Squad Numbers

[flatback4]

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will not use the number seven in his squad next year because of the pressure it puts on players to live up to previous incumbents like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish. (News of the World)

In American sport, when a club legend retires/moves on, his squad number is retired with him and never used again by anyone else.

Now that players are numbered more than just 1-11, has any Tottenham player earned the honour yet of having his squad number never used again ?

 

[zepstar]

Nope, however Maldini's number 3 is being retired when he quits and can only come out of retirement if one of his own son's grandson's etc plays for milan.

 

[Bronno]

Remember reading a piece on wikipedia about it, and found the link quite easily again!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retired_numbers_in_football_(soccer)

Nearly all posthumous, Foe, Jimmy Davis... Antonio Puerta situation is similar to Maldini - his son can bring the shirt out of retirement. Zola for Chelsea is an exception.

 

[Yid-ol]

No, because in say 100 years time, or another 125 we could end up being forced not to use any of the normal 1-11 numbers or even numbers between 1-30!! it will just get stupid, no numbers should be retired

 

[wizgell]

26 for Ledley!!

 

[spurslenny]

the sevilla player Antonia Puerta (think thats his name) had his squad number retired after his untimely death last year, i think the sevilla bosses said that that squad number would only be resurrected if his son played for the club

 

[hughy]

The number 12 should be retired. To completely wipe the memory of Gary Doherty from our memories.

 

[PT]

There is a connotation to a number though and perhaps does put undue, unnecessary stress on a player, transcended from the terraces.

For example - Spurs No 14 - David Ginola, a hero of his time, synonymous with the Spurs style of play. Moving on a few years, Hossam Ghaly gets the shirt....never stood a chance really..

 

[DJS]

No, because in say 100 years time, or another 125 we could end up being forced not to use any of the normal 1-11 numbers or even numbers between 1-30!! it will just get stupid, no numbers should be retired

Seconded.

I think Milan have already retired the no.6 shirt as not been used for donkeys seasons - anyone no why as not really a major follower of Italian footy?

 

[hughy]

There is a connotation to a number though and perhaps does put undue, unnecessary stress on a player, transcended from the terraces.

For example - Spurs No 14 - David Ginola, a hero of his time, synonymous with the Spurs style of play. Moving on a few years, Hossam Ghaly gets the shirt....never stood a chance really..

I'll be honest, I personally can't remember anyone saying Ghaly would have to live up to Ginola.



If I'm mistaken, and they did, he failed.

 

[PT]

I'll be honest, I personally can't remember anyone saying Ghaly would have to live up to Ginola.



If I'm mistaken, and they did, he failed.

It's not a spoken contractual condition of wearing the shirt, but it does carry weight.

Remember the tv footage of the Beckham signing at Real Madrid, when he was offered the prestigious no23 and his words to the supporters of living up to its legendary status?

In terms of answering the original posters question, I don't think we have a shirt that carries that elevated status. Perhaps the closest in recent times is the no 14 but not to the extent that it gets taken off the peg.

 

[DJS]

There is a connotation to a number though and perhaps does put undue, unnecessary stress on a player, transcended from the terraces.

For example - Spurs No 14 - David Ginola, a hero of his time, synonymous with the Spurs style of play. Moving on a few years, Hossam Ghaly gets the shirt....never stood a chance really..

I reckon Modric will do it proud! :up:

Who knows in years to come they might be saying this player will have to live up to Modric rather than Ginola...

I reckon it all depends on the calibre of player - i.e. Ginola preferred to wear no.14 and he was class, Modric also seems to like wearing it (well for Croatia anyways) and he's class so there ain't no probs really.

If Milan buy a quality left back then they should wear the no.3 shirt - IT'S WHAT IT'S FOR! Although the Teams in Serie A are rather 'flexible' with their squad numbers - no. 70 or 99 anyone...

 

[joey.leone]

Seconded.

I think Milan have already retired the no.6 shirt as not been used for donkeys seasons - anyone no why as not really a major follower of Italian footy?

They retired the number when Baresi retired, thats what it said on wikipedia anyway.

 

[DJS]

They retired the number when Baresi retired, thats what it said on wikipedia anyway.

Ta! :up:

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Difference with English football being that it was only 25 years ago that players were numbered 1 to 11 and the one sub was number 12 game to game - people didn't really get to choose the number they wore, other than within their positional "window" as it were. You didn't get 23's or 17's or anything back then :shrug:

Still makes me chuckle that we've got teams arguing for seven subs, then flick on ESPN for a classic Spurs match and see one sub on the bench :lol:

 

[chrissivad]

Maybe keep the number out of use for a few seaosn, but never retire it.

When King retires(not for a good few seasons yet!) then his shirt should be keeped spare for a few seasons as a mark or respect, and so noone is coming right in with the pressure of filling his shirt.

But after a few seasons brink it back in.

Only players this effects just now in our squad is King and Keane though.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Maybe keep the number out of use for a few seaosn, but never retire it.

When King retires(not for a good few seasons yet!) then his shirt should be keeped spare for a few seasons as a mark or respect, and so noone is coming right in with the pressure of filling his shirt.

But after a few seasons brink it back in.

Only players this effects just now in our squad is King and Keane though.

i'm with that - i must admit, when Ghaly was given the 14 shirt i did sit back and instantly wonder if he would give it the kind of glory Ginola did, then i remembered that Edman had it the year before and sighed...

I had the same thing with the number 8 shirt, since Gazza's time with us - it's the playmakers shirt, the guy who dominated the midfield with his technique - JJ just doesn't have that natural flair and technique to be the number 8 i wanted him to be but every time i see a new player unvieled with either of those 2 numbers i wonder if this time it will be special again :shrug:

 

[Flatters]

26 could definitely be retired when the legend himself does. However, I think retiring numbers is pretty stupid, especially a number between 1 and 11. You'll run out of good numbers eventually and everyone will just have a silly large number.

 

[C0YS]

I think Judus's number should be retired, cause we never want someone to share his fate! 23 was it? Also 5!!

 

[Flatters]

I think Judus's number should be retired, cause we never want someone to share his fate! 23 was it?

Even though Ziege, Carrick and Bent have had it since?