Soccer jersey numbers, position and meaning

History of Printed Jersey Numbers

The main reason behind jersey numbers is simple: It helps fans and referees to identify and easily distinguish the position a player plays on the pitch. Numbered jerseys were first won in football by English premier leagues sides Sheffield and Arsenal on August 1928. On that day the starting players wore jerseys number 1 to11 according to their position.

Obviously, the goalkeeper wore number one, the three defenders wore numbers two, three, four and five. They were the right full back, the left fullback and the central defender who wore number five. The midfielders wore number six, seven, eight, ten and eleven. The number nine was reserved for the striker.

Higher numbers were reserved for substitutes since players were not expected to remove their jerseys once they were substituted. The first substitute was to wear jersey number 12, the second wore number 14 while the third wore number 15. Jersey number 13 was avoided since it was believed to bring bad luck. A fixed number was assigned to each player for the duration a competition or a league was introduced. These numbers were also referred to as squad numbers. These rules were first observed in the 1954 world cup.

The body in charge of governing English football abandoned the required use of numbers one to eleven for the starters and the squad numbers became the rule in all football competitions.

Methods of Assigning Jersey Numbers

Assignment by surname – During the1974, 1978 and 1982 world cup finals, Argentina national football team was assigned jersey number by surname. Mr. Ubaido who was their starting goalkeeper wore jersey number 5 and 7 in the 1978 and 1982 world cup finals respectively. Although Diego Maradona was to wear jersey number 12, he was given an exemption and he instead wore number 10 which was his favorite number. Similarly, the English national team used the same mode of assigning players numbers except for the goal keeper and the captain during their 1982 world cup finals.

Assignment by playing position – Traditionally, the jersey number denoted the position a soccer player plays. Examples many goalkeepers such as Chelsea’s Petr Cech, Manchester city’s Joe Hart wears jersey number one. Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny, Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois wears jerseys number 12 which is usually reserved for the second team’s goalkeeper. Since this mode of assignment is not a rule some players such as Chelsea’s forward Cesc Fabrigas wears Jersey number four which would be reserved for a defender is traditional rules are to be observed.

Assignment by “Oversight” – Before the start of 1958 world cup, The Fifa officials received a list of Brazilian players who were to play in the 1958 world cup finals. They Brazilian officials forget to assign shirt numbers to each one of them. The delegate at Uruguay randomly distributed numbers to the players. A 17 year old was assigned number 10; the 17 year old later come to be named Pele.

Jersey Numbers : Seven, Nine and Ten

Jersey numbers seven; nine and ten are the most popular. Jersey number ten is the most iconic number in the football history; it is usually reserved for the m most skillful players of the team, being worn by football legends such as Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Pele, and Dennis Bergkamp among others. Number 9 is usually worn by forwards and pure strikers such as Ronaldo Luis, Luiz Suarez, Karim Benzema, Allan Shearer, Samuel Eto’o and Tores while number 7 dedicated to right winger which has became iconic at Manchester united. Many great players such as George best, David Beckam, Eric Cantona and Christiano Ronaldo have worn it.

Superstitious meaning of Jersey Number

Some football players believe that certain numbers are their favorite numbers. Upon joining Everton in 2007, Yakubu opted for jersey number 22 claiming that number to be goal scoring number. Chelsea’s Yossi Benayoun changed his number to 30 which doubles his lucky number 15.

Retired Jersey Numbers

The term “retired jerseys number” is a common term in football. Just like in other sports, it is a jersey number which can no longer be used by other players of the same team or squad. A number may be retired to honor a player who may have given significant contribution to a team.

Example of retired jersey number:

1) Jersey number 10 of Napoli – For Diego Maradona, who lifted them.

2) Jersey number 23 of Manchester City -For Marc Vivien Foe, The city player who collapse and died while playing for his national team Cameroon.

3) Jersey number 10 of Brescia- For Roberto Baggio, one of the best Italian player ever.

4) Jersey number 3 of AC Milan- For Paolo Maldini, one of the best Italian player ever.

5) Jersey number 25 of Chelsea- For Gianfraco Zola, one of Chelsea greatest player.

Majority of clubs have reserved the number 12 for their fans. Zenith, Lazio, RC Lens, Bayern Munich, Dynamo Kiev and Fenerbanche are some of the clubs that have reserved jersey number 12 for their fans.

It is also important to note that Argentina national team was prevented from retiring the number of Diego Maradona (10) and the Cameroon national team have been prevented from retiring Marc Vivien Foe number 17 jersey.