total football
noun [mass noun] Soccer
An attacking style of play in which every outfield player is able to play in any position as required during the course of a game.The tournament was set alight by a brilliant Dutch team playing Total Football....
- His performance was as close to total football as one will see at this level.
- The orange-shirted side played total football to silence their many critics and post out a warning to all that there's life in the 'old dogs' yet.
Origin
1970s: translation of Dutch totaalvoetbal. The style was originally associated with Ajax FC of Amsterdam and the Dutch national team.