#FOOTBALL SOCCER POSITIONS BY NUMBER UPDATE#
#FOOTBALL SOCCER POSITIONS BY NUMBER PRO#

Probably the most pristinely ubiquitous number in soccer is the #1 for the keeper. The old school starting numbers, the most coveted and soughtĪfter numbers from the history of the game. With the more recent aberrations of media hype and marketing strangeness, we see numbers like 66 and 99 in countries without number rules. As examples, Spain by rule uses numbers 1 to 25 and France 1 to 30. Only in the last ten to fifteen years with the advent of the massive squads of large teams have we begun to see numbers in the 30s and 40s come into play. In modern times the numbers in the teens and low 20s have become sought after due to 23 man world cup rosters. They are the pure, classic numbers of superstars and the soccer gods. In general terms, 1 to 11 remain the most coveted numbers. Amazingly, a few leagues didn’t adopt the one number per player as a rule until the mid-90s. Numbers began to become synonymous with players and names started appearing on the back of kits. In the modern era with the advent of television, the marketing of players, and the sales of jerseys, teams began to assign specific numbers to players for an entire season.

I personally recommend The Simplest Game: The Intelligent Fan’s Guide to the World of Soccer by Paul Gardner or Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson for a far greater dissertation on the evolution of tactics. I’m going to try and explain it in a couple of paragraphs and won’t be doing it real justice. People have written entire books on the evolution of tactics and you can spend a lifetime studying it. Or so, depending on how many bench players were allowed. Was no subbing) the subs would wear numbers starting at 12 and going up to 17 When substitutes were allowed in soccer (originally there Numbers took on a positional meaning that could slowly change over the decades and might have different meanings depending on in which country you are asking. In soccer as the shape of formations changed and evolved over the years the numbers moved in certain patterns depending on the country in which the evolution was taking place, particularly on defense chaos sometimes reigned. Linebackers are 40s/50s, receivers used to be just 80s but now are also 1 to 19, running backs and DBs are 20s/30s/40s, etc. In American football, numbers indicate what position you play. In college basketball – less so in the pros – numbers are mostly combinations of 0 to 5 like 5, 11, 23, 32, 41, etc. Babe Ruth wore 3 and Lou Gehrig 4 because they hit 3rd and 4th in the Yankee order. In the early days of baseball, the batting order wore numbers 1 to 9 based on the place they hit in the order. Although some countries didn’t use numbers until the W-M was in vogue, which makes some small differences.Įvery sport has a history with numbers. To make a long story short, the most common formation when numbering was beginning to be used was the 2-3-5. Keeper as the #1 and moving from the back to the front and right to left. The starting eleven players wore numbers 1 to 11, starting with the The earliest soccer numbers were handed out based on the Jerseys so fans and media could tell who players were from high in the stands. When our modern sports formed ages ago jerseys didn’t have You by learning some history and meaning for the numbers.

#FOOTBALL SOCCER POSITIONS BY NUMBER PRO#

Trying to understand why a pro wears what he does, then maybe this will help I thinkīut if you’re trying to pick a number for yourself, or

I have strong ideas about what should be worn and by whom. I happen to take numbers very seriously, to me they have

#FOOTBALL SOCCER POSITIONS BY NUMBER UPDATE#

I do update and freshen the lists of players with current players while still keeping old famous examples. Hopefully, each time this piece gets better. With the current pause for Covid-19 I figured I could refresh it again for 2020.Įvery time I re-do this post – this is the 5th pass of it – I’ve learned more and read more stories that I try and include. I first wrote this piece back in January of 2009, re-wrote it in 2013, again in 2017 as part of 3rd Degree’s 20th birthday celebration, and last year in 2019 with the move to the new independent site. Over the years it’s been by far the most asked for, requested, and clicked on things I’ve ever written. Since 3rd Degree has moved a couple of times, this post keeps getting lost in the void.

Football soccer positions by number