[dmonahan]

I just read an article that referred to Louis Saha as a "No 9". Is there (or was there) a number for each position on the field? Is this why many strikers wear shirts 9 or 10? Is this just an English practice?

Dick.

[Leedsunited]

Originally Posted by dmonahan

I just read an article that referred to Louis Saha as a "No 9". Is there (or was there) a number for each position on the field? Is this why many strikers wear shirts 9 or 10? Is this just an English practice?

Dick.

Nowadays it doesn't mean as much as it did, with players being allocated a permanant squad number, but 20 years ago most teams had numbering as below:

1- keeper
2, 3, 4, 5 - defenders

6, 7, 8, 11- midfielders

with 9, 10 strikers.

Not sure why though.

[dmonahan]

Originally Posted by Leedsunited

... 20 years ago most teams had numbering as below: <snip>

Were those the shirt numbers? If a usual midfielder had to play defense for a game he wore a different shirt? What if he changed positions during a game?

[Leedsunited]

Originally Posted by dmonahan

Were those the shirt numbers? If a usual midfielder had to play defense for a game he wore a different shirt? What if he changed positions during a game?

Those were the starting numbers, so anyone in those positions from the start of the game wore those numbers.

There are traditional numbers:

1- goalkeeper
2- right back
3- left back
5- centre back
9-10- striker
11- winger.

These weren't enshrined or anything, but before squad numbers were issued for each player, this was the roughly acceptable norm.

[AussieLFCfan]

As stated above.

# 9 was generally your out and out pure striker.

[Leedsunited]

I looked online, for the reason why, and it turns out that players were numbered 1-11 as below:


----------------------------1: Keeper---------------------------
2 Right Back----4:Centre Back------5: Centre Back---3: Left Back

----------------6 Centre mid-------7: Centre mid----------------

--8: Right Mid---9: Centre forward---10: forward---11: Left wing.


This may not be exactly as it was, but its the general idea, a lot like Rugby, and US Football where certain positions are allocated certain numbers, eg 10: Scrum Half etc. As above when you read a teamsheet:

1 Goalkeeper
2 Right back
3 Left Back
4 C Back
5 C Back
6 CM
7 CM
8 Right Wing
9 Centre Forward
10 Striker
11 Left Wing.

Nowadays players are given a permanant squad number, so you don't have the 1-11 and 12-16 matchday squad numbers. Players like Gary Neville (No 2), Ashley Cole (No 3), loads of strikers still wear 9 or 10.
Hope this is better.

[toureDynasty]

Originally Posted by Leedsunited

I looked online, for the reason why, and it turns out that players were numbered 1-11 as below:


----------------------------1: Keeper---------------------------
2 Right Back----4:Centre Back------5: Centre Back---3: Left Back

----------------6 Centre mid-------7: Centre mid----------------

--8: Right Mid---9: Centre forward---10: forward---11: Left wing.


This may not be exactly as it was, but its the general idea, a lot like Rugby, and US Football where certain positions are allocated certain numbers, eg 10: Scrum Half etc. As above when you read a teamsheet:

1 Goalkeeper
2 Right back
3 Left Back
4 C Back
5 C Back
6 CM
7 CM
8 Right Wing
9 Centre Forward
10 Striker
11 Left Wing.

Nowadays players are given a permanant squad number, so you don't have the 1-11 and 12-16 matchday squad numbers. Players like Gary Neville (No 2), Ashley Cole (No 3), loads of strikers still wear 9 or 10.
Hope this is better.

Depends on where the game evolved.
Brazil
1.goal keeper

2.right back 3.center back 4.cernter back 6.left back

5.midfield anchor 8.midfield
7.right midfield 11.left midfield
10. forward 9.center forward.

England
1.goal keeper

2.right back 5.center back 6.center back 3.left back

7.right midfield 4.central midfield 8. central midfield 11.left midfield
9. striker 10.striker

since early evolutions of formations involved moving specific positions, e.g. moving the centre half back to become a defender rather than a half back. Their numbers went with them since formations evolved differently in the top countries, numbers represented different positions.

[RichardL]

Originally Posted by toureDynasty

Depends on where the game evolved.
Brazil
1.goal keeper

2.right back 3.center back 4.cernter back 6.left back

5.midfield anchor 8.midfield
7.right midfield 11.left midfield
10. forward 9.center forward.

England
1.goal keeper

2.right back 5.center back 6.center back 3.left back

7.right midfield 4.central midfield 8. central midfield 11.left midfield
9. striker 10.striker

since early evolutions of formations involved moving specific positions, e.g. moving the centre half back to become a defender rather than a half back. Their numbers went with them since formations evolved differently in the top countries, numbers represented different positions.

even in England though, you often had 4 as a central midfielder and 6 as a centre-back, and 8 as a striker with 10 being a midfielder.


Because squads were much smaller there was much more reliance on a genuine "first XI". You didn't need names on the shirts as you knew the right back would always be a certain player, unless he was injured.

[leg_breaker]

Shirt numbers started out like this with the 2 3 5 formation:

1
2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11

2 and 3 the full backs, 4, 5 and 6 the half backs, 9 as the centre forward, 8 and 10 the inside forwards, and 7 and 11 the outside forwards, today's right and left wingers. 5 became today's centre-half.

[musicl]

-------1--------
2----5----6----3
7----4----8---11
-----9----10----