Chelsea’s false 9s
On Sunday, Chelsea’s new loan signing Gonzalo Higuaín is likely to make his debut in the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. The Argentinian striker will …
Right-back, left-back, wrong-back
During the halcyon days before the advent of squad numbers for the Premier League’s 1993-94 season, the tradition in English football when playing with a back four was of course …
Monday 11s – Unusual squad number quiz
Welcome to the 88th edition of our weekly squad number quiz, Monday 11s. This week we are taking a look at some unusual squad numbers from past and present. As …
Rui Patr11c11o the latest goalkeeper to wear an ‘outfield’ number
One of the best forum threads on squad numbers – not a heavily-contested title, admittedly, is on the When Saturday Comes messageboard. Entitled ‘Squad numbers I feel comfortable with’, it …
World Cup numbering hits and misses
When Ryan Quinn got in touch suggesting a piece on World Cup numbers, we were delighted. Take it away, Ryan: We need to talk about the World Cup. Obviously, the competition …
How Pedro nearly ended up wearing 2 for Spain at the 2010 World Cup
Like most squad-number incidents, it was the fault of Álvaro Arbeloa. As we mentioned in the piece explaining how Josep Guardiola wore 9 for Spain at the 1992 Olympics and …
Happy Luke Shaw Day – a look at players who’ve moved higher
It’s somewhat fitting that, given he has been in the news lately, today is Luke Shaw Day. If you’re wondering why you hadn’t already heard that, it’s because we’ve only …
Sampdoria 1995-96 – a chip off the old block
In one of the site’s early articles, we looked at the mode of numbering which Italy favoured at major finals until the 1998 World Cup – apart from goalkeepers, who …
Delving into Chelsea’s chequered past
Not so long ago, we looked at an occurrence from 1991, where Diego Maradona gave up his favoured Napoli number 10 shirt for 9, so that his anointed successor Gianfranco …
January 2018 transfer roundup – Premier League
Yet another transfer window has passed us, and this January has treated us to one of the most active and exciting winter windows we’ve seen in years. Here’s a roundup …