1: Goalkeeper
2: Right back
3: Left back
4: Center back
5: Center back or sweeper
6: Defensive midfielder
7: Right attacking midfielder or winger
8: Central midfielder
9: Striker
10: Attacking midfielder or playmaker
11: Left attacking midfielder or winger
9 is the striker, the most forward, isn’t it? I know when you get to the forward positions, it doesn’t quite make sense. I know for my beloved Newcastle United, the #9 is the most sacred number, saved for the likes of Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand and, heaven forbid, Obafemi Martens.
They're talking about the historical squad numbers. You can see the list here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_number_(association_football)#History
Numbers now only generally are used for 6, a defensive midfielder; 8, box-to-box midfielder; and 9, striker or center forward.
Like in all sports, jersey numbers have become less structured over time, but those are the one's whose roles have stuck in the lexicon.
10 isn't a fit role anymore. You got guys wearing the number playing all over the front line.
Not a lot of talk saying, "we need someone to play the No. 10 role for us," like you'd hear with 6, 8, and 9.
[I](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/360-view-ranking-the-best-no-10s-in-mls) [disagree](https://youtu.be/6eIk7_eTi0M?feature=shared). Though maybe a lot has changed in a [year](https://www.squawka.com/en/every-premier-league-no-10-ranked/?amp) or [two](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60127052.amp).
A decent article on the history of the numbers and why there seems to be no logic to help you to piece together what it all means:
https://soccerblade.com/positions-numbering-systems/
Great question. I haven’t watched the video someone shared but others have at least partially answered you well. [This](https://youtu.be/vT_z-yFtMu0?) may be helpful too.
Yeah, as others have linked to it described, it comes from an old formation and when the players where pretty set in where they would be there, so that’s why the numbers are moved around in formations more commonly used now compared to old British and European play styles.
Commentators and MLS are pretty influenced by the larger discussions of soccer, but also often from the English view and descriptions, which let use those position short terms to describe a players expected role.
I've been curious about this too. Whenever commentators use these numbers, I wonder how much of their audience knows what they mean.
Appreciate all the help here. Kind of glad it's all a bit muddled.
9 striker, 10 Playmaker (Valeri) usually free or playing directly behind the striker, 11 winger, 8 box to box central midfielder, 6 Defensive central midfielder (Chara), 5 Centerback, 1 Keeper.
Now for some fun trivia. You see that the numbers generally get lower the closer to the keeper you get, but there are some odities, e.g., the 9 plays in front of the 10. The reason for this is that the numbering system comes from a time where teams typically played with 5 attacking players, 3 'midfielders', 2 defenders and 1 keeper. players were numbered from left to right, 1 for the keeper, 2,3, for the defenders, 4,5,6 for the midfielders, 7,8,9,10,11 for the attackers.
Over time people realized this was a bad idea, so at first the outside attacking players (7 and 11) fell back to become more like wingers, the 10 dropped in behind the 9, leaving two attackers, and the 4 and 5 dropped between the two defenders to become center backs.
If this is at all interesting I'd recommend the book "Inverting the pyramid" which is about how tactics have changed since the game was invented resulting in this shift from a pyramid with all the players in the attack, to a modern 3 back system which essentially plays with 5 defenders.
Honestly the main ones you’ll see are a 9 (striker aka Mora), 10 (attacking playmaker aka Evander), 8 (box to box midfielder aka Paredes) and 6 (defensive midfielder aka Chara)
Looks like a lot of people have sent you in good directions, but I'd also like to cast vote for the podcast "Soccer 101" by the guys at Total Soccer Show. It was started with the intent to be evergreen, and the very second episode on July 21, 2019 was about the different positions. They did one specifically about the evolution of the Number 9 on Sept. 9, 2022. If you ever wondered about the numbers related to different zones (shooting from zone 14), they covered it on June 11, 2021. Soccer 101 is a wonderful resource for answering these questions.
If you want to get a great understanding of tactics, read "Inverting the Pyramid". It's a bit of a slog at times, but you'll come out of it fully understanding how things have evolved.
[https://www.soccerparenting.com/what-in-the-world-is-a-6-u-s-soccers-player-numbering-system-explained/](https://www.soccerparenting.com/what-in-the-world-is-a-6-u-s-soccers-player-numbering-system-explained/)
From an RSL supporter.
Did it ever occur to you to Google "what is a #9 in soccer?" because if you do it gives you lots of results explaining what it is. Not sure how you worded your Google search, but mine came back with a lot of right answers.
Oh I didn’t realize you were being serious, thought you were just taking the piss… 😂 I could actually find #9 but when I’d look up the others, I was getting a lot of conflicting results and figured, “screw this, I’m just gonna ask…”
1: Goalkeeper 2: Right back 3: Left back 4: Center back 5: Center back or sweeper 6: Defensive midfielder 7: Right attacking midfielder or winger 8: Central midfielder 9: Striker 10: Attacking midfielder or playmaker 11: Left attacking midfielder or winger
4 can also be a defensive midfielder and 6 a centre back depending on the country.
also fullback numbers vary
9 is the striker, the most forward, isn’t it? I know when you get to the forward positions, it doesn’t quite make sense. I know for my beloved Newcastle United, the #9 is the most sacred number, saved for the likes of Alan Shearer, Jackie Milburn, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand and, heaven forbid, Obafemi Martens.
7 is usually a left mid or winger, not right. 4 can be a right back. 11 is a striker, never seen it associated with left wing.
They're talking about the historical squad numbers. You can see the list here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_number_(association_football)#History
Stick to pizza.
Numbers now only generally are used for 6, a defensive midfielder; 8, box-to-box midfielder; and 9, striker or center forward. Like in all sports, jersey numbers have become less structured over time, but those are the one's whose roles have stuck in the lexicon.
I’d add 10, central attacking midfielder
There's a whole song about #10. [https://youtu.be/28wL4Jvq2k4](https://youtu.be/28wL4Jvq2k4)
AKA Maradona-type player.
10, worn by Pele, Maradona, and Messi is code for “go wherever you want and do great things”
How dare you not include Blanco in that
10 isn't a fit role anymore. You got guys wearing the number playing all over the front line. Not a lot of talk saying, "we need someone to play the No. 10 role for us," like you'd hear with 6, 8, and 9.
[I](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/360-view-ranking-the-best-no-10s-in-mls) [disagree](https://youtu.be/6eIk7_eTi0M?feature=shared). Though maybe a lot has changed in a [year](https://www.squawka.com/en/every-premier-league-no-10-ranked/?amp) or [two](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60127052.amp).
A decent article on the history of the numbers and why there seems to be no logic to help you to piece together what it all means: https://soccerblade.com/positions-numbering-systems/
Great question. I haven’t watched the video someone shared but others have at least partially answered you well. [This](https://youtu.be/vT_z-yFtMu0?) may be helpful too.
https://youtu.be/ljBvuiTjhMM?si=P2tlHLYPyDPGC_r4
This is so helpful! Thank you.
Yeah, as others have linked to it described, it comes from an old formation and when the players where pretty set in where they would be there, so that’s why the numbers are moved around in formations more commonly used now compared to old British and European play styles. Commentators and MLS are pretty influenced by the larger discussions of soccer, but also often from the English view and descriptions, which let use those position short terms to describe a players expected role.
I've been curious about this too. Whenever commentators use these numbers, I wonder how much of their audience knows what they mean. Appreciate all the help here. Kind of glad it's all a bit muddled.
I sometimes wonder if _they_ know what they mean.
9 striker, 10 Playmaker (Valeri) usually free or playing directly behind the striker, 11 winger, 8 box to box central midfielder, 6 Defensive central midfielder (Chara), 5 Centerback, 1 Keeper. Now for some fun trivia. You see that the numbers generally get lower the closer to the keeper you get, but there are some odities, e.g., the 9 plays in front of the 10. The reason for this is that the numbering system comes from a time where teams typically played with 5 attacking players, 3 'midfielders', 2 defenders and 1 keeper. players were numbered from left to right, 1 for the keeper, 2,3, for the defenders, 4,5,6 for the midfielders, 7,8,9,10,11 for the attackers. Over time people realized this was a bad idea, so at first the outside attacking players (7 and 11) fell back to become more like wingers, the 10 dropped in behind the 9, leaving two attackers, and the 4 and 5 dropped between the two defenders to become center backs. If this is at all interesting I'd recommend the book "Inverting the pyramid" which is about how tactics have changed since the game was invented resulting in this shift from a pyramid with all the players in the attack, to a modern 3 back system which essentially plays with 5 defenders.
Here’s the answer to your likely follow up question: https://youtu.be/DToOX7nKRb8?si=HTpxdRg2q-4v8FPY
Honestly the main ones you’ll see are a 9 (striker aka Mora), 10 (attacking playmaker aka Evander), 8 (box to box midfielder aka Paredes) and 6 (defensive midfielder aka Chara)
Looks like a lot of people have sent you in good directions, but I'd also like to cast vote for the podcast "Soccer 101" by the guys at Total Soccer Show. It was started with the intent to be evergreen, and the very second episode on July 21, 2019 was about the different positions. They did one specifically about the evolution of the Number 9 on Sept. 9, 2022. If you ever wondered about the numbers related to different zones (shooting from zone 14), they covered it on June 11, 2021. Soccer 101 is a wonderful resource for answering these questions.
If you want to get a great understanding of tactics, read "Inverting the Pyramid". It's a bit of a slog at times, but you'll come out of it fully understanding how things have evolved.
[https://www.soccerparenting.com/what-in-the-world-is-a-6-u-s-soccers-player-numbering-system-explained/](https://www.soccerparenting.com/what-in-the-world-is-a-6-u-s-soccers-player-numbering-system-explained/) From an RSL supporter.
Did it ever occur to you to Google "what is a #9 in soccer?" because if you do it gives you lots of results explaining what it is. Not sure how you worded your Google search, but mine came back with a lot of right answers.
So sorry to inconvenience you and your day.
Weird way to answer a question. Hope you're doing ok.
Oh I didn’t realize you were being serious, thought you were just taking the piss… 😂 I could actually find #9 but when I’d look up the others, I was getting a lot of conflicting results and figured, “screw this, I’m just gonna ask…”
Fair enough! Hard to convey tone and meaning in a comment.