ozeir suhaimi rui patricio did not take number 1 from Carl Ikeme as he respected a player who was forced to retired due to the terminal disease that he got
He played with the Jersey N°6 in Argentina during the 2014 World Cup, Fernando Gago used the N°5 at that time. And they both played on the same position. And yes, it's plain disrespectful comparing Biglia with Redondo...
I always notice only England use no.4 as DMF... but never questions why, Javiet Zanneti the noticeable RB wear no 4, while Roberto Carlos wear no 6 as LB great video as always
In Argentina it's so clear what positions the shirt numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 represent that a lot of times when we talk about a position we don't even say the name, we say the number. For example: saying "número 5" or "el cinco" is waaay more common than saying "mediocampista defensivo", "el volante de contención", etc.
In Germany we don't say the numbers except for 6,8,9,10. Because other numbers don't sound well. For example we say "Zehner", "Sechser", "Achter", "Neuner". Any other number sounds kinda stupid in my opinion xD
Same in Brazil, except for number 5, that position is always a volante, number 9 is so strong with that role that in teams that use any other role for that striker he's not considered a 9, even if he wears the number. Also, something funny happened when Daniel Alves signed with São Paulo and they gave him the number 10, people started making jokes about it, saying "my 2 wears the 10" even if he was going to play in the midfield at this point of his career.
In the 70s (and 80s) the 8 was actually a RW and the 7 a midfielder. One famous example is Sjaak Swart, wearing 8 on the right. I don't know when that exactly changed but nowadays "Van Gaals numbering system" as you have described it here is seen as legit.
Bart Koopmans i always have 11 as a second striker Also for other numbers in my opinion as well as the first 11: 1. GK 2. RB 3. LB 4. CB 5. CB 6. CDM 7. Winger 8. CDM 9. Target man 10. CAM 11. Second striker 12: GK or CDM (in france) 13: CB/LB/RB 14: Wingers or CAMs 15: CB/LB/RB 16. CDM or GK (in france) 17. ST 18. Winger or CAMs 19. ST 20. CB/RB/LB 21. Winger or CAMs 22. Winger or CAMs 23. CAMs 24. CDM 25. CB/RB/LB
I moved to England last year, and when people ask me where I play on the pitch I'm used to replying I'm a 6. I was kinda surprised to see it doesn't have the same significance and is not as self-explanatory as it is in France.
One of my favourite Easter eggs about shirt numbers is that in the 2010 World Cup, Xavi and Iniesta swapped their Barcelona shirt numbers - Xavi wearing 8 and Iniesta wearing 6.
Traditionally the Brazilian LB is 6 and 16, while on the right hand side, 2 and 13 / 14. And then 3, 4, 5 are surely defensive players (where 3 and 4 are almost certainly CBs), but the 5 mostly DMF, or CB, in rare cases like 2002. Unlike many other countries, the 8 (as characterised by Dunga and Gilberto Silva in the modern days) is usually a defensive mid-fielder, but it also see more offensive roles in the 2006 Kaka or a more central role in Paulinho and more recently Arthur. Little needs to be said of 9 and 10, except a notable exception in the 1994 number 9, Zinho, being a MF. 7 and 11 are the more flexible ones in Brazil, where 11 have seen a DMF in Ze Roberto to OMF in Ronaldinho, Oscar and later on LWF Robinho and Neymar (in his earlier years). 7 is likewise, Emerson (prior to withdrawal from the 2002 team) as a DMF to the more recent Douglas Costa as a RWF. But the most famous exception to the 7 and 11 is of course the baby rocking pair of the 1994 team. Beyond that, if there can still be a pattern, it must be that 12 is almost always the reserve GK (except the 2018 Marcelo), the aforementioned 13, 14, 16 and then the 20 21 being attackers.
@@atlante4368 Watch again the video when he was speaking about brazil numbers, the left back traditionally was number 6 the number of Roerto Carlos with Brazil.
I can't explain how much it annoys me when a player wears a number that just doesn't fit their position or play style. Probably not the only one that feels this way
In germany we go even further than just the "Sechser" The defensiv midfielders are called (like in the video) "Sechser" (coming from Sechs = six). Our central midfielders are called "Achter" (coming from Acht = eight) and our offensive midfielders are the "Zehner" (Coming from Zehn = ten) Additionally some numbers have a sweet spots on some positions: 1 is obviously the Goalkeeper 12 is banned from most germany teams, because the Fans are the " twelfth" man on the pitch. 9 and 11 are almost everytime strikers 7 is def. a winger 2, 3, 4 are almost always defenders 5 is either a defender or a deep lying midfielder And sometimes, but i think this happens outside of Germany as well, we give the number 10 not to the OM, but to the best player of the squad
Pin-Tsun Huang they are interchangeable Neymar used to be number 11 left wing where Ronaldo is a left wing 7 dembele is a rw with number 11 and mbappe is rw number 7
@@hauntingpuns I'd say 7 and 11 are kind of interchangable, but I do associate 7 more with right-sided players. Probably because I grew up in the Beckham era.
1:15 I’d imagine I’m completely wrong, and this probably has to do more with the presence of rugby in Queensland and NSW however shirt numbers first appeared in the VFL in 1903 to assist spectators. I’d also imagine the rugby of some sort had adopted numbers before football which also gave rise to shirt numbers on the back of Australian kits in 1911, if that is true of course.
You're right. The first recorded use of numbers in rugby was in 1897 in a match between New Zealand and Queensland. Interestingly, New Zealand wore 1-15, while hosts Queensland wore 16-30
Great video. I've always wondered how the shirt numbers evolved from the 2-3-5 to the more modern systems, especially with the back 4, and why it varies so much by country. I miss the times before squad numbers when players just wore 1 to 11. Also, that Operário shirt at 5:58 👍
@@ppellacani Exactly! Like Alexander-Arnold wearing number 66 at Liverpool or Dani Alves with the number 6 at Barcelona in 2015/16 season (both right backs)
In Singaporean Football, the number 17 is one of if not the most recognisable numbers due to Singapore’s best ever footballer Fandi Ahmad wearing the number for the National Team. He also wore 7 when he played in the Netherlands which is similar to 17 but I don’t think has any relevance in the number 17 being one of the most revered numbers here 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬 I thought it was a fun fact you guys would like so yea
Great video as always. All my life i tought this was a worldwide conventional system but the fact that it was adapted in each country by how they change their tactics it's just amazing. And love the inclusion of Riquelme in the higlighted number 10s.
Last week i was watching a match of my favorite team, it was a match from 2005. I saw that the right back wore number 4 and I found it weird because here in Brazil they use number 2. This video explained everything. I ended up remembering that, at the beginning of that season, the coach was an Argentine. He didn't stay in the club for more than a month, but the number remained. Thanks, Tifo! =D
I really like the traditional use of shirt numbers - I used to wear my favourite number, 2 and I was a right back. I heard that Steven Gerrard didn't want to wear 10 for England, preferring number 4 as that's what he saw as his role.
Speaking of which, I do recall an Inter Milan player wearing “1+8” as another player was already 9. Also, I recall more recently William Gallas wearing 10 despite the number being odd for a defender.
Ivan Zamorano used "1+8" if I recall correctly. Patrick Cutrone uses the number 63 because 6+3=9. Ugly number. At least do as Klinsmann and use the 18.
Yes Ivan zamarano wore 1+8 at inter. He did intially wear his preferred 9 but when inter signed Roberto baggio he took the number 10 shirt from Ronaldo who was assigned 9 instead. I think this pissed zamarano off because he wasn't consulted so he demanded the 1+8 as a sort of retaliation. That's the story I remember hearing as a kid anyway.
The content I've always needed. Ever since I learnt about the Argentinian World Cup squad for 1978 (alphabetically) Ardilles wearing no2 always confused me.
ThatRedHairedDude i was waiting for this the whole video. Was shocked when it wasn’t England. Looks like we somehow got the German system ingrained in our heads.
Great video. I remember the first time I saw Zidane playing for Real Madrid, I was like “why the hell he uses the number 5?” As a Brazilian, you always think 2 is the RB, 6 LB, 5 is the primeiro volante (More defensive CM like Kanté or Makelele) and the 8 is the segundo volante (the CM who makes the transition and helps the attack. 11 and 7 were hybrids, it serves a midfielder or an center forward. But 9 and 10 are sacred: the striker and the attacking midfielder (the creator of the team or the trequartista).
The Italian and Argentina teams in the 1980s and 1994 (only Italy) also see some interesting patterns. Argentina in those years assigned numbering (except Maradona) by alphabetical orders of surnames, which saw their GK assigned a single digit number other than 1, and 1 given to a MF. This could not happen anymore since FIFA mandated 1 to be assigned exclusively to the GK in recent decades. Italy back then was similar - but with a slightly different principle. With the exception of the GKs, all its 1982 players were numbered with the DFs taking the smaller numbers, then the MFs and then the FWs, whereas in their 1994 team, with the exception of the GKs, Baresi and R. Baggio, everyone else are numbered in the same principle, and then probably by the alphabetical order of their surnames.
"Rio Ferdinand thought he was playing in Argentina" - Joe Devine, 2019 Context: Alex says #5 in Argentina means a defensive midfielder. Joe puts on a goofy voice and accent and says that. Alex gets confused and annoyed. I thought it was a hilarious interaction. It's at 40:00 in Sensible Transfers: Answering your questions
Great video! I took a lot of pleasure going through the articles on the Athletic and this video is a great way to review them in a short amount of time, thanks a lot!
It's not common for players in the 6 position to actually use that shirt number, so it's usually free for cdms if the 5 is used by someone else (still the player is referred as a 6 player no matter what number he uses in the matches)
This idea that players choose squad numbers out of a sense of romance for the past. Is it not also quite a lot to do with the fact that 1 to 11 shirts still exist in youth football/sub-elite football? So if you’ve played on the right in a number 7 shirt since you were six years old for amateur club, school and your pro academy, you’re quite attached to it already and then add in the weight of history, past players etc on top?
This is another fantastic video. I was always aware of shirt numbers and their significance, as well as some countries deferring from others, but I never knew exactly why that was so. Great work one and all👌🏾
Reserve GKs wearing 13 simply came about because when substitutes were first introduced, only one was allowed, so they just took the next number after 12.
The number 10 in Brazilian football culture is supposed to be some kind of deity: he is a master of the through ball, he scores, he dribbles, he dictates the pace, he has 95% free kick accuracy, and he is classy ("plays in a tuxedo"), and obviously is the captain too. Echoes of times long past.
Ronaldinho came close. In some ways, he was that God. Neymar has the skills, but lacks class, leadership and the "aura". The other mentioned players were beasts on their own right, but I wouldn't say they don't fully incarnate the mystic of the "Brazilian number 10" (yes, even Pele, despite being the "athlete of the century" and the original number 10 lol). A lot of the longing for the godlike 10 appears to come from Flamengo fans who witnessed Zico's golden years.
Shirt numbers is one of those bizarre niches I've always been interested in but never had the inclination to research, so thank you very much for this, it was fascinating & has probably saved me hours of my life...
This video: exists Facchetti 52 years ago, Euro ‘68: Yeah let’s wear no. 10 just to confuse everyone that i’m an offensive player and not a left back...
Fun fact: Santos is probably the only Brazilian club who uses the 4-2-6-3 backline. This happens since Pele days when the club addopted a 3 defenders as a alternative to 4-2-4. And then the cdm (number 6) became a center back and the wingers started using 3 and 4, but when Santos swap to a 4 backline again they were the fullbacks. Nowadays when the club signs a starter fullback they still gave him the number 3 or 4
When I was playing amateur football in the seventies, lads would automatically grab their favourite shirt, centre forwards would grab the 9, team loudmouth would grab the 10 and because of Best, Keegan, etc, the 7 caused a fight. I always grabbed the 11 first as nobody wanted it.
Bixente Lizarazu #69 at Bayern, Sandro Wagner #2 at Bayern, Claudio Pizarro #4 at Bremen, Javi Martinez #8 at Bayern, Edgar Davis #1 at Barnet, Nicklas Bendtner #3 at Wolfsburg, Ramires and Kante #7 at Chelsea... the list goes on
Was hoping you would explain why Denmark, Sweden and maybe some other European countries have a winger or midfielder wear 9. I know kallstrom wore 9 for Sweden and i think Russia do the same
In Germany you usually call the deepest midfielder "Sechser" (nr.6), the one ahead "Achter" (nr.8) and if there´s a third one that´s even more attacking you´d call that one "Zehner" (nr.10) to the extent that some people get confused once you say "attacking midfielder" instead of "Zehner".
Another fun fact: At world cup 74, the Dutch team had the numbers on the basis of the order of their last names in the alphabet, so their keeper Jan Joengblod wore the number 8 (Cruyff was the only exception) . Maybe they did that because they played "voetball total," where everybody can play every position.
In Chile the defensive midfielder is number 6. Defensive line is 4-5-3-2 (I think I didn't see that combination in the video). I've always wondered why we use different numbers than Argentina, considering that our football is strongly influenced by them.
My guess - a lot of clubs avoided the #13 shirt through 'unlucky' superstitions. Subs have been gradually introduced over time (1 sub only to replace injured players, then 3 subs, then 5, to today's 7-man bench). With only 1 or 3 subs on the bench a GK wouldn't be one of those so the sub numbers were probably 12, 14, 15 until the GK came along and took the vacant 13.
Substitutions only became legal in sanctioned competitions in 1958, and teams were only allowed to carry one. With starting shirt numbers always going 1-11 up to the 90s (outside world cup squad numbers) the substitute wore 12. When matchday squads started to expand, the reserve keeper started getting the next available number - 13. Superstition is not the reason keepers got that number. They were simply given the first number for a second "squad", if you like.
Well, here in Brazil, reserve goalkeepers are usually number 12, because it's the first of the reserve numbers; 13 is for a reserve right-back (2nd reserve number) and so on...
Well, probably those pesky Germans again. So, 1-11 are for players in the starting line-up, so 12-22 should be for the "reserves" right? Wrong. As the number 12 is retired by pretty much every German club, reserve players got 13-23 and that is probably why the 2nd choice keeper is no13
WE NEED A TIFO ON T&T GETTING TO 2006 WORLD CUP. So much has been made, and rightly so, of Iceland being a small nation at the World Cup but T&T previously held that title. It is an amazing story including a white Brit that scored an important goal in our playoff against Bahrain to qualify. Legendary player Dwight Yorke was the Captain. This story is a must!!!
This is a really good video, congratulations! You describe very good the defensive numbers, but not to much the fowards. N9 use to be the central foward, 8 a creative player similar than N10 (or at least in Argentina)
Great video! Here in Argentina, César Luis Menotti, in the 1978 World Cup, decided that the numbers of the players must be in alphabetical orden, instead the normal way. He thought that changing the numbering system will confuse the rivals, that's why Ubaldo Matildo Fillol, the goalkeeper, wore the number 5, for example. I think that the estrategy came out really well! It was our first world cup.
GREAT video, i always wondered why Xavi wore the 6 if he wasn't a defender, same with Fabregas, or why Puyol wore the 5 if he wasn't a defensive midfielder(I'm Argentinian)
Would like to see a video about squad numbers past 11... 13 is interesting as a sub GK in the UK, but it is 16 in France... 13 is a RB number in Brazil, many Brazilian full backs take it as a squad number. I like how france 98 squad numbers were kinda honoured too... Thierry Henry always wore 12 for France after that... So many interesting facts... Maybe make a video of squad number facts by number.. 1 to 30 with perhaps a mention of other numbers that warrant it (like 99)... Get a script going TIFO!
13 as a sub GK simply came about because in English football when substitutes were introduced, they only allowed 1, so that man wore 12, and the reserve GK simply took the next number.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
"The number 10 symbolises attacking ability, flair, and creativity"
William Gallas: "Hold my beer"
Lassana Diarra: hey, hold MY beer!
Khalid Boulahrouz wore a 9 at Chelsea. LOL.
*Quick Google to find Heskeys squad numbers*
Rui Patricio 😂
Gallas wearing a number 10 for us has to be one of the biggest mistakes by the club.
"11 is tricky, pacey wingers..."
Rui Patricio: hold my hands
ozeir suhaimi rui patricio did not take number 1 from Carl Ikeme as he respected a player who was forced to retired due to the terminal disease that he got
Ihwanul Alim the most overrated player to ever grace a football pitch
@@samuelyee4017 is just a joke buddy
@Ihwanul Alim hell yeah and Gareth Bale aswell and Neymar when he was at Barcelona
Kelvin he was overrated because of his trophies, despite scoring less than 10 goals a season.
The way Joe says "shirt numbers" at the beginning makes it sound like he's shocked that such a thing could exist. Shirt numbers?!
Shirt numbers? The fuck are those?
Joe is too old school for shirt numbers
I thought he said shit thumpers
Yeah he has a funny tone about him. Would make a great children's tv presenter - a missed calling!?
Yeah man, wtf is going on with those crazy shirt numbers
Never have information I never asked for explained so fascinating.
You should watch Tiger King
Amazing what you can learn when you read.
Love this mans page. He’s great at his craft!!!
Tifo:
Also Tifo:
Which is a very questionable choice because he also use number 5. Should have just shown that
I found it a disrespect to put Biglia next to Redondo. lol
I thought this too, came to the comments to see whether it was just me
He played with the Jersey N°6 in Argentina during the 2014 World Cup, Fernando Gago used the N°5 at that time. And they both played on the same position.
And yes, it's plain disrespectful comparing Biglia with Redondo...
@@manuelfondacaro9338 he use number 5 for 2018. Should just show that instead
I always notice only England use no.4 as DMF... but never questions why,
Javiet Zanneti the noticeable RB wear no 4, while Roberto Carlos wear no 6 as LB
great video as always
Roberto Carlos wore number 3 in real Madrid while his national team Jersey number was number 6
Every team has a different numbering, the cb’s at England have the numbers 5 and 6 where the Netherlands has 3 and 4
@HerrNilssonTheMonkey not sure, but I think 6 was Hierro's shirt
When Bristol City signed Adam Nagy from Bologna, he switched from 8 to 4, so he gave respect to England :)
V-Factor the Dutch Italians and the Spaniards also used no. 4 as DMF. E.g. Pep Guardiola at Barça and Frank Rijkaard at Ajax and Albertini at AC Milan
Dutch football:
3 for RCB
5 for LB
6 for DM
14 for Johan Cruyff
I see what you did there. 👍
You forgot 0 for the number major tournaments participated in since 2014!
@@frederikbrandt424 and qualified for the next one so you can just shut up
MrFilbert28 Ahahahahaha still crying little guy? Facts are facts...
Frederik Brandt 2-4
In Argentina it's so clear what positions the shirt numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 represent that a lot of times when we talk about a position we don't even say the name, we say the number. For example: saying "número 5" or "el cinco" is waaay more common than saying "mediocampista defensivo", "el volante de contención", etc.
For a second their I thought you were going to say "because the only number that matters is 10" lol
@@TonySpike I agree and I'm Mexican
In Germany we don't say the numbers except for 6,8,9,10. Because other numbers don't sound well. For example we say "Zehner", "Sechser", "Achter", "Neuner". Any other number sounds kinda stupid in my opinion xD
Same in Brazil, except for number 5, that position is always a volante, number 9 is so strong with that role that in teams that use any other role for that striker he's not considered a 9, even if he wears the number. Also, something funny happened when Daniel Alves signed with São Paulo and they gave him the number 10, people started making jokes about it, saying "my 2 wears the 10" even if he was going to play in the midfield at this point of his career.
Si, y está bien explicada la diferencia con Uruguay. Para nosotros el lateral izquierdo es el 6, pero para ustedes el 3. Bien hecho el video.
Then the God said Let there be shirt numbers 72, 77 and 99 in Italian league!
Number 72 is an alternative number for players who are unable to have number 9 jersey in the Italian clubs as 7+2=9
@@samuelyee4017 or 18, e.g. Ivan Zamorano
I could swear I once read that Beckham's number was 46 for Milan double his usual 23 because someone already had that
@@TonySpike Beckham wore no.32 at Milan, but yeah, it was because no.23 was already taken by Ambroisni (and no.7 by Pato).
They were inspired in Bingo bets
I believe in The Netherlands it is very 'conventional':
GK: 1
RB: 2
CBs: 3 & 4
LB: 5
CDM: 6
Box to box CM: 8
CAM: 10
Wingers: 7 & 11
ST: 9
In the 70s (and 80s) the 8 was actually a RW and the 7 a midfielder. One famous example is Sjaak Swart, wearing 8 on the right. I don't know when that exactly changed but nowadays "Van Gaals numbering system" as you have described it here is seen as legit.
Bart Koopmans i always have 11 as a second striker
Also for other numbers in my opinion as well as the first 11:
1. GK
2. RB
3. LB
4. CB
5. CB
6. CDM
7. Winger
8. CDM
9. Target man
10. CAM
11. Second striker
12: GK or CDM (in france)
13: CB/LB/RB
14: Wingers or CAMs
15: CB/LB/RB
16. CDM or GK (in france)
17. ST
18. Winger or CAMs
19. ST
20. CB/RB/LB
21. Winger or CAMs
22. Winger or CAMs
23. CAMs
24. CDM
25. CB/RB/LB
Bart Koopmans Except Cruyff 14
This is the Portuguese system as well.
Bart Koopmans that’s the same as us in England except our LB is no. 3 traditionally and our CBs are no. 4&5
I moved to England last year, and when people ask me where I play on the pitch I'm used to replying I'm a 6. I was kinda surprised to see it doesn't have the same significance and is not as self-explanatory as it is in France.
Weird, because people in Australia refer to the CDM position as a 6 also
Would’ve assumed we got it from England but I guess not
I'm a squad number enthusiast and I can not describe how much I enjoyed this video. Thank you for this!
me too! I really liked it.
they choose a "ferroviario-mt" tshirt! It is a 3th division team, even brazilians fans didn't know them yet.
awesome job!
One of my favourite Easter eggs about shirt numbers is that in the 2010 World Cup, Xavi and Iniesta swapped their Barcelona shirt numbers - Xavi wearing 8 and Iniesta wearing 6.
that explains why the Left Back Roberto Carlos wore number 6
Tit me the same
Traditionally the Brazilian LB is 6 and 16, while on the right hand side, 2 and 13 / 14. And then 3, 4, 5 are surely defensive players (where 3 and 4 are almost certainly CBs), but the 5 mostly DMF, or CB, in rare cases like 2002. Unlike many other countries, the 8 (as characterised by Dunga and Gilberto Silva in the modern days) is usually a defensive mid-fielder, but it also see more offensive roles in the 2006 Kaka or a more central role in Paulinho and more recently Arthur. Little needs to be said of 9 and 10, except a notable exception in the 1994 number 9, Zinho, being a MF. 7 and 11 are the more flexible ones in Brazil, where 11 have seen a DMF in Ze Roberto to OMF in Ronaldinho, Oscar and later on LWF Robinho and Neymar (in his earlier years). 7 is likewise, Emerson (prior to withdrawal from the 2002 team) as a DMF to the more recent Douglas Costa as a RWF. But the most famous exception to the 7 and 11 is of course the baby rocking pair of the 1994 team.
Beyond that, if there can still be a pattern, it must be that 12 is almost always the reserve GK (except the 2018 Marcelo), the aforementioned 13, 14, 16 and then the 20 21 being attackers.
Roberto Carlos's 3 in Real Madrid was iconic, IMO. As much as Zidane's 5.
@@atlante4368 They are, but this video focuses on the national team.
@@atlante4368 Watch again the video when he was speaking about brazil numbers, the left back traditionally was number 6 the number of Roerto Carlos with Brazil.
I can't explain how much it annoys me when a player wears a number that just doesn't fit their position or play style. Probably not the only one that feels this way
Zidane's no 5, Lassana Diarra's 10 and Ivan Cordoba's 3 always bugged me but thanks to this video now I understand why
@@arifssaid and messi wearing no.10 is an absolute joke as well
yeah, me too :D but only sometimes... Asamoah Gyan's #3 or Rui Patrício's #11 bugs me, while Sebastien Corchia's #2 not :O
@@stevetheiii477 why?
messi is the typical number 10
In germany we go even further than just the "Sechser"
The defensiv midfielders are called (like in the video) "Sechser" (coming from Sechs = six).
Our central midfielders are called "Achter" (coming from Acht = eight)
and our offensive midfielders are the "Zehner" (Coming from Zehn = ten)
Additionally some numbers have a sweet spots on some positions:
1 is obviously the Goalkeeper
12 is banned from most germany teams, because the Fans are the "
twelfth" man on the pitch.
9 and 11 are almost everytime strikers
7 is def. a winger
2, 3, 4 are almost always defenders
5 is either a defender or a deep lying midfielder
And sometimes, but i think this happens outside of Germany as well, we give the number 10 not to the OM, but to the best player of the squad
Pretty similar in most part of Latin America.
How about 88
@@tymonwojcik6523 How about to stfu?
5:58 Didn't expect to see Operário-MS in one of these.
GK: 1
RB: 2
CB: 4
CB: 5
LB: 3
CM/CDM: 6
CM/CAM/CDM: 8
RW: 11
CAM: 10
LW: 7
ST: 9
That's how I see it
Agree with all except RW 7 LW 11
Pin-Tsun Huang they are interchangeable Neymar used to be number 11 left wing where Ronaldo is a left wing 7 dembele is a rw with number 11 and mbappe is rw number 7
@@hauntingpuns I'd say 7 and 11 are kind of interchangable, but I do associate 7 more with right-sided players. Probably because I grew up in the Beckham era.
In Italy we use:
GK: 1
RB: 2
CB: 5
CB: 6
LB: 3
CDM: 4
CM: 8
RW: 7
LW: 11
CAM: 10
ST: 9
argentinian version:
gk: 1
rb: 4
cb: 2
cb: 6
lb: 3
cdm: 5
cm: 8
Rw: 7
cam: 10
lw: 11
st: 9
Thanks for clearing up why Brazilian always have a number 6 left back. Learned so much.
In Brazil, only Santos plays with:
RB 4
CB 2
CB 6
LB 3
1:15
I’d imagine I’m completely wrong, and this probably has to do more with the presence of rugby in Queensland and NSW however shirt numbers first appeared in the VFL in 1903 to assist spectators. I’d also imagine the rugby of some sort had adopted numbers before football which also gave rise to shirt numbers on the back of Australian kits in 1911, if that is true of course.
In rugby, shirt numbers are based on position. I don't believe they will or should change that IMO
Tessie Lawal missed the point
You're right. The first recorded use of numbers in rugby was in 1897 in a match between New Zealand and Queensland. Interestingly, New Zealand wore 1-15, while hosts Queensland wore 16-30
@@tlawal7 In rugby union, yes, but that's not so much the case in rugby league any more.
@@tom.parryjones what do you mean that its not so much the case anymore in league?
"Number 5 like Lucas Biglia" proceeds to use drawing of him wearing number 6
When the shirt number decides the outcome of the match...
When Tifo shows mad love to Riquelme
Who wouldn't?
@@plainnan I know right . I wish he could still play for Boca
Great video. I've always wondered how the shirt numbers evolved from the 2-3-5 to the more modern systems, especially with the back 4, and why it varies so much by country. I miss the times before squad numbers when players just wore 1 to 11.
Also, that Operário shirt at 5:58 👍
This video went over my head
This is the content I subscribe to Tifo for. I learned something completely new.
Football shirt numbers in Brazil
GK (goleiro): 1
RB (lateral-direito): 2
CB (zagueiro central): 3
CB (quarto zagueiro): 4
LB (lateral-esquerdo): 6
CDM (volante / primeiro volante): 5
CM (meia-armador / segundo volante): 8
CAM (meia-atacante / ponta-de-lança): 10
RW (ponta-direita): 7
ST (centroavante): 9
LW (ponta-esquerda): 11
It is so odd to me when the right and left backs are not 2 and 6. It feels so natural.
@@ppellacani Exactly! Like Alexander-Arnold wearing number 66 at Liverpool or Dani Alves with the number 6 at Barcelona in 2015/16 season (both right backs)
In Singaporean Football, the number 17 is one of if not the most recognisable numbers due to Singapore’s best ever footballer Fandi Ahmad wearing the number for the National Team. He also wore 7 when he played in the Netherlands which is similar to 17 but I don’t think has any relevance in the number 17 being one of the most revered numbers here 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬 I thought it was a fun fact you guys would like so yea
Great video as always. All my life i tought this was a worldwide conventional system but the fact that it was adapted in each country by how they change their tactics it's just amazing. And love the inclusion of Riquelme in the higlighted number 10s.
Who remembers these out-of-place numbers:
Mihajlovic 11
Dempsey 2
Asamoah Gyan 3
Baros 5
😂 😂 😂
Dont the legendary no 10, Gallas
umm, paul scharner, no 7? to be fair he's not entirely a CB, can come as attacking midfielder at times
Ardiles #1 because of numbering based on surname alphabetical order lol
Phil Jones once wore no 7 for England
Rui Patricio nr 11
Last week i was watching a match of my favorite team, it was a match from 2005. I saw that the right back wore number 4 and I found it weird because here in Brazil they use number 2. This video explained everything. I ended up remembering that, at the beginning of that season, the coach was an Argentine. He didn't stay in the club for more than a month, but the number remained. Thanks, Tifo! =D
When you look up shirt numbers on Wikipedia and 2 days later Tifo posts this... they know me too well.
I really like the traditional use of shirt numbers - I used to wear my favourite number, 2 and I was a right back.
I heard that Steven Gerrard didn't want to wear 10 for England, preferring number 4 as that's what he saw as his role.
Speaking of which, I do recall an Inter Milan player wearing “1+8” as another player was already 9. Also, I recall more recently William Gallas wearing 10 despite the number being odd for a defender.
Players who desire for number 9 jersey when they unable to choose number 9 will choose alternative number such as Balotelli 45, Ilicic 72
Ivan Zamorano used "1+8" if I recall correctly.
Patrick Cutrone uses the number 63 because 6+3=9. Ugly number. At least do as Klinsmann and use the 18.
Rui Patricio wears number 11 despite being a goalkeeper. Etoo was number 4 at Everton
Yes Ivan zamarano wore 1+8 at inter. He did intially wear his preferred 9 but when inter signed Roberto baggio he took the number 10 shirt from Ronaldo who was assigned 9 instead. I think this pissed zamarano off because he wasn't consulted so he demanded the 1+8 as a sort of retaliation. That's the story I remember hearing as a kid anyway.
Micky Bricks heard the exact same story 👍
The content I've always needed.
Ever since I learnt about the Argentinian World Cup squad for 1978 (alphabetically)
Ardilles wearing no2 always confused me.
Always known the back four to have 2 and 3 as full backs, 4 and 5 as Centre backs
ThatRedHairedDude i was waiting for this the whole video. Was shocked when it wasn’t England. Looks like we somehow got the German system ingrained in our heads.
In Portugal
2 and 5 are full backs
3 and 4 centre backs
Its fun to see the differences
Pretty much 2,3,4,5 are the Defenders
Great video. I remember the first time I saw Zidane playing for Real Madrid, I was like “why the hell he uses the number 5?”
As a Brazilian, you always think 2 is the RB, 6 LB, 5 is the primeiro volante (More defensive CM like Kanté or Makelele) and the 8 is the segundo volante (the CM who makes the transition and helps the attack.
11 and 7 were hybrids, it serves a midfielder or an center forward. But 9 and 10 are sacred: the striker and the attacking midfielder (the creator of the team or the trequartista).
E esse uniforme do Operário-MT aí no final hein
vim correndo ver se alguém tinha reconhecido, tinha muita cara de uniforme brasileiro
Eu parei o vídeo e pensei "mas esse é o uniforme do Op... não é possível que eles colocaram a camisa do Operário no vídeo O_O" xD.
Keep up the good work! This is keeping my football needs sated
I guess that means you're not playing FIFA during the quarantine?
@@TokenBlackman7 nope... Only have a switch and God knows that port is not worth wasting time on
I was always interested by the Italian trend of wearing high numbers
yeah I like that too. Every player should wear the number he likes most, be it high or low, unless it's taken
The Italian and Argentina teams in the 1980s and 1994 (only Italy) also see some interesting patterns.
Argentina in those years assigned numbering (except Maradona) by alphabetical orders of surnames, which saw their GK assigned a single digit number other than 1, and 1 given to a MF. This could not happen anymore since FIFA mandated 1 to be assigned exclusively to the GK in recent decades. Italy back then was similar - but with a slightly different principle. With the exception of the GKs, all its 1982 players were numbered with the DFs taking the smaller numbers, then the MFs and then the FWs, whereas in their 1994 team, with the exception of the GKs, Baresi and R. Baggio, everyone else are numbered in the same principle, and then probably by the alphabetical order of their surnames.
Great video. In Santos Futebol Clube, we are the only brazilian club that have a tradition like the Argentina's number, with 2 and 6 Central Back.
This is a fascinating topic! I love learning about how different countries label different numbers in the formations. That’s awesome
Wow this is one of my favourites you’ve done, love this stuff
When I was a kid I always saw it like this:
GK: 1
RB: 2
CB: 3
CB: 4
LB: 6
CDM: 5
CDM/CM: 8
CAM: 10
RM/RW: 7
ST 9
LM/LW: 11
Can you make a video on How Bartemeo is ruining Barcelona!
Thanks for the video
This explains why Redondo was number 5... and a few other Argentinian holding midfielders too 👏⚽️
Ha I wrote this comment before it mentioned Redondo 🤦♂️
"Rio Ferdinand thought he was playing in Argentina" - Joe Devine, 2019
Context: Alex says #5 in Argentina means a defensive midfielder. Joe puts on a goofy voice and accent and says that. Alex gets confused and annoyed. I thought it was a hilarious interaction.
It's at 40:00 in Sensible Transfers: Answering your questions
What's the context of the comment?
@@danielalejandrofernandez5907 My bad, I'll add the context now.
@@danielalejandrofernandez5907 I just added the timestamp and video title, so it's easy/possible to find.
4:36 shows Lucas Biglia wearing #6 😭😂😂
Great video! I took a lot of pleasure going through the articles on the Athletic and this video is a great way to review them in a short amount of time, thanks a lot!
Nobody:
Tifo: Posts at 11:00 PM
Me: Sacrifices must be made
Where are you from? It's 2 pm at my place.
Perry The Platypus currently 2:34 for me. Eastern US
Casual 8:00 am upload no problem in Europe
West coast (of Canada or the States) presumably
... implying you have anything to do in the morning 🤔
This was so interesting, always a topic I’d wanted to know more about
"in his excellent series on shirt numbers in The Athletic". Man's gotta keep his owners happy
4:46 Biglia is wearing a shirt with the number 6, while it's told that in Uruguay it is normally the 5.
He played in no.5 position
Biglia is Argentinian unfortunately...
It's not common for players in the 6 position to actually use that shirt number, so it's usually free for cdms if the 5 is used by someone else (still the player is referred as a 6 player no matter what number he uses in the matches)
I have an obsession with squad numbers, weird
Xavi and Iniesta both liked the #8, but Iniesta got #8 for Barcelona, while they swapped numbers for Spain.
Hmm, this revealed a lot.
Why J. Zanetti wore 4.
Why R. Carlos wore 6.
etc.
This is the facsinating yet ultimately useless trivia I subscribed for. Please keep it coming.
Excellent video!
This idea that players choose squad numbers out of a sense of romance for the past. Is it not also quite a lot to do with the fact that 1 to 11 shirts still exist in youth football/sub-elite football? So if you’ve played on the right in a number 7 shirt since you were six years old for amateur club, school and your pro academy, you’re quite attached to it already and then add in the weight of history, past players etc on top?
This is another fantastic video. I was always aware of shirt numbers and their significance, as well as some countries deferring from others, but I never knew exactly why that was so. Great work one and all👌🏾
I asked for this and I got it. Thank you!
Complicated, but Great Information, thanks
Always found it interesting that 2nd choice keepers usually wear 13, because of the fans being the 12th man. But have no idea about the history of it.
Reserve GKs wearing 13 simply came about because when substitutes were first introduced, only one was allowed, so they just took the next number after 12.
@@Snookbone In brazil 12 is the number for the substitute keeper, because he is the first player on the bench
I didn't know I needed to know this information, but now I'm glad I do
The number 10 in Brazilian football culture is supposed to be some kind of deity: he is a master of the through ball, he scores, he dribbles, he dictates the pace, he has 95% free kick accuracy, and he is classy ("plays in a tuxedo"), and obviously is the captain too. Echoes of times long past.
Pele
Ronaldo
Ronaldinho
Kaka
Neymar (until 2014) after that he became a diva
Ronaldinho came close. In some ways, he was that God. Neymar has the skills, but lacks class, leadership and the "aura".
The other mentioned players were beasts on their own right, but I wouldn't say they don't fully incarnate the mystic of the "Brazilian number 10" (yes, even Pele, despite being the "athlete of the century" and the original number 10 lol).
A lot of the longing for the godlike 10 appears to come from Flamengo fans who witnessed Zico's golden years.
I have a shirt number OCD. To me numbers would always be as follows:
GK: 1
RB: 2
LB: 3
RCB: 4
LCB: 5
DM: 6
RW: 7
B2B: 8
LW: 11
CAM: 10
ST: 9
Shirt numbers is one of those bizarre niches I've always been interested in but never had the inclination to research, so thank you very much for this, it was fascinating & has probably saved me hours of my life...
The first FA Cup with numbering occured in the 1930s. One team came out in numbers 1-11, the opposition team had number 12-22.
This video: exists
Facchetti 52 years ago, Euro ‘68: Yeah let’s wear no. 10 just to confuse everyone that i’m an offensive player and not a left back...
i always thought: 1- gk 2-rb 3-lb 4-cb 5-cb 6-dm 7-rw 8-mf 9-st 10- am 11-lw
Fun fact:
Santos is probably the only Brazilian club who uses the 4-2-6-3 backline. This happens since Pele days when the club addopted a 3 defenders as a alternative to 4-2-4. And then the cdm (number 6) became a center back and the wingers started using 3 and 4, but when Santos swap to a 4 backline again they were the fullbacks.
Nowadays when the club signs a starter fullback they still gave him the number 3 or 4
When I was playing amateur football in the seventies, lads would automatically grab their favourite shirt, centre forwards would grab the 9, team loudmouth would grab the 10 and because of Best, Keegan, etc, the 7 caused a fight. I always grabbed the 11 first as nobody wanted it.
Brazil version (national squad)
GK - 1
RB - 2
CB - 4
CB - 3
LB - 6
CDM - 5
CM - 8
CAM - 10
RW / LW - 11 / 7
ST - 9
Obs* - CAM / LW / RW tend to vary a lot with Neymar using the 10
Some of the odd numbers I remember are Gallas wearing 10, Boulahrouz 9, Dempsey 2at Spurs, Asamoah Gyan 3, and Kolarov 11 at City
Bixente Lizarazu #69 at Bayern, Sandro Wagner #2 at Bayern, Claudio Pizarro #4 at Bremen, Javi Martinez #8 at Bayern, Edgar Davis #1 at Barnet, Nicklas Bendtner #3 at Wolfsburg, Ramires and Kante #7 at Chelsea... the list goes on
Great podcast Tifo!
So how did the 2nd striker end up with no. 11 in a 4-4-2?
Are there many examples of that being standard? I've always known them as 9 and 10 with the 11 being an outside midfielder
great pierce. I really enjoyed it. Well done
"Numbering conventions are all largely based on the transition that countries made tactically"
Bixente Lizarazu: Laughs in 69
wait they were using a 2-3-5? I never knew that and I hope you make a video on evolution of formations in football if you dont already have
Was hoping you would explain why Denmark, Sweden and maybe some other European countries have a winger or midfielder wear 9. I know kallstrom wore 9 for Sweden and i think Russia do the same
@Oscar Daggberg cheers for that mate, i do remember freddie wearing 9 now that you mention him
Thanks for producing this video. It's super fascinating!
Amazing content. Can you make a video about how clubs and countries started to use the “stars” on their respective logos to represent the title wins?
Rui Patricio, the winger with great pace and technique with dangerous cuts into the box
In Germany you usually call the deepest midfielder "Sechser" (nr.6), the one ahead "Achter" (nr.8) and if there´s a third one that´s even more attacking you´d call that one "Zehner" (nr.10) to the extent that some people get confused once you say "attacking midfielder" instead of "Zehner".
Fascinating stuff. You see why guys like Zanetti and R.Carlos pick their shirt numbers.
Another fun fact: At world cup 74, the Dutch team had the numbers on the basis of the order of their last names in the alphabet, so their keeper Jan Joengblod wore the number 8 (Cruyff was the only exception) . Maybe they did that because they played "voetball total," where everybody can play every position.
In Chile the defensive midfielder is number 6. Defensive line is 4-5-3-2 (I think I didn't see that combination in the video). I've always wondered why we use different numbers than Argentina, considering that our football is strongly influenced by them.
What about the number 13 being associated with the 2nd keeper? How did that come about?
My guess - a lot of clubs avoided the #13 shirt through 'unlucky' superstitions. Subs have been gradually introduced over time (1 sub only to replace injured players, then 3 subs, then 5, to today's 7-man bench). With only 1 or 3 subs on the bench a GK wouldn't be one of those so the sub numbers were probably 12, 14, 15 until the GK came along and took the vacant 13.
Substitutions only became legal in sanctioned competitions in 1958, and teams were only allowed to carry one. With starting shirt numbers always going 1-11 up to the 90s (outside world cup squad numbers) the substitute wore 12. When matchday squads started to expand, the reserve keeper started getting the next available number - 13. Superstition is not the reason keepers got that number. They were simply given the first number for a second "squad", if you like.
Well, here in Brazil, reserve goalkeepers are usually number 12, because it's the first of the reserve numbers; 13 is for a reserve right-back (2nd reserve number) and so on...
Except that 22 is for the third goalkeeper instead of a striker or winger
Well, probably those pesky Germans again.
So, 1-11 are for players in the starting line-up, so 12-22 should be for the "reserves" right? Wrong.
As the number 12 is retired by pretty much every German club, reserve players got 13-23 and that is probably why the 2nd choice keeper is no13
WE NEED A TIFO ON T&T GETTING TO 2006 WORLD CUP. So much has been made, and rightly so, of Iceland being a small nation at the World Cup but T&T previously held that title. It is an amazing story including a white Brit that scored an important goal in our playoff against Bahrain to qualify. Legendary player Dwight Yorke was the Captain. This story is a must!!!
This is a really good video, congratulations!
You describe very good the defensive numbers, but not to much the fowards. N9 use to be the central foward, 8 a creative player similar than N10 (or at least in Argentina)
Fantastic video. You are absolutly right about the numbers in Brazil. I’m brazilian. Congratulations
Great video! Here in Argentina, César Luis Menotti, in the 1978 World Cup, decided that the numbers of the players must be in alphabetical orden, instead the normal way. He
thought that changing the numbering system will confuse the rivals, that's why Ubaldo Matildo Fillol, the goalkeeper, wore the number 5, for example. I think that the estrategy came out really well! It was our first world cup.
Argentina did the same in 1974...except the Gks (1-12-21)
Glenn Hoddle wore number 4 at England national team, and he also symbolizes attacking ability, flair, creativity...
👍Very informative I am a numbers guy. 3:10 made me chuckle out loud.😂
GREAT video, i always wondered why Xavi wore the 6 if he wasn't a defender, same with Fabregas, or why Puyol wore the 5 if he wasn't a defensive midfielder(I'm Argentinian)
3:07 I think the Doncaster manager joined a band after this...😂
Would like to see a video about squad numbers past 11... 13 is interesting as a sub GK in the UK, but it is 16 in France... 13 is a RB number in Brazil, many Brazilian full backs take it as a squad number. I like how france 98 squad numbers were kinda honoured too... Thierry Henry always wore 12 for France after that... So many interesting facts... Maybe make a video of squad number facts by number.. 1 to 30 with perhaps a mention of other numbers that warrant it (like 99)... Get a script going TIFO!
13 as a sub GK simply came about because in English football when substitutes were introduced, they only allowed 1, so that man wore 12, and the reserve GK simply took the next number.
@@Snookbone Thanks!! Didn't know that
Such an underrated football channel