Re: Why did certain players where strange shirt numbers? Then he must've changed his number in all 3 seasons he spent in Rome. In the first season, when they won the Scudetto, he wore 18: That jersey with the number 20 on it is from Roma's 2001-2002 season, and he wore 33 in 2002-2003.
Re: Why did certain players where strange shirt numbers? Cassano took 18 in that season and Bati took 33.
Re: Why did certain players where strange shirt numbers? Vincent Kompany at Hamburg also wears 10 now i believe.
Sorry for double posting, but another anecdote with shirt numbers came to my mind. As far as I know, Spain is the country where reserve goalkeepers wear traditionally number 13 instead of 12. The most widespread explanation is that it started as a superstition, as 13 is considered the "bad luck" number and the reserve keeper was after all the one less likely to play (when players lined up 1 to 11, and reserves 12 to 16).
The situation in real madrid has already been explained. Figo was actually #7, but Raul the icon at Real Madrid got #7 which forced Figo to take #10..... and then, Zidane #5. At Juventus, Del Piero who was the icon there got #10.... so Zidane had to take a different number. I supposed that Zidane could have taken #21 at Real Madrid. Zidane was a natural #10.
Wore 10 as a boy, always told himself he'd take it as a pro if he got a chance because it "reminds him of when football was for fun". Adebayor wears 25 at Arsenal and 4 for Togo as a tribute to his hero Kanu. Kanu wore 25 for Arsenal and wears 4 for Nigeria. Stephen Bywater at Derby County wears 43 as a tribute to his mentor who died at 43. Bofo wears 1 when he plays in international club comps now, the goalkeeper switches to 28. Jaaskalinen (SP?) wears 22 for Bolton because it's his lucky number.
Well yes, Jose stated that was not expecting too many goals from Boula Every team should have players flat from 1-11.It doesn't really matter what number ur wearing till u wear it for the rest of ur carrier( Like Ballack for example). I dont quite remember which league(in Asia), I was watching the other day and I saw a guy wearing 93.WTF? Another thing that's not so relavent here: about this "Retiring the number" in respect to a great player who played for club/country. I think it's just ridicolous. I mean, wear the jersey with respect but retiring the no. is just stupid.
Wiki pedia has a history of the #'s and why they are...now i feel it should be like the starting eleven and the bench so you have folks from 1-16...the world cup 1-23 (thank god) but there are some ugly #'s...number three when you are a center forward? yuk! ugly numbers jason terry 26, and others you see out there.....but i guess this also corresponds to reserves also so the new kid debuting would get 34 or something......triple digits ya thats getting too pick-up gameish