

Why do soccer players wear random numbers?īut other players completely do away with tradition and choose numbers for completely different reasons.įormer Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Rui Patricio famously wore #11 during his time at the club as his way of showing respect to Carl Ikeme, a former Wolves goalkeeper who had recently undergone cancer treatment. Many soccer players like the tradition of soccer position numbers, and it’s common for goalkeepers to wear number one and for center forwards to opt for the number nine jersey, for example. Whether they’re on the field, on the bench, or not included in the matchday squad, they remain with that number throughout the season. Soccer has changed a lot in recent times, and when a player joins a club, they are given a permanent shirt number. However, the following week, if they were named as a substitute, they would give the number nine jersey to the starting striker, opting for a shirt bearing number 14 or 15. Before televised soccer became the norm, it was commonplace for players to wear different numbered jerseys throughout the season.įor instance, if one week a player was tasked with playing center forward, they would be given the number nine jersey. Traditionally, soccer players would wear the number that corresponds to their position on the field.

Do soccer players stick to their position numbers? From the 1970s onwards, 4-4-2 became one of the most dominant soccer formations, which is what the current soccer position numbers correlate with. Originally, the following positions were matched to the respective jerseys:Īs formations changed in the second half of the twentieth century, the numbers given to specific players on the field also changed. The ritual of soccer position numbers can be traced back to the 1960s when the numbering of jerseys correlated with the 2-3-5 formation that was popular during the decades. The substitutes’ numbers would run from 12-16, depending on how many subs were in the dugout for a game. Soccer numbers originally come from the position of players on the field, beginning at 1 and working through to 11. The #13 jersey is often reserved for the substitute goalkeeper, but the remaining numbers are all available to substitutes, from #12 through to #99! Where do soccer numbers come from? #10 – Centre Forward or Attacking Midfielder Why do soccer players wear random numbers?.Do soccer players stick to their position numbers?.Remarkable wing-backs are Marcelo, Dani Alves, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba. Also, if you have five defenders (three center-backs and two wing-backs), this allows more liberty for the wing-backs to venture attacking. For example, if you have a defensive line of four defenders (two center-backs and two full-backs) and your team is in need of a goal, you will want the full-backs to behave more like wing-backs and attack. If, on the contrary, you are clinging to a narrow advantage, you will want your wing-backs to play more defensively. Many full-backs have played as wing-backs and wing-backs have played as full-backs.Ī wing-back's role depends on the team formation and specific moments of the game. The main difference is that wing-backs have much more attacking responsibility than full-backs do. The wing-back position is similar to the full-back in that wing-backs play close and along the sidelines of the field. Traditionally Assigned Soccer Position Numbers: 2, 3 & 6 Let’s take a look at the role of each soccer position and the iconic players who illustrate each role. Here, we provide an overview of how numbers were traditionally assigned by position. In the modern game, jersey numbers vary greatly depending on formation as well as a player's personal preference. Historically, these numbers were used to indicate position, with the players on the field designated as #1 - 11. Below, we outline the traditional numbers for each soccer position. A common question is how numbers get assigned to positions. Second Forward / Second Striker / Support or Withdrawn Striker (CF or S)Īs you can see, there are plenty soccer positions and not all of them can play at once. Center-back / Center Full-back / Central Defender (CB) Names And Abbreviations For Key Soccer Positions
