Goal poacher

A goal poacher in football is a type of forward that is well known for his scoring ability and movement inside the penalty box.

Most of these players rarely score from outside the penalty area, and are more well known for their close range finishes. They are generally good at poaching goals due to their excellent off the ball movement; this allows them to lose defenders and gain space to shoot. Many goal poachers have powerful and accurate shots and usually able to score with both their left foot, right foot and their head.

A lot of goal poachers claim that their off the ball movement comes naturally to them, and are simply born to score goals.

List of well known goal poachers:

*Marcus Allbäck of FC København [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20020526/ai_n12840778 Football: FREDDIE'S A FLOP AS SWEDES FLAP | Sunday Mirror | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]
*Gabriel Batistuta of Fiorentina [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=648251.html FIFA.com - Salas rolling back the years ] ]
*Jared Borgetti of Cruz Azul [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/mexico/squad/newsid_1935000/1935446.stm BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | Squad | Jared Borgetti ] ]
*Kris Boyd of Rangers F.C. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2767839.ece Mystery of Kris Boyd’s striking lack of chances at Rangers | Scotland - Times Online ] ]
*Andy Cole of Sunderland A.F.C. [ [http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article187906.ece Cole provides potent reminder of the goal poacher's art - Premier League, Football - Independent.co.uk ] ]
*Hernán Crespo of Inter [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/teams/argentina/ CNNSI.com - CNNSI.com's complete coverage of the FIFA World Cup - World Cup Spotlight on Argentina - Monday June 03, 2002 04:57 AM ] ]
*Eduardo of Arsenal [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/09/15/sfnsmi115.xml Arsenal's Eduardo in derby form - Football News - Telegraph ] ]
*Robbie Fowler of Cardiff [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2001/05/25/sfgeng26.xml England show cutting edge - Football News - Telegraph ] ]
*Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina [ [http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2008-02/01/content_6435011.htm Gilardino new hero for Milan] ]
*Filippo Inzaghi of Milan [ [http://www.sundayherald.com/sport/shfootball/display.var.1724180.0.peoples_poacher.php Peoples Poacher (from Sunday Herald) ] ]
*Mateja Kežman of Fenerbahçe [ [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/800/sp4.htm Hairdos and don'ts] ]
*Miroslav Klose of Bayern Munich [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060610/ai_n16477916 Football: Germany paper over the cracks with demolition of Costa | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]
*Henrik Larsson of Helsingborgs IF [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3577973.stm BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Eriksson meets his match ] ]
*Gary Lineker formerly of Everton [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/2352271.stm BBC SPORT | Football | Teams | Leicester City | Lineker's perfect report ] ]
*Brian McBride of Chicago Fire [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=102472.html FIFA.com - Clubs in the market as January sales begin ] ]
*Roy Makaay of Feyenoord [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/02/sports/soccer/02soccer.html?_r=1&fta=y&pagewanted=print&position=&oref=slogin Bayern Munich's Top Gun] ]
*Jaime Moreno of D.C. United [ [http://anthonyvickers.boroblogs.co.uk/archives/2007/01/boro_soccer_mom.html Boro Soccer Moms' Guide To The MLS] ]
*Gerd Müller formerly of FC Bayern Munich [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020513/sports.htm Gerd Muller — goalscorer extraordinaire] ]
*Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real Madrid [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=576840.html FIFA.com - National teams return to action ] ]
*Michael Owen of Newcastle United [ [http://worldcup.sportinglife.com/football/teams/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=ladbrokes/06/02/10/manual_182737.html&TEAMHD=england&PAGE_TYPE=news 10 Michael Owen: Sporting Life - 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, England News, Fixtures, Features, Profiles, Wayne Rooney metatarsal, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Rio Ferdinand ] ]
*Kevin Phillips of West Brom [ [http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,590924,00.html Kevin Phillips interview | News | Guardian Unlimited Football ] ]
*Raúl of Real Madrid [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/20/sports/webraul.php Vantage Point: Resurrection of a hero - Raúl proves it again - International Herald Tribune ] ]
*Ronaldo of Milan [ [http://www.mywire.com/pubs/AFP/2004/10/16/609935?extID=10051 Ronaldo saves Real's Betis blushes] ]
*Alan Shearer formerly of Newcastle United [ [http://sport.aol.co.uk/world-cup/englands-heroes/article/20060608065409990001 England's heroes - World Cup - AOL Sport ] ]
*Luca Toni of Bayern Munich [ [http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/w12spotlight.html channel4.com - Football Italia ] ]
*David Trézéguet of Juventus [ [http://www.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/football/08/28/trezeguet/index.html?eref=rss_latest Trezeguet still has a point to prove - CNN.com ] ]
*Christian Vieri of Atalanta [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/news/2002/06/18/sk_italy_gamer/ CNNSI.com - CNNSI.com's complete coverage of the FIFA World Cup - Korea sinks Italy on Ahn's golden goal - Tuesday June 18, 2002 11:46 AM ] ]
*Ian Wright formerly of Arsenal [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/19/sports/soccer.php A night for glory, shared by Henry - International Herald Tribune ] ]

References