Before we get to the terms, a few points about German in general:
If you're like most Americans, then your entire German vocabulary consists of words from World War II movies, with terms like "Sieg Heil", "Heil Hitler" and "Schweinehund". I must point out that the first two terms have been rarely used outside Hollywood and certain areas of South America in the last 50 years. (However, the last phrase is in fact very practical, as evidenced by the first English words every German schoolboy learns: "pig dog".) If you've watched Franka Potente in "The Borne Identity", you've probably picked up "Scheisse" as well...
The German language is deliberately designed to make it difficult for foreigners to comprehend. They have cleverly combined the worse features of Latin with Teutonic thoroughness of attention to detail.
The main points are as follows:
1) Every word has a case, which is apparently assigned by a random number generator. However, the main thing is that it should be impossible for non-Germans to actually figure out what's going on.
2) Long words are better than short words, so combine words to make a longer single word. Or be like George Dubya and make up words.
3) Put lots of commas in a sentence, which should be at least a paragraph in length.
4) Die Ausnahme bestätigt die Regel. This term is used by the native speaker when he can't explain the grammatical rule. Comes in very handy.
Having said that, now on to the terms:
Needless to say, there is some tongue in cheek, particularily in the latter sections. So don't get all bent out of shape with the description of "Hooligan" or "Borussia" like various folks have. Apparently it was beyond their limited mental capacity as Borussian Hooligans. HEY, IT WAS A JOKE, but maybe that's stating the obvious.
The Field:
Anstoss = kickoff
Ecke = corner
Endlinie = endline; goal-line
Elfmeter = "eleven meters" (penalty)
Feld = the field, the pitch
Kasten = "box", penalty area or goal
Latte = crossbar
Mittelfeld = the middle/half of the field
Netz = net
Pfosten = post
Strafraum = the penalty box
Seitenlinie = sideline; touchline (Usually just "Aus", i.e. "Out")
Strafpunkt = penalty spot
Tor = goal
links/rechts = left/right
vorwärts/rückwärts = forwards/backwards
The Teams:
Aufstellung = the lineups; the roster
Elf = "eleven"
Gäste = visiting team
Heim = home team
Mannschaft = team
Trainer = "trainer" (UK:club manager, US: Head coach)
Verein = club
Vorstand = directorship
The Players:
Verteidiger = defender
Angreifer = forward; attacker
Angriff = attack
Abwehr = defense
Ausländer = foreigner
"Joker" = a sub who comes in and scores goals
Mittelfeldspieler = midfielder
(links;rechts)aussen = (left;right)wingers
Reserven = reserve players
Spiel = game
Spieler = player
Spitze = usually a lone striker; any forward
Strafraumschwalbe = "penalty box swallow", i.e. diver
Stürmer = "stormer", i.e. forward
Torjäger = a goal scorer, one who scores very often
Torschützenkönig = leading goalscorer
Torwart; Torhüter = goalkeeper
verletzt = injured
The Fans:
Zuschauer = the attendance
"Fans", Anhänger = fans, followers
Hooligans = people from England
Fahne = flag
Szene = the "scene", usually fan clubs and rowdy behavior
Rules and Standings:
Stand = the score
Anfang = the beginning, the start (of the season,of the game,etc)
Erste Hälfte = first half
Zweite Hälfte = second half
Schiedsrichter = the referee
Linienrichter = linesman
Ein/Aus wechseln = substitute in/out
Meisterschaft = the championship, season
die "playoffs" = the playoffs
Relegation = playoffs for promotion (insane Germans!)
Aufstieg = promotion
Abstieg = relegation
Hin/Rück(runde/spiel) = 1st/2nd (round/leg)
unbesiegt = undefeated
Gelbe Karte = yellow card
Rot; Rote Karte = red card
Platzverweiss, Rauswurf = ejection
Technical Terms:
Abseits = offside; also world famous tour guide
Ecke; Eckball; Eckstoss = corner kick
Einwurf = throw in
Flanke = cross; center (e.g. into the penalty area)
Freistoss = free kick
Foul, Infraktion = foul, infraction
Elfmeter, Strafstoss, "penalty" = penalty kick
Bank = the bench
Auswechseln = the substitution
warm laufen = warming up (reserve players)
zu Hause = at home
zu Besuch, auswärts = on the road
Volley = first-time shot; one-time
Fallrückzieher = bicycle kick; overhead volley
Flugkopfball = diving header
Schuss = shot at goal
Torschuss = goalkick
Bombensschuss = a REALLY hard shot at goal, usually from long distance
Sonntagsschuss = a REALLY hard shot at goal, usually from long distance
Ausgleich = to tie/draw
Kopfball, Kopfstoss = header
Ellbogen = elbow
Schulter = shoulder
Knie = knee
Bein = Leg
Fuss = foot
Handball = handball
Knaller = a "banger", i.e. hard shot
Konter = counterattack
durch die Mitte = to/through the middle
Mauer = the defensive wall during a free kick
mauern = to "wall" (defend), play like Italians
Pass = pass
Kurzpass = very short passing
Rückgabe = return pass
siegen = to win
verlieren = to lose
kämpfen = to fight (for the ball, for the win, with each other, etc.)
Bankholzsplinterimarschverletzung = "Wooden bench splinter in arse injury",
a severe disabling injury effecting many American players,
like Frankie Hejduk, who sign with a club that's too good and end
up not playing. Claudio Reyna had this debilitating
injury, but found a cure by going to Wolfsburg, but then
had a recurrence and was forced to go to Scotland. Jovan Kirovski
was also rumoured to have this injury, but it turned out that
he was just a crappy player :)
Team names:
04,09, 1860 etc. = year club was founded
Alemannia = "Germany" (latin)
Arminia = another Latin term (read Tacitus)
Bayer = Bayer chemical company
Bayern = Bavaria
Blau-Weiss = Blue-White
Borussia = Bosnian-Russian exiles, or another word for "Preussen"
BSG = Betriebssportgemeinschaft = Operation Sports Union (GDR)
Carl Zeiss = Optics manufacturing firm in East Germany
Chio = Potato chip company, ex-sponsor of Waldhof Mannheim
DJK = Deutsche Jugend Kraft (catholic youth sports organization)
Dynamo = Dynamo, East German Secret Police club (GDR)
Eintracht = United
FC, FK, 1.FC (FussballKlub) = Football club, "1st" football club
Fortuna = luck
Gruen-Weiss = Green-White
Hansa = medieval city league states
Hessen = Hessia, state in Germany
Hertha = Women's name, also "the strong" : some dopey Berliner term
Holstein = province in northern Germany
KFC (Krefelder Fussball Club) = Uerdingen is district of Krefeld
MSV (Meidericher SV) = district of Duisburg
Preussen = Prussia, old state in Germany
Rot-Weiss = Red-White
Sachsen = Saxony
Sachsenring = East German auto manufacturer
Schalke = a district of Gelsenkirchen
Schwarz-Weiss = Black-White
SC (Sportclub)
SG (Spielgemeinschaft) = sport or playing union
SpFr (SportFreunde) = Friends of Sport
SpVgg (Spielverreiniggung) = "Playing union"
SSV (Spiel und Sportverein) = Games and Sports club
SV (Sportverein) = Sports club
TSV (TurnSportverein) = Gymnastics Sports Club
TuS (Turn und Sport) = Gymnastics and Sports
VfB (Verein für Bewegungsspiele) = club for "movement" sports
VfL (Verein für Leibesübungen) = club for body activities
VfR (Verein für Rasensport) = club for grass/field sports
Wacker = brave
GDR club names
Note: in the GDR, clubs were organized by industry and state departments.
Aktivist "Activist" (Strip Mining, Fuels)
Chemie "Chemistry" (Chemical, Glass, Ceramics)
Dynamo "Dynamo" (State Police and Security)
Empor "Upwards" (Consumer goods, food)
Energie "Energy" (Energy and Coal)
Einheit "Union" (State organizations, government)
Fortschritt "Progress" (Light industry and textiles)
Lokomotive "Locomotive" (Transport)
Motor "Motor" (Machine and Auto manufacturing)
Post "Postal" (Mail, News and Information)
Rotation "Rotation" (polygraphics, printing)
Stahl "Steel" (Metallurgy)
Traktor "Tractor" (Agriculture)
Turbine "Turbine" (Merchant marine, ship building)
Vorwarts "Forwards" (Armed Forces)
Wismut (a metal) (Mining)
Team/fan nicknames:
Arschloch = any opposing fan
Bazis = How others call Bayern Muenchen fans
Bornheimer = district of Frankfurt, FSV Frankfurt fans
Der Club = 1.FC Nürnberg
Fohlen = (Foals; young horses) Moenchengladbach
Geisböcke = (Goats) FC Koeln
Himmelblauen = (sky blues) Chemnitzer FC, others like 1860
Knappen = Schalke
Lilien = (lilies) Darmstadt
Löwen = (lions) TSV 1860 München; also Wuppertal and others
Meidericher = district of Duisburg (MSV)
Reeperbahn = a fun neighborhood in Hamburg; where St.Pauli plays
Roten Teufel = (red devils) Kaiserslautern
Ruhrpottkanacken = (Ruhr Valley niggers) Schalke fans
Schwaene = (swans) FSV Zwickau
Störche = (storks) Holstein Kiel
Tanussteiner = SV Wehen
Veilchen = (violets) Erzgebirge Aue