I already know that the Number 10 is supposed to be the offensive playmaker and the Number 9 is usually a Striker. What are the other corresponding numbers and their typically positions. I heard on the US v Honduras match the commentators refering to so and so as a traditional 11 or number 7, but is playing a number 10 or 8. I haven't heard this reference before.
One reference that Sullivan made last night is that Reyna is more a #6 than a #10. The #6 refers to a deep-lying midfielder or stopper who plays in front of the backline. However, the #6 isn't just a destroyer, but someone who can initiate the attack and distribute well.
The numbers are confusing. I believe they come from an old way of drawing out formations using numbers to represent players. I also believe that maybe the Italians sill use it?
As I recall, the numbers were counted upward from the goalkeeper to the forwards. Since there originally were no subs, numbers could be assigned totally by position. And since at that time the 3-4-3 formation was in general use, the forwards ended up being #9, #10 and #11. When formations changed to having only 2 forwards, the traditional #10 was dropped back as an attacking middie.
The Dutch use: 11..........9...........7 ............10 .......8.............6 5........4......3........2 ..............1
The old 2-3-5 looked like: 11..........9...........7 ......10............8 6...........5........4 ......3........2 ............1 Now the USA players pick their numbers based on seniority and with no prescribed basis on position. BMB likes 20, Reyna - 10, Pope - 23, Earnie - 8, Frankie - 2. LD usually takes 10 unless Claudio is playing.
I remember the days of Soccer Made In Germany, and it usually was: ----------7----------9-------------11 ----------6----------10-------------8 -------2-------3----------4---------5 ---------------------1 They would keep the 11 players with nameless shirts, kind of like a rugby side. Marketing being the way it is, you have 58s in Mexico, a 99 in the United States, and a certain 23 in Madrid.
Some Uruguayan guy at work asked me what position Freddy Adu played. The #9 or #7? Not knowing what he was talking about I guessed 9 and the guy said ok thanks.
Was searching information about this subject and ran into this thread, from everything i've read the only positions that are set in stone with their numbers are the goalkeeper who is number 1 and the center forward who wears number 9. The rest vary on formations and countries who has different methods of numbering their players. []__[]
Yes it depends on the old system. The #6 is a #5 in Italy, Argentina, Uruguay, etc. The old -------------1----------- 2----------3-----------4 ------------5------------- In Spanish many times they refer as a team playing with a "doble cinco" or double 5. to refer as a team playing with 2 holding midfielders. More offensive systems do have the ----------1---------- 2------4----------3----5 ----6-----8---------7 11---------9---------10 obviously where they are on the field depends on the system. So as the poster above me said very few numbers are totally defined and could mean different things in different places. Adu is not a #9, he thinks he is a #10, but more realistically a #11 or #7 (for Uruguay system/Italian system). Most common IMO 1 = Goal Keeper 2 = RWB/RB 4 = CB/Sweeper 5 or 6 is the CDM 9 = Center Striker 10 = Play-maker 11 = Second striker / Left or right forward.
An old game day 4-4-2 system (before teams were given permanent numbers, as was the norm in World Cups, starting with 1970, I believe) GK - 1 RFB - 2 LFB - 3 (this is why you see guys like Ashley Cole and Andy Brehme at 3) CD -4 CD/SW - 5 D-Mid - 6 RW - 7 CM - 8 CF - 9 AM - 10 LW - 11 In 4-3-3, #7 was right forward, #11 was left forward, #8 was played either to the side of #6 or staggered, #10 sat in the hole behind #9. In Latin America, where flank&cross play was not as emphasized and teams often play with short passes through the middle, a 3-in-the-back system often had its 5 as holding mids, thus Doble-Pivote/Doble Cinco nomenclature took root.