When it comes to football jerseys football (soccer) does it in a pretty irrational but very alluring way. In contrast American football follows avery methodical system ( as is the case with most of the Americal way of life). The NFL reserves a range of numbers for certain play positions. For example 1 - 19 are for quarter backs kickers etc. 80 - 89 are wide receivers. This seems to follow a herd numbering rule [ 1 through 10 are the black buffalos, 20 - 30 are the white cows :P ]
Anywho; now lets look at the interesting part - soccer jerseys.
In football the numbering is not governed by set of stringent rules even though you will find most goal keepers wearing #1. Jerseys are mostly alloted by players choice but there are certain special numbers and thats the topic of this blog.
#7 : This goes to the glamour boy of the team. Recommended player has to have flair and must be fashion conscious. Made famous by David Beckham while at Manchester United (yuckk)the jersey is deemed to be top seller for most teams. Cant help but think that 007 has to have some part in the fame of the number.
#8 : If David Beckham was responsible for #7, #8 is the courtesy of Chelsea's Frank Lampard. The jersey goes to the most reliable playmaker in the team. The player is expected to dictate the game from mid-field like a chess master. Most famous players wearing this number - Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard.....
#9 : Number 9 goes to the Star striker in the team. He need not be the main striker but has to be young. So he is the new fast dazzling up coming striker and is on the verge of taking over the role of the main striker. The most apt striker in this role is Fernando Torres of Liverpool when he arrived in 2007.
#10 : This traditionally goes to the most important player in the tem, who typically is a playmaker. However of late it has lost the charm as more and more #10's are failing to make the starting 11 these days. #8 is becoming the new #10. The truly traditional #10 would be Francesco Totti of Italy.
#11 : He is the main striker in the team (period) He takes #9 as his understudy and shoulders the load of scoring. The best example of #11 is Chelsea's Didier Drogba
That concludes the description:
One team that has these numbering horribly wrong is Chelsea FC.
#7 was worn by Andriy Shevchenko (typical #9) and now by Ramirez - not glamorous from any angle.
#9 is Daniel Sturridge who never makes it to the first team.
#10 Yossi Benayoun another bench warmer
However #11 is spot on and on Target always
Ballack #13!
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