From W-M to the No 10, shirt numbers tell a story of football’s tactical evolution

In the days before squad numbers, the number on a shirt was an indicator of position, as well as the attributes a player was supposed to demonstrate Ultimate 1-50: check out our complete list of players Numbers have a fascination. The No 10 is revered almost everywhere, but perhaps most especially in Argentina, where it denotes the playmaker, the enganche , the quasi-mythical figure who links the front and back of the team. Liverpool and Manchester United have reasons to celebrate their No 7. Ajax retired No 14 for Johan Cruyff, Milan their No 3 and No 6 for Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi respectively and Birmingham their 22 for Jude Bellingham as gestures of respect for their abilities. Other numbers have been retired to mark premature deaths: the No 20 at Liverpool for Diogo Jota, the No 23 at Manchester City for Marc-Vivian Foé, the 21 at Espanyol for Daniel Jarque. But numbers are not just about individuals. In the days before squad numbers, the number on a shirt was an indicator of position, and the expectations of particular numbers in particular cultures, as well as the attributes a player in that shirt was supposed to demonstrate, themselves tell a story of tactical evolution. Continue reading...