Hope you've had a good week to date.
Football. Shirt numbers. Special players who in turn made certain numbers remembered and wanted by generations that followed them.
I'm sure, for those of us that play club football, we still have the odd one or few rushing to get the number 10 or 7 or 9 out the kit bag.
We could all rattle off the 1-11 of top players who wore the respective shirt numbers.
Beckham 7, Ronaldo de Lima 9, Zidane 5, Maradona 10 and so forth
In the 8 Nations Challenge we are covering now, it's been noted [again] that both Brasil and Argentina still work on the 1-11 starting system. With numbers 9 [striker] and 10 [creator of all things fantastic and/or conductor of the orchestra] being the most revered.
Also worthy of a mention is that both Argentina and Brasil rely on their no.8 as the ball-player. Sitting in midfield, stroking the ball about and being the link between defense and attack.
General. Alan Ruiz
Moving on then to the crux of the matter. There have, over the past decade or so, been players who have pushed the ticket in terms of shirt numbers. Requesting the unusual...often with somewhat good reason, while others did so just to be absurd.
Rogerio Ceni #618
Rogerio Ceni, at 39years of age, is still playing for Sao Paolo FC. He is known for his set-piece abilities and is now listed as the goalkeeper who has scored the most goals. This rather odd shirt number came about when he surpassed the clubs' record for most appearances, which was 617. He has since gone on to make 1000appearances for the club.
Ivan Zamorano #1+8
The Chilean striker, known for his partnerships at international level with Marcelo Salas and admirable showings at both Real Madrid CF and Internazionale Milano. This creativity sprang about when Roberto Baggio joined Inter, requesting the no.10 shirt...Ronaldo then grabbed the no.9, which he is now famous for and Zamorano opted for this. Quite sharp from Ivan!
Ronaldinho #80
The much publicised move from FC Barcelona, became an even bigger topic of discussion when 'dinho opted for this number. The reason for this was that Clarence Seedorf, club legend, had the no.10 shirt and Ronaldinho was in no position to demand that from him. 1980 is the year of his birth though and started somewhat of a trend at the club with Flamini [84] and Shevchenko [76], on his return to the San Siro, opting for these DOB shirt numbers.
Michael Ballack #13
Not really that odd and there is a story behind this. Ballack, on arrival at Bayer Leverkusen took the no.13 shirt as it was Rudi Völler's number. He has not changed numbers since. As superstitions go, 13 is said to be an unlucky number...would make sense of why Ballack has so many runners' up medals, right?
Nicolas Anelka #39
Nicolas reasoning for wearing this number is quite simple. He wore no.9 at PSG and Arsenal, then at Real Madrid CF he donned the no.19 shirt. When he arrived at Manchester City FC he could not wear 9, 19 or 29, so opted for 39. Apparently he sees himself as the no.9 [striker] so took this number as it was the closest one [available] with 9 in it.
John Terry #26
The only logical reason he wears this shirt number, has to be because he steals former teammates women, no?!
On the local front, I think you'd recall that Orlando Pirates FC played in three-figured shirt numbers in the 2005 season. Tso Vilakazi donning number 115. Not sure what that was about.
Shirt numbers have their place in football. Top players are remembered, irrespective...
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