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British slang for the manager or head coach. The term comes from old English workplace hierarchy, where the "gaffer" was the foreman or boss. In football, it carries a bit of respect and affection - you're not just calling someone "the manager," you're acknowledging they run the show. Players and fans use it, pundits too. Sir Alex Ferguson was often called "the gaffer" at Manchester United.
When Roy Keane was asked about Sir Alex Ferguson in interviews, he'd often refer to him as "the gaffer" - a term of respect for the man who controlled every aspect of United's dressing room for 26 years.
Robbie
Feb 3, 2026
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