Did you know that a soccer jersey’s number means a lot to a soccer player? Yes, it’s not just about playing soccer, but also being confident of the number behind your jersey. Indeed, there’s a reason why you’ll never see a player with a jersey that doesn’t have a number at the back. That is why picking a soccer jersey number is as important as being on the field.
So how do you pick a soccer jersey number? Well, there are different factors and considerations that a player should put in mind when picking the number of their soccer jersey. Some of the aspects can be personal or have something to do with the club you’re playing for.
The truth of the matter is that the number of a player’s soccer jersey carries a lot of weight for them. One of the things that ring into the minds of players as they contemplate joining soccer clubs is the jersey number they’ll play in. Jersey number is so important to a player, that they can do whatever it takes to wear their dream number. It’s more than a number; it’s a source of pride. If you take keen look at the most iconic figures in soccer, their jersey numbers have the same level of popularity as them. Why is that the case? It’s because picking a soccer jersey number is as significant as getting on the field and playing for your club or country.
Why a Soccer Jersey Number
Now, before we even delve deeper and identify how to pick a soccer jersey number, it’s important to understand the purpose of a soccer jersey. From the onset, it’s notable to highlight that a jersey number is simply for identification. When players are on the soccer ground, each team has a distinct jersey based on the colour. When it comes to an individual team, the only way to differentiate between individual players is the numbers on their back. Since the jersey they’re wearing has one colour and design, the only way to differentiate them is through the jersey numbers. The referee will want to know tell one player from the other.
Referees and commentators have to keep track of players whenever they are on the field. Since they may not be able to remember their names or identify their faces all the times, they can comfortably use the jersey numbers for identification. This makes work easier for everyone involved in a soccer match.
Having talked about the importance of a jersey number, it’s now time to explore a quick guide on picking a soccer jersey number.
Picking a Number Depending on Position of Play
One of the common ways of picking a soccer jersey number is on the basis of a player’s position of play. Essentially, there are different positions of play in soccer. They are: goalkeeper, defense, midfield, and attack. They can be divided further to include the following: central defenders, fullbacks (right back and left back), central midfielder, defending midfielder, attacking midfielder, wingers, and striker. Traditionally, there are numbers that are regarded as belonging to specific positions or roles.
#1
This number is traditionally, given to a goalkeeper. That’s why you’ll find most goalkeepers wearing this number. If you’re a goalkeeper, this is a number that’s fitting for you. The reason as to why goalkeepers are assigned this jersey number is because they are the ones who come first on the team list.
Since they’re the first one to appear on the list, teams see it fit to assign the number to them. Another reason why teams allow goalkeepers to wear the #1 jersey is because they’re seen as the most important player on the pitch. While this might sound controversial, it’s actually the truth. Normally, a team can win a match with a bad or poor striker. But, they can’t win a soccer match with a poor goalkeeper. So, if you’re playing in the goalkeeping position, you can consider this jersey number.
In this blog I’ve written a couple of articles about this vital soccer position. For example, make sure to check out “Average Goalkeeper Height: Is Height important for a goalkeeper”, and don’t forget to take a look at my recommended GK Gloves.
#2
This number usually goes to a right back. If you’re a defender who plays on the right side, this is the jersey number you’re likely to wear. However, with the evolution of modern soccer, there are teams that don’t play with fullbacks. They prefer to play with wingbacks. In such a case, a central defender can wear the #2 jersey. If you follow the position system of issuing jersey numbers, this number is traditionally assigned to a right back.
#3
This number is mostly assigned to left backs. If you play in the left back position, this is a number that can fit well with you. This is the jersey number that Ashley Cole has when he played for Chelsea. For teams that don’t play with fullbacks, the number can still fit well with central defenders.
#4 and #5
These are the numbers that are naturally assigned to central defender. Teams can choose to assign either the #4 or #5 to particular players depending on how a coach sees them. For example, the #4 jersey can go to the strongest central defender or a defender who is an understudy to the other central defender. So, in this case, the #5 jersey can go to the strongest defender as well. A good example of a famous player who wore a #4 jersey is Sergio Ramos. He wore this number for a very long time at Real Madrid until he left after the 20/21 season.
Also, #5 is very commonly assigned to a defending midfielder that recovers balls and cuts game. A player with the characteristics of Ngolo Kante or Casemiro can easily use #5.
#6
Traditionally, this is the jersey number that mostly goes to central midfielders. If you’re a central midfielder, this is the jersey number that you’ll probably get in a team.
#7
This is a jersey number that most players would like to have. However, if your team is assigning jersey numbers on the basis of position of play, the #7 jersey is mostly for wingers. That’s why Cristiano Ronaldo wears the jersey number. He is a world-class winger who has achieved massive success in his soccer career.
#8
This is the jersey number assigned to central midfielders. Box-to-box midfielders are also assigned this number. A good example of a player who wore this jersey number in Arsenal is Aaron Ramsey.
#9
This is the number that strikers take. If you know of any striker in the soccer world, they will probably tell you that wearing this jersey number is a source of pride to them. The famous Brazilian soccer player, Ronaldo, comes to mind when mentioning the number.
#10
If you know of any creative midfielder, this is the number they would take. Attacking midfielders are assigned this number, and it has become an iconic number because of the great players who have had the privilege of wearing it. A good example is Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Make sure to check my article explaining Why the Best Soccer Players wear jersey #10 and why it is considered a sacred number.
#11 and #12
On one hand, #11 usually can be used by wingers too. Take as an example Gareth Bale or Neymar when he was at Barcelona. On the other hand #12 is a free number. This is the reason why, for example, the second goalkeeper in the team wears 12.
Picking on the Basis of Numbers Valuable to You
It’s not a must for player to choose jersey numbers on the basis of playing position. You must have noticed players who pick jersey numbers that are not among the traditional numbers assigned according to playing positions. Apart from picking a jersey number based on your playing position, you can also consider settling for numbers that mean a lot to you. If you have the privilege of choosing a jersey number for yourself, you can think of the following ideas:
Birthday date
If you’re thinking of picking a jersey number and you’re wondering the route to take, why don’t you consider your birthday? For example, if you were born on the 30th of December, you can opt for jersey #30. A good example of a player with a jersey number inspired by his birthday is Gianluigi Donnarumma. He wears the #99 jersey. He was born in the year 1999. He plays for French club Paris Saint Germain. Though he is a goalkeeper, he chose not to take the normal jersey #1 that most goalkeepers take. This number might look very different from others, but it is the one he picked and wears proudly. You can consider your birthday for a jersey number.
A special date
You can also have a special date in your life that’s important to you. Since a jersey number is significant to you as a player, you can choose it based on a memorable day in your life. For example, you can choose the day you joined your club or the day you started playing professional soccer as your jersey number. For instance, if you started playing on the 25th of May, you can choose that number to always remind you of the day you started your journey as a professional soccer player.
A number that reminds you of an important person
Again, you may want to make your jersey number a special one by remembering someone who means a lot in your life. You pick a jersey number that a player you admire had. For example, if you loved watching John Terry, the former Chelsea captain, you can choose to wear #26 to remind you of him and inspire you as you play.
A source of inspiration
You can also pick a soccer jersey number based on a goal you would like to achieve. The number becomes an inspiration to push and motivate you towards achieving the goal. A good example is picking #20 for your jersey with the desire of scoring at least 20 goals every season. The jersey number becomes an inspiration to encourage you to fulfill your dreams as a striker.
A Look at the Most Iconic Soccer Jersey Numbers
There are soccer jersey numbers that are iconic and command a lot of respect and admiration. As you know, soccer is the most popular sport in the world and this means that fans around the world follow it religiously. If you have the privilege of choosing a jersey number, you can consider going for the iconic numbers.
It’s not easy to pick these numbers because the world’s best players have made them coveted jersey numbers. The fact that these numbers are highly valuable means that only the best players should wear them. Imagine wearing an iconic number but you don’t match the weight on it. You’ll definitely feel out of place. However, if you wear one of the iconic numbers and you’re good at what you do, you’ll feel proud of wearing your jersey.
So, what are the iconic numbers in soccer? The iconic numbers are 7, 10, and 9. The most iconic of the three being 7 and 10. These are jersey numbers that the world’s best players have proudly worn. Wingers mostly take up the #7 jersey, creative midfielders take the #10 jersey, and strikers take the #9 jersey.
That said, in my opinion if I could choose any number it would be #10 simply because the best in history have used it: Pele, Maradona, Platini, Messi, Ronaldinho, etc. In fact, I wrote a whole article about Why the Best Soccer Players wear 10.
The number 7 jersey
The iconic #7 is mostly assigned to a great winger. A winger plays a major role when it comes to attack. Coaches that want to build a strong attack have to invest in developing quick and skilled wingers. Wingers can score goals with ease as well as supplying goal scoring opportunities to strikers. That’s why they get the iconic number 7. Some of the well known players who had this number at the back of their jerseys were George Best, David Beckham, Eric Cantona, and recently Cristiano Ronaldo. All these players were Manchester United players.
The number 7 jersey was reserved for exceptionally talented players at Manchester united. Rarely would this number be given to a player who wasn’t at the level of a great player. One had to be a world-class player to wear a jersey that had this number at the back. The thing that stands out with Cristiano Ronaldo is that he took the number 7 jersey to a higher level. Even after his time at Machester United, he continued wearing the iconic number at the clubs he signed for. He has since played for Real Madrid and Juventus and he stuck with the number.
Amazingly, he has made the no.7 to be globally respected by coaches, players, and fans. In every high-ranking soccer club, the number is assigned to the best players. Currently, Edinson Cavani wears the number 7 jersey at Manchester United. N’Golo Kante wears the number at Chelsea presently. These are players who have established themselves as gifted and exceptional players to lift the weight of the number. If you’re an outstanding winger and you’re wondering which number to pick, you can settle for the number 7.
The number 10 jersey
This is another number that has attracted massive attention in the soccer world. The number is reserved for the players who are immensely creative. These are players with the capacity to create goal scoring opportunities for their teammates. They are also able to create opportunities for themselves. If you talk of dribbling, these are the players who take much of the credit. Simply put, they’re fun to watch. They make the game of soccer entertaining. There are a number of great players who have had the privilege of wearing the number 10 jersey. Some of these players include Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Maradona, Pele, and Kaka.
The above-named players were proven creative players who entertained fans with their skills. They could not only bring smiles to the faces of their fans, but also scored great goals. Some of which are memorable to this day. All of the players mentioned above are retired apart from Lionel Messi. This is just to show you celebrated and famous this number is. Whenever these players played, their fans knew that a moment of magic can come from them and give them the victory they needed.
Today, Messi, despite being 33 years old, he is still a great player admired by many. He is as famous as the jersey number he wears. That’s why many creative midfielders would want to wear the number. If you’re a great and exceptional creative midfielder, you can pick this as your number if there isn’t another player wearing it already. Make sure to check my article explaining Why the Best Soccer Players wear jersey #10 and why it is considered a sacred number.
The number 9 jersey
This may not be as famous as the numbers 7 and 10, but it’s a globally distinguished number. Normally, this is the number than strikers wear. A striker is an important player in a soccer team. Since strikers are the ones tasked with the role of scoring goals, they are very valuable to a team. Contrary to creative midfielders who bring fun and creativity in soccer matches, strikers have only one duty, which is to score goals. Regardless of how they score the goals, fans remember them for that. The most lethal strikers in the history of the sport wore the number 9 jersey. Even in the present-day soccer world, some of the best strikers wear the number 9 jersey.
Some of the strikers who wear the jersey number are Alan Shearer, Ronaldo, Bobby Charlton, Robbie Fowler, among others. Ronaldo, the Brazilian striker, won the hearts of many fans around the globe through his prolific goal scoring abilities. It is because of the heroics of the strikers of the past years that the present strikers long to wear the number 9 shirt. If you’re a striker in the process of picking a soccer jersey number, you can opt for the number 9.
Things to Note When Picking a Jersey Number
There are imperative aspects you should take note of when you’re in the process of choosing a jersey number. One of the things you should always remember is that when you go to a new team, you may not get the opportunity to pick the number that pleases you. For example, if you’re a left back, you expect to pick a natural number like 3. However, the number might not be available by the time you’re picking it. Another player can be already wearing the number by the time you’re joining the club. In such a situation, you have to pick another number. You don’t have to wear the number 3 jersey for you to play as a left back.
Regardless of how gifted you are it is disrespectful to demand a jersey number when another player already wears it. Any other number can do just fine. As long as a player and their club have agreed to stick to a particular number, they can play at their preferred position without worrying about jersey number. A good example is Michael Essien at Chelsea. Though he was not a central defender, he played with the number 5 jersey and it was fine for him and the club. It doesn’t affect the performance of a player to have a number that isn’t desirable to them.
Of great importance still, in as much as you’re picking your jersey number, you shouldn’t make it about you. If your coach or any other official at your club advices you to pick a particular number, it is prudent to listen to them. Of course, there is a reason why they insist on you taking that number. Unless you have built a brand around a specific number, it’s vital to agree to be a team player from the onset. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo have made their jersey numbers their own brand. That’s why you’ll hear him being referred to as CR7. It’s in such situations where a player can decide to stick with a particular jersey number.
The above guide should help you when picking a soccer jersey number. It can be a problematic affair for players to choose jersey numbers especially if they don’t have an idea on how to go about it. However, it shouldn’t be a difficult thing to do once you have the knowledge on how to settle for the right number for you. The simplest way to pick a jersey number is considering your playing position. But, if you can’t get a number through this route, you can apply the other tips to give you a number that will give you pride as you play for your team. The best advice to soccer players when picking jersey numbers is to not be in a hurry. Take time until you get the best number. Your jersey number carries a great deal of significance.