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A super-sub is a substitute player who is not included in the first eleven squad but comes on as a substitute who significantly contributes to the team’s success and impacts the game. Substitutions were officially added to the law of the game in 1958, and a maximum of five substitutions per team is allowed in a match, but for lower non-leagues, social leagues, or other friendlies, an unlimited number of substitutions are allowed.

The main mission of a super-sub is to pull the team out when the opponents have dominated the game therefore coming off the bench and impacting the game is his/her duty on the field of play. Every manager needs a super-sub player in his squad capable of changing the game when needed and is usually subbed in the last twenty minutes. Most super-subs are strikers and wingers who create goal-scoring opportunities and even score the goals, goalkeepers can also be super-subs especially if the match ends in a penalty shoot-out and the goalkeeper is substituted.   

Substitutions are generally made to replace existing players in the field of play who have become tired or injured or either the player is performing poorly in his/her position. The referee can book a player even if they are substitutes on the bench depending on the nature of the misconduct the sub player has committed, for example in the 2002 World Cup a red card was shown to Argentine forward Claudio Caniggia for cursing at the referee from the bench.

Jermain Defoe has the most Premier League goals as a substitute with twenty-four goals while former Manchester United player and coach Ole Gunner Solskjaer is well known for his last-minute winner goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

If a substitute player constantly scores after coming off the bench, then why do coaches not play him from the start of the game?