Home > Fans > Water Cooler > Why the number?
Why the number?
August 14, 2009 | Water Cooler | Add a comment
Traditionally, jersey numbers were assigned based on the position you played on the field. Goalkeepers would have number 1 and then numbers would increase from there to defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Basically the starting lineup would have numbers 1 through 11 and then substitutes would have higher numbers.
In 1993, England’s Football Association let go of the traditional use of 1-11 for the starting lineup and many other leagues followed suit.
Now that there’s less restrictions on the number a player can choose, I wonder why that specific number is chosen? Is it based on a favorite player? Is it a lucky number? Did the player have no choice and was just given the number?
I can remember during my younger years my favorite hockey player was Cam Neely from the Boston Bruins and he was number 8. I know, he has nothing to do with soccer but when it came time for me to pick a number that’s what I went with. Later on I ended up switching to number 7 based on Luis Figo of Portugal. Number 7 has stuck ever since.
So what about you? What’s your number and why did you pick it? Please leave comments below!
Similar Articles
1 Commentator
Currently my number is 21. Partially because of luck, partially because something about the number has always drawn me in. I’ve been contemplating a number switch myself, from 21 to 33. My favorite player (of any sport) and one I look up to (figuratively and literally) is Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. In my head, I like to compare the way I play to the way he plays. 33 has also been worn by many Boston greats such as Larry Bird, Kevin Faulk and my second favorite player Jason Varitek.
On August 14, 2009 Jake said
