Which footballer comes to your mind when I say the number 69 or 80? 69 would have excited you, but you still couldn’t think of a footballer, could you?
This is because Jersey numbers have become a very important part of football. Some iconic Jersey numbers, like No. 7 or No. 10, have become synonymous with the players who wore them. But for every traditional No. 7 or No. 10, there is a No. 69 or No. 80.
In this article, we will look at some of the weird jersey numbers and the reasons behind players choosing them.
Top 10 Weirdest Jersey Numbers in Football
80- Ronaldinho
When Ronaldinho joined AC Milan in 2008, the iconic number 10 jersey was already occupied by another star midfielder, Clarence Seedorf. In light of this, Ronaldinho opted for the number 80, which holds personal significance for him.
The number 80 represents the year he was born, 1980. By choosing this unconventional number, Ronaldinho retained his distinct identity while paying tribute to his birth year, showcasing his individuality and respect for the team’s existing dynamics
69- Bixente Lizarzu
Lizarzu’s choice of using jersey number 69 might seem cheeky and an attempt to get away with a high school joke. But Lizarzu insisted that he always wore it for good reason.
He was born in 1969, his height is 169cm, and his weight at the time was 69kg.
The French World Cup winner wore the number 69 at Bayern Munich in his final 2 years as a professional. While footballers typically choose jersey numbers for various reasons, in Lizarazu’s case, the selection of the number 69 was likely more lighthearted and in line with his reputation for bringing a sense of enjoyment to the game.
99- Ronaldo
Ronaldo Nazario is probably one of the best, if not the best, players ever to don the No. 9 jersey. The Brazilian wore the 9 for top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and the Brazilian national team as well.
But when Ronaldo played for AC Milan, seeing the number 99 on his back was quite unusual. The reason? When Ronaldo arrived at AC Milan, the number 9 was already occupied by Filippo Inzaghi. Settling for the next best thing, Ronaldo chose the number 99.
Thus, R9 became R99 while playing at Milan.
1+8- Ivan Zomarano
Ivan Zomarano probably had the most creative jersey numbers in football. When the Chilean arrived at Inter Milan, the number 9 was occupied by Ronaldo Nazario.
Zamarano did not want to give up his original jersey number, so he came up with an out-of-the-box solution. He started wearing the number 1+8.
In Zamarono’s eyes, the math was mathing, and he was still Inter’s number 9.
41- Declan Rice
We are so accustomed to seeing Declan Rice wearing the No. 41 that it’s easy to forget that it’s still a bit weird for a midfielder who is probably one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
There is no great meaning behind the number; it was randomly assigned to Declan Rice when he was coming through as a youngster for the Hammers.
In an episode of The Overlap, he told Gary Neville, “I think ‘Rice 41’ has a nice ring to it, I’ve grown up playing in it and I’m a bit superstitious about things like that… I don’t know if changing to a new number would hamper my performances, I don’t know!”
Well, Declan might be right. Why fix something that’s not broken?
66- Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent’s number 66 has become one of the iconic numbers in the Premier League ever since he burst onto the stage in the 2017/18 season.
Just like Declan Rice, Trent also randomly got the number 66 when he came through as a youngster and has decided to stick with it.
Liverpool’s kit man Lee Radcliffe, who picked Trent’s number, said, “We don’t like to give them a low number in case they sort of think they’ve made it straight away, if you know what I mean. You pick it out because it’s a free number and it’s around that sort of number, you think, ‘We’ll give that out because he’s only just come down’. When you see him now lifting trophies and celebrating with No.66 on the back, it’s a weird feeling, and I can’t really describe it. It’s weird to see such a high number and for someone to be happy with it!”
I don’t think Liverpool fans would mind seeing Trent wear the No. 66 as long as he’s getting those assists and lifting those titles.
47- Phil Foden
Phil Foden was long hyped as the next big thing in Football ever since winning the U-17 FIFA World Cup with England.
Foden has delivered on his hype, becoming one of the key players in the Man City squad and winning multiple Premier League titles, including a treble in 2022/23.
Ever since Foden his debut in 2017, he has worn the number 47; he even turned down a chance to wear David Silva’s No. 10 jersey at Man City, and he has a good reason for it.
Foden wears the No. 47 as a tribute to his grandfather, Ronnie, who passed away at the age of 47. Foden even said, “I just have a thing with 47. I’d like to create my own legacy and keep that number.”
45- Mario Balotelli
When we talk about out-of-the-box and unorthodox in football, it seems right for Mario Balotelli to enter the conversation. Balotelli was once considered one of the best talents in football, but he failed to live up to the hype because of his off-the-field antics.
Balotelli wore the No. 45 for clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Inter Milan, among others. He chose this number as a youngster at Inter because when you add 4 and 5, it makes 9, a traditional number for a striker.
39- Bruno Guimares
Bruno Guimares has quickly become one of the big names in the Premier League since he arrived at Newcastle United in 2022. The Brazilian midfielder excels both as a No.6 and as a No.8 and is an undisputed starter for his club.
Bruno wears the No. 39, and the reason behind it is quite heartwarming. Explaining the reason behind it, Bruno said, “The number 39 gave me everything in life. It got me here to Newcastle. It fed me, clothed me, and paid for three-hour bus rides to pursue my dream. #039 was the dispatch number of my father’s taxi in Rio de Janeiro.”
22- Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has set the stage on fire even since his move to Real Madrid in the summer, and he is doing justice to Zidane’s No.5 jersey.
However, before joining Real Madrid, Jude wore the No. 22 Jersey at Dortmund and Birmingham FC.
This is because the staff at Birmingham told him not to limit himself to one role and that he had the capabilities of a 4(holding midfielder), 8 (box-to-box midfielder), and 10 (attacking midfielder), and play each position at the same level.
Bermingham also retired Jude’s No. 22 Jersey when he left the club at the age of 17.
Conclusion:
In the world of football, jersey numbers are more than mere digits; they tell tales of individuality, tribute, and occasionally, a touch of humor.
From Ronaldinho’s homage to his birth year in the number 80 to Ivan Zamorano’s creative math with “1+8,” these choices transcend the norm. Whether it’s Bixente Lizarazu’s lighthearted 69 or Trent Alexander-Arnold’s randomly assigned 66, each number bears a unique story.
Football’s odd jersey numbers illuminate the personal connections, superstitions, and heartwarming tributes that make the beautiful game even more enchanting.
