The story of shirt numbers

For decades football was played without numbers on the shirts. As crowds grew, numbers were introduced in the 1920s and 1930s so spectators and commentators could tell the players apart.

Numbers that told you the position

At first, the numbers simply followed the team sheet from 1 to 11, starting with the goalkeeper. Because teams lined up in fixed formations, each number came to stand for a position. Tap a number to see its classic meaning:

Squad numbers

From the 1990s many leagues introduced squad numbers: each player keeps one number for the whole season, often together with their name on the back. Numbers above 11 became normal – but the old meanings, like the number 9 for a centre forward or the 10 for a playmaker, are still part of football’s language.