlo Parola , was an Italian football player and coach, from Turin. He is most famous for his time with Juventus with whom he played over 300 games with, he also had brief spells with Lazio and Midland in Argentina before going into management.He is also famous for being the author of one of the...
, and the Afro-Peruvian
Afro-Peruvian
Afro Peruvians are citizens of Peru mostly descended from African slaves who were brought to the Western hemisphere with the arrival of the conquistadors towards the end of the slave trade.-Early history:...
people of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
. The controversy is particularly great among the Peruvian and Chilean positions, both which consider their respective terms (chalaca and chilena) as the legitimate ways to name this move. However, despite these claims, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
does not hold a registry of ownership.
In association football, the difficulty of the bicycle kick in football is such that even Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
, one of professional football's most renowned players, describes it as "not easy to do". Due to its difficulty, only a few players have been able to perform the move (either as a defensive or offensive play) in an official football match. As such, the move is one of the most praised plays in the game, especially when a goal
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
is managed to be scored from it.
Overview
The common English name comes from the two legs that look as if they are pedaling a bicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
, with one leg going forward to the ball and the other backward to create an opposite moment. The move is also called a scissors kick due to the its motion resembling "scissors in the air."
According to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an newspaper El Mercurio
El Mercurio
El Mercurio is a conservative Chilean newspaper with editions in Valparaíso and Santiago. Its Santiago edition is considered the country's paper-of-record and its Valparaíso edition is the oldest daily in the Spanish language currently in circulation. El Mercurio is owned by El Mercurio S.A.P...
, most languages in the world name the action by the acrobatic form it resembles. The newspaper's list, which mentions mostly European languages
Languages of Europe
Most of the languages of Europe belong to Indo-European language family. These are divided into a number of branches, including Romance, Germanic, Balto-Slavic, Greek, and others. The Uralic languages also have a significant presence in Europe, including the national languages Hungarian, Finnish,...
, shows most of these name the move "scissors kick" followed by "bicycle kick." Other names that describe the acrobacy include the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Fallrückzieher (falling backward kick), which emphasises the sacrifice of the player falling on his back, and the Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
name Rovesciata, which literally means "reversed." Some exceptions to this naming standard include those languages in which the move is attributed to a specific national origin. In the Spanish speaking world the bicycle kick is not only called tijera (scissors), but is also commonly known as either chalaca or chilena. In Norway, the move is known as Brassespark (Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian kick).
Execution of move
In association football, the move can either be a pass or a shot towards the goal. There are two major situations where the bicycle kick would be useful in a game situation:- When a defender is desperate to remove the ball from near his side's goal, but he stands facing the goal and with his back to the direction he wants the ball to go, and the ball is bouncing around and thus difficult to control.
- If a striker has his back to the opponent's goal and is in the opponent's penalty area or nearby, and the ball is bouncing at head height.
Performing a bicycle kick can be quite dangerous when performed incorrectly. The main aspect to remember when executing a bicycle kick, is to brace yourself with your arms as you land back on the ground. One should also keep in mind that the difficulty of the move makes it unanticipated and, therefore, the player runs the potential risk of getting hurt or harming another player. However, as described by BBC Sport
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
, this is one of the acrobatic moves that makes the game much "richer."
History
There are different claims of invention in different parts of the world for this popular move. Generally, players noted as being the inventors of the kick tend to be those that have made the move during national or international tournaments in an official association football match. Nonetheless, the invention of the kick is controversial as different countries have different proposals on how and where the move was invented. For instance, in PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, the move is attributed to the players of Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
, and it is often told that they invented the move when playing with English sailors in the late 19th century. In Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
Ramón Unzaga
Ramón Unzaga
Ramón Unzaga Asla was a Chilean citizen football player. He was born in Bilbao, Spain. Unzaga, with his parents emigrated to Talcahuano, Chile in 1906 at 12 years of age. In 1912 the eighteen year old Unzaga impresses the Talcahuano sports delegation with his football ability that they sign him...
is credited with being the first player to create the bicycle kick in 1914 and exhibit it in an official football match. In Italy, the invention is usually credited to Carlo Parola
Carlo Parola
Carlo Parola , was an Italian football player and coach, from Turin. He is most famous for his time with Juventus with whom he played over 300 games with, he also had brief spells with Lazio and Midland in Argentina before going into management.He is also famous for being the author of one of the...
, who allegedly invented the move on 15 January 1950. Further contributing to the controversy, some players that have performed the move attribute the invention to someone else or themselves. Per sé, Leônidas
Leônidas da Silva
Leônidas da Silva was an association footballer and commentator. He is regarded to be one of the most important players of the first half of the 20th century. He played for Brazil in two World Cups, and was the top scorer of the 1938 World Cup....
, a famous player from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, attributed the invention of this move to another Brazilian player, Petronilho de Brito. If that were not enough, sometimes the attributions of invention get jumbled, and people begin to attribute the invention of the kick to famous players who performed, but did not claim invention of, the kick such as Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez , popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. Sanchez is considered the first highly talented Mexican player. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and...
from Mexico and David Arellano
David Arellano
David Alfonso Arellano Moraga was a Chilean footballer. He is credited as a founding member of the Colo Colo football club.- Career :...
from Chile.
Notable bicycle kicks
Due to the move's level of difficulty, only a few players have been able to make it into what could be a special hall of fame for those that performed, scored, or effectively defended with the use of a bicycle kick. The acrobatic skill and handling of the ball that is generally required has often made it nearly impossible for players to make the move in important situations.Notable games
- 1957: IndonesiaIndonesia national football teamThe Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
vs. China PR
On May 12, 1957 Indonesian player Ramang
Ramang
Ramang was an Indonesian footballer. He is widely considered by Indonesian football experts and former players as one of the greatest players in the history of Indonesian football. He is particularly known for his bicycle kicks and ability to score goals from right corner kicks...
converted a bicycle kick to gain a (2-0) victory against China PR in the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
-UEFA Group 2:--------------------France qualified.-UEFA Group 3:--------------------Hungary qualified.-UEFA Group 4:--------------------Czechoslovakia qualified...
. Ramang was a famous "Pa'Raga" (Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw , or kick volleyball, is a sport native to the Malay-Thai Peninsula...
) player in Indonesia before he played football. Bicycle kicks are a basic movement in Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw
Sepak takraw , or kick volleyball, is a sport native to the Malay-Thai Peninsula...
.
- 1986: AFC Ajax vs. FC Den Bosch
On November 9, 1986 Dutch star player Marco van Basten executed a bicycle kick which is still remembered all over the world.
- 1975: Copa America
In the arena of national football teams, a famous bicycle kick was made during the international tournament of the 1975 Copa America
Copa América 1975
The 1975 edition of the Copa América football tournament was played between July 17 and October 28. For the first time in the history of the event there was no fixed venue, and all matches were played throughout the year in each country. In addition, the tournament changed its name from South...
when Juan Carlos Oblitas
Juan Carlos Oblitas
Juan Carlos Oblitas Saba is a former Peruvian football player and currently a football manager, who is nicknamed El Ciego...
scored against the Chilean football team
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
with a bicycle kick that gave the Peruvian football team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
a 2–0 lead against the visiting team.
- 1982: World Cup semi-finals, GermanyGermany national football teamThe Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
vs. FranceFrance national football teamThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
Klaus Fischer
Klaus Fischer
Klaus Fischer is a German former football player and coach.-Career:Fischer was born in Kreuzstraßl, near Lindberg in the district of Regen....
of Germany scored an overhead kick in the 108th minute of extra time for the tying goal for Germany, making it 3–3. (France had been leading 3–1 in extra time at one point). Germany won the game by penalties 5–4. The goal was voted that year's "Goal of the year".
- 1996: Copa Libertadores
Hernan Crespo scored a "chilena" for River Plate in the round of 16 match against Sporting Cristal that gave the Argentines a win en route to the championship they would later win. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LbpdUIbgWA
- 1996: Asian Cup
In the group stage of AFC Asian Cup 1996, Widodo C Putro
Widodo C Putro
Widodo Cahyono Putro is a retired Indonesian football player, who gained fame for scoring a goal with a bicycle kick in match against Kuwait in the 1996 Asian Cup...
of Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
scored his goal by a spectacular bicycle kick from outside the penalty area. That goal was created in a match against Kuwait
Kuwait national football team
The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. They made one World Cup Finals appearance, in 1982, managing a draw with Czechoslovakia but losing to England and France. During the match against France, France scored a goal...
while the game was ended (2-2). His goal was awarded as The Best Asian Goal in 1996 by AFC.
- 1996-1997: FA Cup, Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
vs. Barnsley F.C.Barnsley F.C.Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
QPR's Trevor Sinclair
Trevor Sinclair
Trevor Lloyd Sinclair is an English former professional footballer. Sinclair was a versatile winger, able to play on both the left and right flanks who played in the Premier League and made twelve appearances for the England national team.He retired in 2008, after a nineteen-year professional...
scored a memorable bicycle kick from the edge of the penalty area in the fourth round of the 1996-1997 FA Cup. The goal would go on to win the Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
Goal of the Season
Goal of the Season
In English football, the Goal of the Season is an annual competition and award given on BBC's Match of the Day, in honour of the most spectacular goal scored that season...
.
- May 1999: WatfordWatford F.C.Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
vs. Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
Nick Wright
Nick Wright (footballer born 1975)
Nicholas John "Nick" Wright is an English former professional footballer who played for Derby County, Carlisle United and Watford before his career was cut short by injury...
scored an overhead kick for Watford against Bolton in a Division one Play-off final match on 31 May 1999 which helped them get promotion to the Premier league.
- 2 Nov 1999: FiorentinaACF FiorentinaACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
vs. BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
Italy's Mauro Bressan
Mauro Bressan
Mauro Bressan is a retired Italian football player who currently works as a director of sports for the Hungarian club Vasas SC.-Football career:...
in a UEFA Champions League match (3-3) against Barcelona on 2 November 1999. After 14 minutes he scored a spectacular 25 yards bicycle kick which is considered one of the greatest goals of all time.
- June 2001: BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
vs. ValenciaValencia CFValencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
Barcelona's Rivaldo
Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira , commonly known simply as Rivaldo , is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for São Paulo, on loan from Mogi Mirim, as an attacking midfielder and sometimes as a supporting striker.He most notably played five years with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he...
scored in the 89th minute and thus gave the team the chance to participate in the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
- 28 January 2003: ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
vs Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
In an FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
encounter at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge could be* Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England** The Battle of Stamford Bridge* Stamford Bridge , in London** by metonymy, Chelsea F.C., football club based in the stadium...
, Chelsea's Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen equalised United's opening goal with a spectacular bicycle kick from Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...
's cross. The home side went on to win the game, thus reigniting that season's title race.
- 2004: Copa Libertadores
A famous bicycle kick was scored in the Copa Libertadores 2004
Copa Libertadores 2004
The 2004 Copa Libertadores de América was the 45th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's premier annual international club tournament....
by Jorge Soto
Jorge Soto
Jorge Antonio Soto is a retired Peruvian footballer.-Career:Soto is one of the all-time emblematic figures of Sporting Cristal...
while playing for Sporting Cristal
Sporting Cristal
Club Sporting Cristal is a Peruvian football team. Based in the Rímac District, in the department of Lima, it plays in the professional league known as the Peruvian First Division. Founded on November 16, 1926 in the Rimac District given its approval to the merger and Snuff Sporting merging with...
against Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
. Said game was being played in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Rosario Central had previously tied Sporting Cristal with a score of 1–1 in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Soto's bicycle kick goal opened up what would turn into a 4–1 victory for the Peruvian squad, and his goal is considered one of the best in the Copa Libertadores tournament.
- 16 April 2006 Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
vs. BirminghamBirmingham City F.C.Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
In a highly anticipated Midlands Derby, Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill
Gary James Cahill is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team.-Club career:...
scored his only Aston Villa goal with a near post overhead kick to give Villa the lead and a eventual 3-1 win.
- November 25, 2006: BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
vs. VillarrealVillarreal CFVillarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
In the club level, one of the most famous modern bicycle kicks was done by Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...
while playing for Barcelona and scoring with what was considered a bicycle kick against Villarreal. The importance of this move came about because it served as the spark that once again set in motion the controversy of the move's origin: the ongoing dispute between Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
- 2006: FIFA World Cup qualifier
Panamanian Luis Tejada
Luis Tejada
Luis "Matador" Tejada is a Panamanian professional association football striker. He currently plays for Juan Aurich of the Peruvian Primera División and the Panamanian national team.-Club career:...
scored an overhead kick against Mexico which was voted goal of the year by Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
.
- April 2009: VillarrealVillarreal CFVillarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
vs. ArsenalArsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
scored an overhead kick for Arsenal against Villareal in a Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
quarter final match on 7 April 2009.
- 2009: Copa Libertadores
Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo is a retired Argentine footballer who formerly played for Boca Juniors of Argentina, and the Argentina national team...
of Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
scored his 200th goal with the club in the form of a bicycle kick in a Copa Libertadores group stage match against Deportivo Táchira
Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club
Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club is a traditional and a popular Venezuelan football club. It was founded in 1974 by the initiative of Gaetano Greco...
.
- 27 October 2009 VfL OsnabrueckVfL OsnabrückVfL Osnabrück is a German multi-sport club in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony. It currently fields teams in basketball, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, and tennis, but is by far best known for its football section.- Foundation to WW2 :...
vs. Borussia DortmundBorussia DortmundBallspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
Angelo Barletta
Angelo Barletta
Angelo Barletta is an Italo-German footballer and is currently playing for TuS Koblenz.- Career :Barletta has played most of his football in the second division of the Bundesliga, having previously played for Sportfreunde Siegen, Rot-Weiß Erfurt, Kickers Offenbach, and SG Hoechst.-References:...
of the German 3.-Division-ClubVfL Osnabrueck
VfL Osnabrück
VfL Osnabrück is a German multi-sport club in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony. It currently fields teams in basketball, gymnastics, swimming, table tennis, and tennis, but is by far best known for its football section.- Foundation to WW2 :...
scored the 1:0 against the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
-Club Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
in the 3rd round of the German DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
with a perfect bicycle-kick after a throw-in. Osnabrueck won the game with 3:2.
- 2010: FIFA World Cup qualifier
Gary Medel
Gary Medel
Gary Alexis Medel Soto , known as Gary Medel, is a Chilean football player who plays as defensive midfielder for La Liga club Sevilla FC....
of the Chilean national team
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
scored a bicycle kick against Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
, when playing in La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
. As the ball was rebounded into the box after a strike off a free kick Medel, with his back to goal, hooked the ball into the net with an overhead kick from the penalty spot. The match would end 2–0 for the visiting team.
- December 6, 2008 ChelseaChelsea F.C.Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
vs. Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
Deco
Deco
Anderson Luís de Souza, OIH , commonly known as Deco, is a Brazilian-born Portuguese professional footballer who currently plays for Fluminense....
of Chelsea scored his 3rd goal with the club in the form of a bicycle kick in a Premier League match against Bolton. Chelsea won the game 2-0.
- February 12, 2011 Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
vs. Manchester CityManchester City F.C.Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
scored a bicycle kick for Manchester United in the 78th minute to seal a 2-1 win over Manchester City.
- July 7, 2011 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup2011 FIFA U-17 World CupThe 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup was the fourteenth tournament of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and the eleventh played since the change in age limits from under 16s to Under 17s in 1991. It was held in Mexico with games being played amongst various venues between 18 June and 10 July 2011...
Mexico vs. Germany
Julio Gómez González
Julio Gómez González
Julio Enrique Gómez González is a Mexican footballer who plays for CF Pachuca, on the Primera División Mexicana...
In the play that derived in the second goal for Mexico, an Olympic goal by Jonathan Espericueta, Gomez's head collided with Samed Yesil's, after which he was left lying on the field, bleeding heavily. With no substitutions left, he returned to the field and scored the winning goal with a memorable bicycle kick on the last minutes of the match, and gave Mexico the pass to the final against Uruguay.
Notable strikers
The following strikers have scored more than once from a bicycle kick in a top tier club match or competitive international match, have received notability or attribution of invention in regards to the bicycle kick, and are either retired or are active football players with at least a 10 year football career in a senior team.Notable defenders
The following defenders have used a defensive bicycle kick in a top tier club match or competitive international match more than once, have received some kind of honor or attribution of invention in regards to the bicycle kick, and are either retired or are active football players with at least a 10 year football career in a senior team.Australian rules
The bicycle kick is also sometimes used in Australian Rules Football but is called the snap kickSnap kick
The snap kick is a kicking technique used in many martial arts including karate as well as in Australian rules football.-Australian rules football:...
. The oval shaped ball makes it much more difficult to control the direction of the snap, however the area of the goals is larger. Some notable goal attempts using the kick in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
include:
- Allen JakovichAllen JakovichAllen Jakovich is an Australian rules football player. Jakovich was a prolific full forward and is notable for kicking 208 goals in his 54 Australian Football League matches, an average of 3.85 per game, for Melbourne and Footscray...
(goal) - 1994 AFL season1994 AFL season-Ladder:All teams played 22 games during the home and away season, for a total of 165. An additional 9 games were played during the finals series. It was the first season that the AFL implemented a top 8 team finals series...
. He kicked a total of 11 goals for the game. - Alan DidakAlan DidakAlan Didak is a professional Australian rules footballer of Croatian descent playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League.- Early life :...
(behind) - 2007 AFL season2007 AFL seasonThe 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... - Brad JohnsonBrad Johnson (Australian rules footballer)Brad Johnson is a former Australian rules footballer who was the captain of Australian Football League team Western Bulldogs...
(goal) - 2008 AFL season2008 AFL season-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:...
External links
- Bicycle Kick - slideshow by Life magazine
- Picture of an overhead kick