Which footballers have ended scoring droughts with a goal off their backside? | The Knowledge
The Guardian's Knowledge column investigates whether footballers have ever scored goals from a ricochet off their backside, particularly when attempting to break a goal drought. Though no perfectly dramatic example materialised (a prolific striker ending a barren run this way), the article documents several genuine instances of such unusual strikes across three decades of professional football.
Notable examples include Dean Coney's 1989 goal for Norwich against Aston Villa, Australia's Robbie Slater scoring his first international goal against Solomon Islands in a 6-2 win during France 98 qualification, and most significantly, Souleymane Oularé's backside strike for Stoke City in a 2002 playoff semi-final. Oularé, who played just 80 minutes for Stoke after a life-threatening blood clot ruled him out following his debut, became a club legend for his extra-time winner that sent them to the playoff final, which they subsequently won. More recent examples include William Saliba's goal for Arsenal against Manchester United in 2024-25 and Thierno Barry's behind deflection for Everton at Newcastle last season.
- Footballers have genuinely scored goals bouncing off their backside
- A single backside goal once sent Stoke to the Football League
- Recent Arsenal and Everton examples show the phenomenon still occurs
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Whilst researchers did not find a particularly dramatic instance fitting a specific scenario, they did identify genuine cases spanning several decades. These examples range from matches in the late 1980s to recent years, showing that such unlikely outcomes do occasionally occur during professional play.
The story appeals to those interested in football's unpredictable nature and the statistical investigation of unusual moments. It demonstrates that despite modern football's increasing sophistication, unexpected occurrences continue to happen in actual matches.