Squad Numbers

Why do people change these and what is it for? What is realistic numbers to give each player/position?

These are changed because some players prefer a certain number and some clubs have certain numbers retired to remember a past great player. The realistic numbers is entirely upto you although a goalie usually has numbers 1, 12, 13 or 25 and a striker 9, 7, 10 or 11.

From Uk football (if I am not mistaken, about the number system) the traditional numbers are 1GK 2RFB 3LFB 4CB 5DM 6CB 7RW 8CM 9FWD 10Striker 11LW. This is from the days of the W-M formation. In other countries the numbering is somewhat different, usually the CBs are 4 & 5 not as above, and often there is only one forward so 9 would be an AMC.

Also so,e international teams used give out the numbers in alphabetical order like Argentina, a list of the squads here also giving a fairly good idea of the traditional line out for some of the countries.

From Uk football (if I am not mistaken, about the number system) the traditional numbers are 1GK 2RFB 3LFB 4CB 5DM 6CB 7RW 8CM 9FWD 10Striker 11LW. This is from the days of the W-M formation. .

This can be adapted to 4-4-2 as:

1 - GK

2 - DR

3 - DL

4 - MC

5 - DC

6 - DC

7 - MR

8 - MC

9 - ST

10- ST

11 - ML

In South America the number 5 is historically a stopper (DM Ball Winner), where as in England its the number 4. Although the more aggresive Centre Back (think John Terry or Tony Adams) tends to be a number 5 in England. The number 10 tends to be a more creative forward and the number 9 the goal scorer.

These are changed because some players prefer a certain number and some clubs have certain numbers retired to remember a past great player. The realistic numbers is entirely upto you although a goalie usually has numbers 1, 12, 13 or 25 and a striker 9, 7, 10 or 11.

I always thought another prime number for goalkeepers was 21 thats what Bradford have used a lot.

in the last 10 years the traditional numbers have varied a lot for most positions

goalkeepers almost exclusively number 1, but 12, 13, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31 have become more common

defensive midfielders are often 5 in south america, 4 in england

centre-backs are commonly 5 & 6

full backs 2 & 3

the creative playmaking-forward traditionally is number 10

the goalscoring striker a number 9

wingers often 7 & 11

ultimately though number whoever you want, what you want

What's the numbering system in Spain?

do players play better when they are given their perfered number? i always change the numbers up, im a number freak

i normally only change squad numbers after first season but ultimatly its your decision

What's the numbering system in Spain?

The same as llama3's list.

These are changed because some players prefer a certain number and some clubs have certain numbers retired to remember a past great player. The realistic numbers is entirely upto you although a goalie usually has numbers 1, 12, 13 or 25 and a striker 9, 7, 10 or 11.

I always thought another prime number for goalkeepers was 21 thats what Bradford have used a lot.

But 21 isn't a prime number. LOL. But I have seen that used a lot. I believe when Lehnmann was at Arsenal, he was 1, Almunia was 21, and Fabinski was 24.

Squad numbers for AI teams really annoy me. I'm 2012 and looked at Man Utd.

They've randomly decided that Rio Ferdinand should no longer have the number 5 shirt and have shifted him to number 2. Perhaps they've signed a world-class centre-back who loves the number 5? It might just be acceptable then. But no. Number 5 is available. Park Ji-Sung was moved from 13 to 7 after Michael Owen left. Why? Wayne Rooney is now wearing 11 and Anderson has shifted to 10. Why?!!

On FM09, Park and Ronaldo switched numbers! Park went to 7 and Ronaldo went to 13.

Stupid.

Traditionally numbering in Germany

The 6 stands often for the defensive midfielder, 9 and 11 for the strikers, 10 for the playmaker. 7 and 8 for the wingers, 1 for the goalkeeper, 2 and 3 for the CBs and 4 and 5 for the FBs.

But in modern times this scheme is a bit outdated. Many strikers have their favoured numbers, Gomez the 33 for example. Ballack uses as midfielder the 13 for his lucky number.

In South America, 10 is the equivalent of the British 7 (ie: the playmaker, shirt-selling player).

Of course, some clubs have special reservations for players and certain shirt numbers, such as Celtic thinking everyone wearing the 7 will be the next Johnstone/Larsson or Man Utd reserving the 7 for their gifted wingers (Best, Ronaldo).

I of course will only give the 7 to the player I like the most, and the number 8 to my holding midfielder. I also never, ever give anyone the number 13.

Ustari is the only player i've come across with a prefered number (23). I just let the assistant chose the rest.

Ustari is the only player i've come across with a prefered number (23). I just let the assistant chose the rest.

I got 3 players in my squad that have 10 as their preferred number

In Spain it's "take numbers off other players, just because a player worth more money has joined". Ask Fernando Gago, he'll back me up.

Why do people change these and what is it for? What is realistic numbers to give each player/position?

These days the numbers aren't really assigned positionally, it's just whatever the player wants/whatever is available.

usually only keepers wear number 1 unless there is an outfield player who really wants it (i.e. kafes when he played for olympiacos) this is the same pretty much everywhere but in France it seems that the first choice keeper gets number 16 and the second choice gets number 1 kind of like a consolation prize.

the traditional numbering system in England (4-4-2) was:

1 GK

2 RB 5 CB 6 CB 3 LB

7 RM 4 CM (box-to-box) 8 CM (midfield general) 11 LM

9 ST (goal-poacher) 10 ST (creative/target man)

with some variations as to who got 4, 5 and 6

And in Europe/South America it was a case of the numbers being all scrambled up except that number 10 was always the play-making dead-ball specialist midfield general, number 9remianed as the goal-poacher and number 1 was still the keeper. The randomness of this numbering system is mainly due to the huge variety of formations in Europe and South America so i ain't gonna draw any diagrams.

basically you can make up ur own system for numbering - e.g. players get their favoured numbers, first choice team gets 1-11, subs get 12-19, no-one is given 13 cos it's unlucky, keepers get 20-27, youth/reserve players get the 30's etc... (That one was used by some real-life team, can't remember who it was and i use a variation of it)

In Spain it's "take numbers off other players, just because a player worth more money has joined". Ask Fernando Gago, he'll back me up.

Isn't part of that because only numbers 1-25 are available for the 25-man squad?

Isn't part of that because only numbers 1-25 are available for the 25-man squad?

That has nothing to do with it. Any squad number can be given, even 99, so long as the player is registered in the 25 man squad.

My Preferences in FM are as follows

Gks-1,13,31

Rbs-2,12,32

Lbs-3,23,33

CBS-5,6,15,25

DMs-16,26

CMs-4,8,22

RMs-7,17,27

LMs-11,14

AMs-18,28

CFs-10,20,30

STs-9,19,29

Always been a traditionalist, i was agahst when Zidane got the 5 at madrid and Gallas the 10 at arsenal

That has nothing to do with it. Any squad number can be given, even 99, so long as the player is registered in the 25 man squad.

I'm pretty sure in Spain you have to have numbers 1-25; the higher numbers are for youth players. It's why Sevilla couldn't retire #16 after Antonio Puerta died.

I'm pretty sure in Spain you have to have numbers 1-25; the higher numbers are for youth players. It's why Sevilla couldn't retire #16 after Antonio Puerta died.

Never knew that. I suppose Spain could be different?