No matter what team sport it is: jersey numbers are an essential part of the players and thus of the entire sport. Why are some football shirt numbers so popular? And how did it come about that the 7, 9 and 10 are usually offensive players? In this article, we will explain the history and significance of football shirt numbers.
Back numbers in football - meaning and history
Do you want to know the meaning of football shirt numbers? In this article we explain the meaning and history of football shirt numbers!
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The history of football shirt numbers
In 1933, the English Football Association (FA) introduced a spectacular novelty at the Cup Final: referees, spectators and media representatives should be able to recognise the players better. The FA promptly provided the players of the final teams, Everton FC and Manchester City, with shirt numbers. The "Tofees" from Liverpool received the numbers 1 to 11 and the Manchester kickers were numbered from 12 to 22. The first number 9 was given to legendary Everton centre-forward William Ralph Dean, whom everyone just called "Dixie". Dean scored 379 goals in 438 league games during the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1927/28 season, the dribbling striker scored 60 league goals in one season - a record that still stands today! Since then, the number 9 has symbolised a centre-forward who scores a lot of goals.
Five years earlier, at the Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea v Swansea Town matches, the English dared to make the first attempt at giving players back numbers. At the time, the idea did not catch on and, according to media reports, the players were identified by fashionable extras such as red and white socks and a blue and white checked cap.
The 2-3-5 system as a basis for the allocation of shirt numbers
While nowadays playing systems such as 4-3-3, 3-5-3 or 4-2-3-1 are popular, 2-3-5 was considered the most popular around 100 years ago. This system was used to distribute the football back numbers (1 to 11). Because football systems changed again and again over time, the clear line in terms of numbering disappeared. Even many years ago, football nations had adapted playing systems, resulting in different numbering for the same positions. In the 2-3-5 playing system, the two defenders were given jersey numbers 2 and 3. Midfielders were given the numbers 4 (left), 5 (central) and 6 (right). The back numbers were completed with 7 (right wing), 8 and 10 (attacking midfield), 11 (left wing) and 9 (centre forward).
Positions and jersey numbers in football
The numbers of the defensive players
With the introduction of the offside rule, an additional defender was needed - number 5 was withdrawn to the centre of defence, whereupon numbers 2 and 3 defended a little wider. Later, the four-man backline followed, so another midfielder had to move into the centre of defence. This resulted in the number 2 as right-back, the numbers 4 and 5 as centre-backs and the number 3 as left-back. The "clearer" in front of the defence in central defensive midfield was given the jersey number 6. What has remained in the allocation of football shirt numbers to this day? Defenders tend to have low back numbers and offensive players high back numbers. In addition, most starting goalkeepers have the back number 1.
The numbers of the offensive players
Die Bedeutung der Rückennummern im Fußball
Shirt numbers belong to football like the amen to church. All players have an assigned shirt number, which for some players even develops into a brand of its own. The multiple world footballer Cristiano Ronaldo runs a world-famous brand with "CR7" (based on the shirt number 7) and successfully sells underwear and perfume. Professionals and amateurs alike sometimes attach great importance to their shirt numbers because they bring a high degree of pride and identification, especially with regard to their position on the pitch. The following list gives you some examples of professional footballers who are associated with the corresponding shirt number according to their position:
Goalkeeper - number 1: Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon, Sepp Maier
Right-back - number 2: Berti Vogts, Dani Alves, Cafu
Left defender - shirt number 3: Ashley Cole, Paul Breitner, Roberto Carlos
Centre back - back number 4 and 5: Sergio Ramos (Nr. 4), Rio Ferdinand (Nr. 5)
Defensive midfield - shirt number 6: Joshua Kimmich, Horst Eckel, Thiago
Winger - shirt number 7: Kylian Mbappé-Lotin, Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo
Central midfield - shirt number 8: Andrés Iniesta, Toni Kroos, Carlos Dunga
Striker - shirt number 9: Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Rudi Völler
Playmaker - shirt number 10: Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho
Winger - shirt number 11: Ryan Giggs, Mohamed Salah, Marco Reus
Back numbers in modern football
In modern football, players' shirt numbers have become increasingly important due to professionalisation and the higher media attention that comes with it. This is especially true for the brand development of the professionals, who like to present themselves in connection with their shirt numbers on social media channels. In addition, their own brands or products are developing in connection with the shirt number, which in a business sense can be purchased on the market for every fan. Then, as now, children and young people emulate their idols and also develop lucky and favourite numbers for themselves based on the jersey numbers of the stars. But back numbers in football also serve coaches and players to convey tactical instructions. "Take the 6" or "the 10" are individual tactical measures against the ball that tell the teammate what to do in just a few seconds.
Differences back numbers in modern football
Unlike in the past, players' shirt numbers are no longer necessarily position-specific. Nowadays, no player with the number 12 or higher is automatically a substitute. At this point, there are several players who are or were undisputed regulars in their clubs. Thomas Müller with the shirt number 25, or Marcelo with the shirt number 12. Furthermore, no player with a low shirt number is necessarily a defender. A good example of this is Zinedine Zidane: the former world-class footballer was a classic 10 (playmaker) and predominantly played with the number 5. FIFA only stipulates that the shirt number in football must be a number between 1 and 99. Some football stars took advantage of this loose regulation and played with extremely unusual shirt numbers.
Curious back numbers in football
In addition to the usual back numbers, there were also some professional footballers who wanted to stand out and chose numbers that fans and probably also fellow players did not necessarily expect. But clubs also provided one or the other curiosity and blocked the back numbers of deserving ex-professionals for future players. In the following section, we show you 4 curious stories about football shirt numbers.
Bixente Lizarazu - FC Bayern Munich
1.69 m tall, 69 kg and born in 1969. Why not also wear the number 69? That's probably what ex-Bayern professional Lizarazu, who played a total of 183 Bundesliga games for Munich, thought.
Hicham Zerouali - Aberdeen FC
Hicham Zerouali, nicknamed "Zero", obtained an exemption from the Scottish FA and played with the jersey number "0" between 1999 and 2002, in keeping with his nickname.
Ivan Zamorano – Inter Milan
When world star Ronaldo moved to Inter and insisted on his jersey number 9, the previous owner of the jersey number had to think of something. So Ivan Zamorano started with the number 18 and had the "plus sign" placed between the two digits. After all, 1+8 makes 9.
Franco Baresi – AC Milan
When Franco Baresi ended his outstanding career, his club AC Milan announced that they would henceforth no longer give the jersey number 6. FC Bayern München had similar thoughts when ex-world goalkeeper Oliver Kahn announced that he was ending his professional career.
Design your own jersey including shirt number
In our 3D configurator, you can not only add individual jersey numbers to your football jersey, but also design your jersey completely yourself. No matter which number you choose in the end, your jersey will be unique.
