Stanley Matthews Move – How To

/Home/PLAYERS - Resources/Soccer Moves

The Stanley Matthews move is ideal while playing as left or right midfielder. Stanley Matthews, who was one of the greatest wingers ever used this move often to trick his opponents while playing on the flank. If you are playing as right or left midfielder, I recommend you to use this move as often you can.

When to practice on this move?
Do not perform this move if you have not tried it out first during your regular soccer practice. The reason for this is that you will need an opponent to try your move on and the best way of doing that is during your practice. When you feel that you can execute this move properly and that you can get around your teammates while using it, go ahead and try it out on a soccer match. If you fail to get around your opponent, then you probably need to practice more.

Here is how to perform it

1. Analyze the movement of your opponent

2. Keep the ball under control and imagine how you are performing the movement

3. Keep your legs and arms relaxed

4. When facing your opponent, push the ball slightly forward to his/her supporting leg

5. Then instantly flick the ball horizontally down the wing and as your opponents is wrong footed, use your speed to accelerate past him or her

6. Finish with a shoot or pass to a near standing teammate

Tips:

• Don’t get to close to your defender as he/she may steal the ball from you

• Adapt your game after how your defender plays. For example; does he/she like to wait for you to make the first movement or is he/she attacking directly?

• You should not dribble if one of your teammate is in better position then yourself. Keep in mind that soccer is a team game!

• Try to vary your moves and don’t perform this move on the same defender more than 2-3 times per game

• You should also keep in mind to believe that you can make it and never be afraid of failure. If you fail to get around your opponent, then practice little harder and try again. Make sure to always learn something useful from your mistakes, that is the key to success!