Squad number (association football)

As in other team sports, squad numbers are used in association football to identify and distinguish players on the field. Numbers were originally used to also indicate position, with starting players being assigned numbers 1-11, but most competitions and leagues now use squad numbers.

First use of numbers

The first time numbers were used in Association football was August 25, 1928, when Sheffield Wednesday played Arsenal Numbers were assigned by field location:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side centre back)
3. Left full back (left side centre back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger)

Early evolutions of formations involved moving specific positions, e.g. moving the centre half back to become a defender rather than a half back. Their numbers went with them, hence central defenders wearing number 5, and remnants of the system remain to this day. For example, in friendly and championship qualifying matches England, when playing the 4-4-2 formation, general number their players (using the standard right to left system of listing football teams) four defenders - 2, 5, 6, 3; four midfielders - 7, 4, 10, 11; two forwards - 8, 9. This system of numbering can also be adapted to a midfield diamond with the holding midfielder wearing 4 and the attacking central midfielder wearing 8. Similarly the Swedish national team number their players: four defenders - 2, 3, 4, 5; four midfielders - 7, 6, 8, 9; two forwards - 10, 11.

I 4-3-3 formation In Brazil, the 4-2-4 formation was developed independently from Europe, thus leading to a different numbering - here shown in the 4-3-3 formation to stress that in Brazil, number ten is midfield:

• 1 Goleiro (Goalkeeper)
• 2 Lateral Direito (right wingback)
• 3 Beque Central (centre back)
• 4 Quarto Zagueiro (the "fourth defender", almost the same as a centre back)
• 6 Lateral Esquerdo (left wingback)
• 5 Volante ("Rudder", the defensive midfielder)
• 8 Meia Direita (right midfielder)
• 10 Meia Esquerda (left midfielder, generally more offensive than the right one)
• 7 Ponta Direita (right winger)
• 9 Centro-Avante (centre forward)
• 11 Ponta Esquerda (left winger)

When in 4-2-4, number 10 passes to the Ponta de Lança (striker), and 4-4-2 formations get this configuration: four defenders - 2 (right wingback), 4, 3, 6 (left wingback); four midfielders - 5 (defensive), 8 ("segundo volante", similar to a central midfielder), 7, 10 (attacking); two strikers - 9, 11

In Argentina, 4-3-3 formations get this configuration: four defenders - 4 (right wingback), 2, 6, 3 (left wingback); three midfielders - 8, 5 (central midfielder), 10 (attacking) - 7 (right wing), 9 (centrodelantero), 11 (left wing); and in 4-3-1-2, the number 10 is for the "enganche" and the 11 goes to the left midfield.

Evolution from 2-3-5 to 4-4-2

In England, in a now traditional 4-4-2 formation, the standard numbering is usually: 2 (right fullback), 5, 6, 3 (left fullback); 4 (defensive midfielder), 7 (right midfielder), 10 (central/attacking midfielder), 11 (left midfielder); 8 (second/support striker), 9 (striker). This came about based on the traditional 2-3-5 system. Where the 2 fullbacks retained the numbers 2, 3. Then of the halves, 4 was kept as the central defensive midfielder, while 5 and 6 were moved backward to be in the central of defence. 7 and 11 stayed as the wide attacking players, whilst 10 dropped back a little from inside forward to a central (sometimes attacking) midfield role, and 8 stayed in support of the striker. The 4 is generally the holding midfielder, as through the formation evolution it was often used for the sweeper or libero position. This position defended behind the central defenders, but attacked in front - feeding the midfield. It is generally not used today, and developed into the holding midfielder role.

When substitutions were introduced to the game in 1965, the substitute typically took the number 12; when a second substitute was allowed, they wore 14. Players were not compelled to wear the number 13 if they were superstitious.

In Eastern Europe, The defence numbering is slightly different. The Hungary under Gustav Sebes switched from a 2-3-5 formation to 3-2-5. So the defence numbers were 2 to 4 from right to left thus making the the right back (2), centre back (3) and the left back (4). Since the concept of a flat back four the number (5) has become the other centre back.

Goalkeepers' numbering

As introduced before, the first-choice goalkeeper is usually assigned the number 1 shirt.

Second-choice goalkeeper wears, at many occasions, number 12 shirt, which is the first shirt of the second line up, or number 13. In the past, when it was permitted to assign 5 substitute players in a match, wearing shirt number 12 to 16, the goalkeeper was also often wearing the number 16 shirt, the last shirt number in the squad. (Thus making the goalkeepers wearing the first and last shirt numbers in the squad). Later on, when association football laws changed and it was permitted to assign 7 substitute players, second-choice goalkeepers were often wearing the number 18 shirt.

In addition, it is very common to see second-choice goalkeepers wearing the number 22 shirt, and third-choice goalkeeper wearing the number 33 or 30 shirts. In international tournaments (such as FIFA World Cup or continental cups) each team must list a squad of 23 players, wearing shirts numbering 1-23. Thus, in this case, third-choice goalkeepers often wears the number 23. As a quote, the change from 22-players squad to 23-player squad in international tournaments, which occurred first at the FIFA World Cup 2002, was in order to require the listing of a third-choice goalkeeper in squad.

In international football

The move to a fixed number being assigned to each player in a squad was initiated for the 1954 World Cup where each man in a country's 22-man squad wore a specific number for the duration of the tournament. As a result, the numbers 12 to 22 were assigned to different squad players, with no resemblance to their on-field positions. This meant that a team could start a match not necessarily fielding players wearing numbers one to eleven. Although the numbers one to eleven tended to be given to those players deemed to be the "first choice line-up", this was not always the case for a variety of reasons - a famous example was Johan Cruijff, who insisted on wearing the number 14 shirt. Other examples of this include Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry, who often wear 39 and 12 respectively for France and also Xabi Alonso who wears 14 for Spain.

In the 1958 World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation forgot to send the player numbers list to the event organisation. However, the Uruguayan official Lorenzo Villizzio assigned random numbers to the players. The goalkeeper Gilmar received the number 3, and Garrincha and Zagallo wore opposite winger numbers, 11 and 7, while Pelé was randomly given the number 10, for which he would become famous.

Argentina defied convention by numbering their squads for the 1974, 1978, and 1982 World Cups alphabetically, resulting in outfield players (not goalkeepers) wearing the number 1 shirt (although Diego Maradona was given an out-of-sequence number 10 in 1982).) England used a similar alphabetical scheme for the 1982 World Cup, but retained the traditional numbers for the goalkeepers (1) and the team captain (7), Kevin Keegan. In a practice that ended after the 1998 World Cup, Italy gave low squad numbers to defenders, medium to midfielders, and high ones to forwards, while numbers 1, 12 and 22 were assigned to goalkeepers. More recently, FIFA tournament regulations have stated that the number 1 jersey must be issued to a goalkeeper.

Before the 2002 World Cup, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) attempted to retire the number 10 in honor of Maradona by submitting a squad list of 23 players for the tournament, listed 1 through 24, with the number 10 omitted. FIFA rejected Argentina's plan, and the governing body's president, Sepp Blatter suggested the number 10 shirt be instead given to the team's third-choice goalkeeper, Roberto Bonano. AFA ultimately submitted a revised list with Ariel Ortega, originally listed as number 23, as the number 10.

In club football

Great Britain

In 1993, the The Football Association switched to persistent squad numbers, abandoning the mandatory use of 1–11 for the starting line-up. The first league event to feature this was the 1993 Football League Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday,^{[citation needed]} and it became standard in the FA Premier League the following season, along with names printed above the numbers.

Most European top leagues adopted the system over the next five years.

The Football League introduced squad numbers in 1999, and the Football Conference followed suit three years later.

Players may now wear any number (as long as it is unique within their squad) between 1 and 99. To date, the highest number worn by a player in the Premier League is 62, by Manchester City's Abdul Razak. It has been suggested the Swindon Town defender Brian Kilcline wore 62 during 1993-94, but he actually wore 31.

Both Juan Maldonado and Cesc Fàbregas have worn 57 for Arsenal, but only in cup matches. In the Football League, the number 55 has been worn by Ade Akinbiyi, for Crystal Palace, and Dominik Werling, for Barnsley.

When Sunderland signed Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma on loan in 2002, he wanted the number 70, to indicate his birth year of 1970. But the Premier League refused, and he wore 7 instead.

Players are not generally allowed to change their number during a season, although a player may change number if he changes clubs mid-season. Players may change squad numbers between seasons.

A move from a high number to a low one may be an indication that the player is likely to be a regular starter for the coming season. An example of this being Celtic's Scott McDonald, who, after the departure of former no.7 Maciej Żurawski, was given the squad number 7, a change down from 27. Some players keep the number they start their career at a club with, such as Liverpool's Jamie Carragher, who has worn the number 23 since becoming part of the first-team squad. On occasion players have moved numbers to accommodate a new player, for example Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer moved from 7 to 11 to allow the incoming Harry Kewell to take the number when he arrived. Upon signing for Everton in 2007, Yakubu refused the prestigious number 9 shirt and asked to be assigned number 22, setting this number as a goal-scoring target for his first season, a feat he fell one goal short of achieving.

Spain

In the Spanish La Liga players in the A-squad (maximum 25 players, including a maximum of three goalkeepers) must wear a number between 1-25. Goalkeepers must wear either 1, 13 or 25. When players from the reserve team are selected to play for the first team, they are given squad numbers between 26 and 50.

North America

North American professional club soccer follows a model pretty close to that of European professional soccer, with the exception that many American and Canadian clubs do not have "reserve squads," and thus do not assign higher numbers to those players.

Most American and Canadian clubs have players numbered between 1-30, with higher numbers being reserved for second and third goalkeepers. In the United Soccer Leagues First Division and Major League Soccer, there were only 20 outfield players wearing squad numbers higher than #30 on the first team in the 2009 season, suggesting that the traditional model has been followed.

In 2007, Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy retired former playing number of Cobi Jones, No. 13, becoming the first MLS team to do so.

In 2011, Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake retired the former playing number of coach Jason Kreis, No. 9.

Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in association football

Unusual or notable numbers

• Hicham Zerouali was allowed to wear the number 0 for Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen after the fans nicknamed him "Zero".^{[citation needed]}
• Though it is traditionally the goalkeeper's number, outfield players have occasionally worn the number 1 for their clubs, including Pantelis Kafes for Olympiacos and currently AEK, Charlton Athletic's Stuart Balmer in the 1990s, Partizan Belgrade's Simon Vukčević in 2004-05^{[citation needed]} and Beşiktaş's Daniel Pancu in 2005-06.
• In 2001, Colombian Freddy Rincón wore number 3+5 in Santos F.C.. Due to the failure of the attempt to transfer to the Corinthians and the subsequent closing of entries, Rincón would not have more chances to act in Campeonato Paulista that year if not by Santos. The regulation of that year provided that the clubs could register up to 35 athletes. Then, the Colombian was entered with the #35.
• In 2003, FC Porto goalkeeper Vítor Baía became the first player to wear 99 in the final of a major European competition.  ^{[citation needed]}
• Adolfo Bautista, when playing for Club Deportivo Guadalajara wore number 100 under special dispensation from the Mexican Football Federation (he wore 1 in CONCACAF competitions). Later, when he was traded to Jaguares de Chiapas, he received jersey number 1.
• Goalkeeper Rogério Ceni of São Paulo FC sports the 01 jersey for his club.
• Parma goalkeeper, Luca Bucci wore the numbers 7 (2005–06) and 5 (2006-07—2007-08) shirts.
• Iván Zamorano wore number 1+8, or number 18 with a plus symbol between the two digits, for Inter Milan from 1997 to 2000, after his number 9 was given to Ronaldo.
• Juan Pablo Sorín was allowed to use the number 1+2 for Villareal because the number 3 was taken. This was only used rarely.^{[citation needed]}
• Derek Riordan was given squad number 01 by Hibernian. Number 10 had already been taken by Colin Nish, and none of the club's goalkeepers had been allocated number 1.
• In 2008, AC Milan's three new signings each chose a number indicating the year of his birth: 76 (Andriy Shevchenko, born 1976), 80 (Ronaldinho, born 1980), and 84 (Mathieu Flamini, born 1984).
• The Asian Football Confederation requires players to keep the same squad numbers throughout the preliminary rounds for the AFC Asian Cup, resulting in players with squad numbers of 100 or higher, including 121 worn by Thomas Oar of Australia in a 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Indonesia.
• Indonesian international Firman Utina wears 8+7 number in his club Persija Jakarta, because his signature number 15 has been taken by Aliyudin.^{[citation needed]}
• Indonesian Club Deltras Sidoarjo Goalkeeper Usman Pribadi wears the number 2.^{[citation needed]}
• Club América's Diego Reyes wears number 135.^{[citation needed]}

Commemorative numbers

• Jesús Arellano, when playing for Club de Futbol Monterrey wore the number 400 in 1996 to celebrate the city's 400th anniversary.^{[citation needed]}
• Brazilian EC Goiás goalkeeper Harley wore number 400 in a single match to celebrate his 400th match for the team.^{[citation needed]}
• Brazilian Santos FC goalkeeper Fábio Costa wore number 200 in a single match to celebrate his 200th match for the team.^{[citation needed]}
• Andreas Herzog wore the number 100 on his 100th match for the Austrian national team, as he was the first Austrian player to win 100 caps.^{[citation needed]}
• James Beattie and Steven Gerrard both wore 08 instead of their usual 8 in the Merseyside derby in March 2006 to promote the 08 Ambassadors Programme, which they both are signed up to, to signify Liverpool becoming the European Capital of Culture in 2008.
• Tugay Kerimoğlu wore the number 94 on his 94th and final cap for Turkey against Brazil in 2007.
• Rubén Sosa wore number 100 for the 100th Anniversary of Club Nacional de Football on 14 May 1999.^{[citation needed]}
• During his record-breaking 618th game for São Paulo FC, Rogério Ceni wore number 618, the highest number ever worn in professional football.
• During his last match, number 100, for the Danish national team, Martin Jørgensen wore shirt number 100.
• During his record-breaking 100th caps for South Africa, Aaron Mokoena wore shirt number 100.

External links

• classic number systems