Squad Number (association Football) - First Use of Numbers

First Use of Numbers

The first documented instance of numbers being used in Association football was on March 30, 1924 when the Fall River Marksmen played St. Louis Vesper Buick during the 1923–24 National Challenge Cup.

The first time numbers were used in Association football in Europe was August 25, 1928, when Sheffield Wednesday played Arsenal and Chelsea hosted Swansea Town at Stamford Bridge. Numbers were assigned by field location:

1. Goalkeeper
2. Right full back (right side centre back)
3. Left full back (left side centre back)
4. Right half back (right side defensive midfield)
5. Centre half back (centre defensive midfield)
6. Left half back (left side defensive midfield)
7. Outside right (right winger)
8. Inside right (attacking midfield)
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left (attacking midfield)
11. Outside left (left winger)

At Stamford Bridge only the outfield players wore numbers (2-11). The Daily Express (p13, 27 August 1928) reported: ‘The 35,000 spectators were able to give credit for each bit of good work to the correct individual, because the team were numbered, and the large figures in black on white squares enabled each man to be identified without trouble.’ The Daily Mirror ('Numbered Jerseys A Success', p29, 27 August 1928) also covered the match: ‘I fancy the scheme has come to stay. All that was required was a lead and London has supplied it.’ When Chelsea toured Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil at the end of the season, in summer 1929, they also wore numbered shirts, earning the nickname 'Los Numerados' from locals.

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, hence central defenders wearing number 5, and remnants of the system remain to this day. For example, in friendly and championship qualifying matches England, when playing the 4–4–2 formation, general number their players (using the standard right to left system of listing football teams) four defenders – 2, 5, 6, 3; four midfielders – 7, 4, 8, 11; two forwards – 10, 9. This system of numbering can also be adapted to a midfield diamond with the holding midfielder wearing 4 and the attacking central midfielder wearing 8. Similarly the Swedish national team number their players: four defenders – 2, 3, 4, 5; four midfielders – 7, 6, 8, 9; two forwards – 10, 11.

In Brazil, the 4–2–4 formation was developed independently from Europe, thus leading to a different numbering - here shown in the 4–3–3 formation to stress that in Brazil, number ten is midfield:

• 1 Goleiro (Goalkeeper)
• 2 Lateral Direito (right wingback)
• 3 Beque Central (centre back)
• 4 Quarto Zagueiro (the "fourth defender", almost the same as a centre back)
• 6 Lateral Esquerdo (left wingback)
• 5 Volante ("Rudder", the defensive midfielder)
• 8 Meia Direita (right midfielder)
• 10 Meia Esquerda (left midfielder, generally more offensive than the right one)
• 7 Ponta Direita (right winger)
• 9 Centro-Avante (centre forward)
• 11 Ponta Esquerda (left winger)

When in 4-2-4, number 10 passes to the Ponta de Lança (striker), and 4-4-2 formations get this configuration: four defenders - 2 (right wingback), 4, 3, 6 (left wingback); four midfielders - 5 (defensive), 8 ("segundo volante", similar to a central midfielder), 7, 10 (attacking); two strikers - 9, 11

In Argentina, 4–3–3 formations get this configuration: four defenders – 4 (right wingback), 2, 6, 3 (left wingback); three midfielders – 8, 5 (central midfielder), 10 (attacking) – 7 (right wing), 9 (centrodelantero), 11 (left wing); and in 4–3–1–2, the number 10 is for the "enganche" and the 11 goes to the left midfield.

In England, in a now traditional 4–4–2 formation, the standard numbering is usually: 2 (right fullback), 5, 6, 3 (left fullback); 4 (defensive midfielder), 7 (right midfielder), 8 (central/attacking midfielder), 11 (left midfielder); 10 (second/support striker), 9 (striker). This came about based on the traditional 2–3–5 system. Where the 2 fullbacks retained the numbers 2, 3. Then of the halves, 4 was kept as the central defensive midfielder, while 5 and 6 were moved backward to be in the central of defence. 7 and 11 stayed as the wide attacking players, whilst 8 dropped back a little from inside forward to a (sometimes attacking) midfield role, and 10 stayed as a second striker in support of a 'number 9'. The 4 is generally the holding midfielder, as through the formation evolution it was often used for the sweeper or libero position. This position defended behind the central defenders, but attacked in front - feeding the midfield. It is generally not used today, and developed into the holding midfielder role.

When substitutions were introduced to the game in 1965, the substitute typically took the number 12; when a second substitute was allowed, they wore 14. Players were not compelled to wear the number 13 if they were superstitious.

In Eastern Europe, The defence numbering is slightly different. The Hungarian national team under Gustav Sebes switched from a 2–3–5 formation to 3–2–5. So the defence numbers were 2 to 4 from right to left thus making the right back (2), centre back (3) and the left back (4). Since the concept of a flat back four the number (5) has become the other centre back.

In the modern game however, older number associations still carry through. The European continent can generally be seen as adopting:

1* #Goalkeeper

2* #Right full back 4* #Centre half back 5* #Centre half back 3* #Left full back

6* #Midfielder 8* #Midfielder 10* #Attacking Midfielder

7* #Right Winger 11* #Left Winger 9* #Striker

This changes from formation to formation, however the defensive number placement generally remain the same.