There were still eleven players on the pitch but the tactical formation was dramatically different back then. This began in 1928 when the Arsenal manager, Herbert Chapman, gave out the numbers to help structure his team’s tactical formation. Players were given squad numbers so they knew their responsibilities and where they were supposed to play on the pitch. The actual numbering of a soccer player’s shirt was devised to help with the structure of a tactical formation. There was a time when the back of a soccer player’s shirt was laid bare. In between Maradona and Messi are the likes of Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Ariel Ortega, and Carlos Tevez who struggled to live up to those comparative heights when playing for Argentina as their number 10. The shirt can also weigh down on a footballer due to the expectations that come with those who wore it before. Whoever wears Argentina’s number 10 shirt has a legacy to behold that has been passed down from Diego Maradona, through to Lionel Messi. When he returned to Manchester United, he again took on the number 7 shirt.Ĭertain squad numbers are recognized in world football for the players that have worn the shirt throughout the years. Upon leaving for Real Madrid, he had gone from being a virtual unknown to being one of the most recognized footballers on the planet. The next wearer of the number 7 shirt for Manchester United was another player who could go down as one of the all-time GOAT’s, Cristiano Ronaldo.įor six years, Ronaldo spearheaded the franchise’s success in the Premier League and the Champions League. Once he retired, the shirt number was passed on to David Beckham who became a global superstar into the Noughties. In 1968, he wore the number 7 as Manchester United won their first European Cup at Wembley then won the prestigious Ballon d’Or that year for being judged as the best soccer player in Europe.Įric Cantona wore the number 7 as he became the team’s creative lynchpin as the team dominated the early years of the Premier League. This is largely based on the previous wearers of that squad number and many franchises have a special association with certain numbers.įor instance, the wearers of Manchester United’s number 7 shirt have been some of the most iconic players to ever play the beautiful game.Īrguably their greatest ever footballer wore the number 7 shirt throughout the Sixties and that was George Best. The number on the back of a shirt can hold prestige and signify creative freedom for players that wear it. There are squad numbers that certainly mean more than just a simple position. Based on four defenders, four midfielders, and two players up-front, it is quite a rigid tactical system and each player should know where they are supposed to be found on the field. This numbering system is for one of the most traditional formations, the 4-4-2 system. Then there are the two players furthest upfield who are your striker, the number 9, and the other center-forward, the number 10. On the opposite side of the pitch, the number 11 is given to the left-midfielder.įilling in from the center midfield are usually numbers 4, 6 and 8. Into midfield, the right midfielder can be one of the most creative players on the field and the number 7 is one of the most iconic numbers on the back of a shirt. The two center-backs are then numbered any two from 4, 5 and 6 which seems simple enough. The next four numbers are traditionally for a back four defense and include the right full-back at number 2 and number 3 being the left full-back. The most obvious number should be the goalkeeper which will be number 1. There are eleven positions to be filled in a soccer team so a team should run from 1 to 11 from back to up-front. The Positions Related To Soccer Numbering In this guide, we will look at the positions related to soccer numbering, the prestige of certain numbers, the history of squad numbering, and how they are applied. Learning what the numbers mean for a player’s position and responsibilities is important for coaches, fans, and players. 7.2 What Position Does A Number 6 Typically Play In Soccer?Ĭertain numbers hold prestige while others are defined by an organizational position.
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