List of retired numbers in association football
Association football clubs around the world sometimes retire squad numbers to recognise players' loyal service, most as a memorial after their death.
Background
![](../I/Jersey_of_Diego_Maradona.jpg.webp)
This practice, long established in the major North American sports, is a recent development in football since squad numbers for specific players were not widely used until the 1990s. Before then, it was typical for players in the starting lineup to be issued numbers 1 to 11 by formation/position on a match-by-match basis, and substitutes to be numbered from 12 upwards, meaning a player might wear different numbers during the season if they were to play in different positions for tactical reasons, or simply not be a regular in the starting lineup.
Nevertheless, in the American league NASL, players always wore permanent numbers since its inception in 1967.[2] Moreover, Pelé's #10 was retired by the New York Cosmos during the farewell of the Brazilian star in 1977,[3] probably becoming the first number ever retired in association football.[4]
Mexico was pioneer country in the use of permanent numbers in football, being adopted in Primera División in the 1980s.[5]
Retiring a player's number usually occurs after the player has left the team or retired. It honours a player who has meant so much to his club that they retire the shirt number that the player wore during their time there, meaning no other player is permitted to use that number in the future. In some cases, such as those of Jason Mayélé, Vittorio Mero, Marc-Vivien Foé, Miklós Fehér, Ray Jones, Dylan Tombides, François Sterchele, David di Tommaso, Antonio Puerta, Besian Idrizaj, Piermario Morosini and Davide Astori, numbers have been retired to posthumously honour a player who died while still active. Also, Norwegian club Fredrikstad retired Dagfinn Enerly's number following an on-pitch accident that left him paralysed. In Britain, only Bobby Moore's, Jack Lester's and Jude Bellingham's shirt numbers have been retired due to great service to the club as opposed to a tragic incident. Although it has not been officially retired, Gianfranco Zola's No. 25 shirt has not been reissued by Chelsea since he left the club in 2003.
The Argentina, Ecuador and Cameroon national teams have been prevented from retiring the numbers of Diego Maradona (10), Christian Benítez (11)[6] and Marc-Vivien Foé (17), respectively, by FIFA rules dealing with squad numbers for Finals tournaments; in other competitions, qualifiers or friendlies, national associations may assign numbers according to criteria of their choosing. Similarly, several clubs have been required to reissue retired numbers for continental club competitions due to squad numbering rules of continental confederations. For example, CAF and CONMEBOL have such rules in their club competitions, but CONCACAF does not.
Some South American teams (such as Universitario de Deportes or Flamengo, and even Mexican teams invited for the occasions) have occasionally had to re-issue their retired numbers for special cases due to CONMEBOL rules, which state that shirts must be numbered 1–25 in continental club competitions (such as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, among others).
Retired numbers
Team | No. | Player | Position | Career | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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9 | ![]() |
Forward | 2013–2014 | posthumous | |
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18 | ![]() |
Striker | 2016–2021 | posthumous[7] | |
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5 | ![]() |
Defender | 1986–2001 | His number was temporarily retired for at least 10 years. In 2013, it was reactivated and given to Thanos Petsos. | |
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11 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2002–2018 | Retired for at least 11 years | |
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26 | ![]() |
Striker | 2012–2017 | Club's Legend[8] | |
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3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1989–2006 | ||
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7 | ![]() |
Striker | 1993–2012 | ||
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27 | ![]() |
Striker | 2003–2006 | ||
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23 | ![]() |
Striker | 2007–2008 | posthumous[9] | |
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13 | ![]() |
Striker | 2004–2014 | Club's Legend | |
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3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1967–1977 | posthumous | |
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88 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2012 2013–2014 |
posthumous[10] | |
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12 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1993–2012 | For goalkeepers only. Outfield players have worn the number since his retirement. | |
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01 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1990–2015 | His number was retired on 12 December 2015, when he retired from football. The number '1' may still be used, but the iconic '01', which is an inverted '10', is retired.[11] | |
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8 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1963–1967 1968–1979 1982–1984 |
Club Legend | |
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84 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2011–2020 | Club Legend | |
![]() |
20 | ![]() |
Forward | 1993–1998 2000–2009 |
||
![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1992–1997 2000–2004 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
24 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2017 | posthumous | |
![]() |
18 | ![]() |
Striker | 2005–2010 | ||
![]() |
26 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2000–2009 | posthumous | |
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17 | ![]() |
Striker | 2014 | posthumous | |
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20 | ![]() |
Defender | 1985–1997 | ||
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Winger | 1957–1977 | ||
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18 | ![]() |
Forward | 2002–2004 2005 |
||
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1991–1994 2002–2009 |
||
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8 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1991–1994 2005–2007 |
||
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12 | ![]() |
Defender | 1984–2002 | ||
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26 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2005–2009 | Lost his leg as a result of a lightning strike | |
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7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2005–2006 | posthumous | |
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22 | ![]() |
Striker | 1989–1994 1998 2001–2005 |
||
![]() |
29 | ![]() |
Striker | 2009–2010 2015–2020 |
Retired due to mental health issues | |
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22 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2019–2020 | Youngest-ever first-team player and goalscorer | |
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14 | ![]() |
Striker | 2007–2013 | ||
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9 | ![]() |
Forward | 2006–2010 | Following Stansfield's death from colorectal cancer during the 2010–11 season, the club retired his number 9 shirt for the following nine seasons.[12] From the 2020–21 season onwards, the shirt will be worn by a 'home-grown player'.[13] | |
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25 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2004–2007 | posthumous | |
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21 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2010–2011 | posthumous | |
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23 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2002–2003 | died on the pitch while playing for Cameroon, was at Manchester City on loan from Lyon at the time | |
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31 | ![]() |
Forward | 2006–2007 | posthumous | |
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2008–2010 | posthumous | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Centre back | 1958–1974 | posthumous | |
![]() |
38 | ![]() |
Striker | 2010–2014 | posthumous | |
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2004–2006 | posthumous | |
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Defender | 2008–2009 | posthumous | |
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17 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1995–1999 | posthumous | |
![]() |
9 | ![]() |
Striker | 2015–2019 | posthumous[18] | |
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29 | ![]() |
Right back | 2006–2019 | [19] | |
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29 | ![]() |
Centre back | 2000–2004 | posthumous | |
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Striker | 2004–2007 | posthumous | |
![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2012–2015 | posthumous | |
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24 | ![]() |
Shooting guard | 1996–2016 | Basketball legend, posthumous. Retired on January 27, 2020. | |
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17 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1996–1998 | posthumous | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Defender | 2010–2011 | posthumous | |
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56 | ![]() |
Defender | 2013–2014 | posthumous | |
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15 | ![]() |
Forward | 1990–2010 | ||
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7 | ![]() |
Striker | 1993–2007 | Number was retired in recognition of his career at the club and for his all-time record goal scoring in the league. He is the first in the history of Haitian football to have a number permanently removed from use.[20][21] | |
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11 | ![]() |
Forward | 1991–1995 1996–1998 1999–2001 2002–2009 |
Club Legend | |
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16 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2003–2007 | posthumous, retired from 2007–2009 | |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Sweeper | 1976–1997 | ||
![]() |
15 | ![]() |
Defender | 1992–1995 1996–1999 2001–2002 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
16 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2008–2010 | posthumous | |
![]() |
77 | ![]() |
Winger | 1996–2013 | Number retired on 2 June 2013 in respect of Luque being the most professional player in the DVTK history. His number retired for 10 years. | |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Right fullback | 1985–1999 | posthumous | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Deep-lying forward | 1939–1956 | retired in 2000, died 2006 | |
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Defender | 2014–2020 | Club's Legend[22] | |
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Midfielder | –2014 | posthumous, after the player died celebrating a goal.[23] | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Striker | 2004 | posthumous[24] | |
![]() |
47 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2006–2008 2010–2017 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1998–2000 | posthumous | |
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1999–2017 | posthumous | |
![]() |
33 | ![]() |
Striker | 2011–2012 | posthumous | |
![]() |
24 | ![]() |
Midfielder Forward |
2008–2015 | posthumous Died while sleeping. The cause of death was heart failure. A few days after the incident, Persepolis football club confirmed that the number 24 will be retired. | |
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4 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1998–2004 2006–2016 |
||
![]() |
30 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2003–2007 2010–2011 2012–2018 |
||
![]() |
18 | ![]() |
Striker | 2000–2014 | Number was retired in dedication to the club's all-time record goal scorer after he died of cancer. | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Centre back | 1966–1986 | posthumous[30][31] | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Striker | 2007 | posthumous | |
![]() |
20 | ![]() |
Midfielder/Forward | 1998–2006 2006–2014 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Forward | 1990–1997 1998–2003 2005–2008 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Right Back | 2000–2002 | ||
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Deep-lying forward | 1991–1997 | posthumous | |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Defender | 1982–1993 | ||
![]() |
27 | ![]() |
Defender | 2000–2001 | posthumous | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Deep-lying forward | 2000–2004 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Defender | 1998–2001 2002 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Striker | 1963–1978 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Defender | 2008–2014 | posthumous | |
![]() |
30 | ![]() |
Left/right winger | 2001–2002 | posthumous | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1995–1998 2002–2016 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Defender | 2015–2018 | posthumous | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Sweeper | 1988–1995 | posthumous | |
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2003–2004 2005–2013 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
Left fullback | 1961–1978 | posthumous | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Right fullback | 1995–2014 | Club's Legend | |
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25 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2012 | posthumous[34] | |
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41 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2001–2007 | ||
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1984–2009 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Defender | 1977–1997 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1984–1991 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Defender | 2008–2018 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1973–1979 | posthumous | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1993–1999 2003–2005 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Defender | 1996–1997 1998–2006 |
Club's Legend | |
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1953–1966 | posthumous | |
![]() |
25 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2007–2009 2011 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Defender | 1989–2001 | posthumous | |
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | posthumous | ||
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Defender | 2009–2013 | ||
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31 | ![]() |
Defender | 2002–2003 | ||
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1995–2010 | posthumous | |
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14 | ![]() |
Forward | 2000–2016 | [35] | |
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9 | ![]() |
Forward | 1976–1979 | posthumous | |
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Striker | 1987–2018 | [36] | |
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1995–2001 | ||
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Forward | 2008–2011 | ||
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1990–2013 | Club's Legend. Still serves today as an assistant coach of the senior team. | |
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1989–1998 1999–2001 2002–2003 |
||
![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Striker | 1953–1967 2008 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
22 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1970–1981 | posthumous | |
![]() |
26 | ![]() |
Forward | 2007–2014 | Number retired on 12 December 2014 | |
![]() |
28 | ![]() |
Right Winger | 1992–1997 2000–2011 |
The shirt is not fully retired. Arellano has given consent for his son to adopt the number 28. | |
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2000–2011 | His number had been retired on 23 October 2011 after Calero's retirement as a professional player. Later his number was retired again posthumous when he died on 4 December 2012. | |
![]() |
17 | ![]() |
Forward/Winger | 1994–1997 | ||
![]() |
20 | ![]() |
Forward/Winger | 1999–2001 | posthumous | |
![]() |
110 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2001–2008 2011 |
||
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1977–1982 | ||
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1989–1997 1998–2001 2003–2010 |
||
![]() |
23 | ![]() |
Defender | 2011 | ||
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Forward | 1957–1973 1981–1983 |
Club Legend | |
![]() |
34 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2016-2017 | Nouri collapsed on the pitch after suffering severe cardiac arrhythmia so therefore Ajax retired his number in honour | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2001–2002 | posthumous | |
![]() |
22 | ![]() |
Defender | 2004–2005 | posthumous | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Centre back | 2004–2005 | posthumous | |
![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Defender | 1983–1998 | posthumous | |
![]() |
22 | ![]() |
Defender | 2008–2019 | [37] | |
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Forward | ?-1973 | In 1973, during a football match between FK Osogovo and FK FAS 11 Oktomvri from Skopje, the 23-year-old Nikola Mantov –one of the best players of FK Osogovo at the time– collapsed on the field and died.[38] In his honor, the home-ground of FK Osogovo was named Nikola Mantov Stadium and the number 7 shirt was retired in his honour. | |
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Defender | 1986–2011 | number retired in 2011 to commemorate his world record of 1,013 senior appearances for the club | |
![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Winger | 2004–2005 | ||
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2003–2008 2016–2017 |
posthumous[39] | |
![]() |
77 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2006–2009 | posthumous | |
![]() |
22 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1986–2004 | ||
![]() |
9 | ![]() |
Forward | 1994–1998 2002–2008 2012–2013 |
||
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1966–1978 | posthumous | |
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Striker | 1974–1978 1980–1986 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
29 | ![]() |
Striker | 2002–2004 | posthumous | |
![]() |
29 | ![]() |
Forward | 2016–2017 | posthumous Died on 23 December 2017. The number was retired on 3 January 2018. Leonardo Acevedo was the last player to hold the number, but changed to the 59 shirt midway through the 2017–2018 season[40] | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2004–2005 | posthumous; has been worn again since 2009 | |
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1994–2000 | posthumous | |
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2016 | posthumous | |
![]() |
25 | ![]() |
Striker | 1995–1997 2002–2009 2010–2013 |
||
![]() |
16 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2001 | posthumous | |
![]() |
17 | ![]() |
Defender | 2003—2007 | posthumous | |
![]() |
61 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2008—2018 | Club's Legend | |
![]() |
23 | ![]() |
Striker | 1999 2001–2003 |
posthumous | |
![]() |
2 | ![]() |
Right Back | 1960–1970 | posthumous | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Forward | 1977–1982 1991–1999 |
||
![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Striker | –1998 | posthumous[41] | |
![]() |
20 | ![]() |
Striker | 1991–1996 2005–2010 |
Number retired on 31 July 2012.[42] | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2000 | posthumous | |
![]() |
9 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1964–1980 | posthumous | |
![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Defender/Midfielder | 1998–2005 | ||
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Defender | 2015–2016 | posthumous[43] | |
![]() |
1 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2005–2014 | posthumous[44] | |
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22 | ![]() |
Forward | 2000–2003 | posthumous | |
![]() |
18 | ![]() |
Striker | 1997–2003 2014 |
||
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1998–2012 | ||
![]() |
16 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1987–1992 1994–1999 |
||
![]() |
20 | ![]() |
Striker | 2009–2020 | ||
![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Forward | 1960–1970 | posthumous | |
![]() |
21 | ![]() |
Defender | 2002–2009 | posthumous | |
![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Winger | 2019 | posthumous[45] | |
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26 | ![]() |
Defender | 2010–2012 | posthumous | |
![]() |
18 | ![]() |
Striker | 2001–2010 | posthumous | |
![]() |
17 | ![]() |
Striker | 1992–1993 2006–2009 | ||
![]() |
15 | ![]() |
Winger | 1973–1988 | ||
![]() |
18 | ![]() |
Striker | 2004–2007 2009 |
The shirt was worn by Þórðarson during his comeback in the club during the 2009 season. Has been worn again since 2017. | |
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6 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1995–2006 2007 |
The shirt was worn by Moström during her comeback at the club during the 2007 season. | |
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6 | ![]() |
Central Defender | 2006–2018 | Retired the number for six years.[47] | |
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2 | ![]() |
Defender | 1987–2002 | ||
![]() |
17 | ![]() |
Defender | 1994–2001 2003–2010 |
||
![]() |
19 | ![]() |
Defender | 2009–2010 | posthumous | |
![]() |
90 | ![]() |
Forward | 2019 | posthumous[48] | |
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
[49] | |||
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2013–2015 | ||
![]() |
9 | ![]() |
Striker | 1976–1983 | Number posthumously retired in June 2014.[50][51] | |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Striker | 1975–1977 | Number retired on 1 October 1977, at halftime.[52] | |
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99 | ![]() |
Forward | 2013–2019 | He left the New York Red Bulls in 2019, but the franchise had announced his number would be retired in August 2018.[53] | |
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3 | ![]() |
Defender | 1978–1981 | Number posthumously retired 23 August 2003.[54] | |
![]() |
9 | ![]() |
Midfielder/Striker | 2005–2007 | Retirement ceremony held on 4 July 2011.[55][56] | |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Defender | 1975–1984 | Number retired 10 August 2013[57] | |
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1978–1982 1984 1991–1993 |
Number retired 1 October 2010[58] | |
![]() |
33 | ![]() |
Defender | 2003–2018 | ||
![]() |
33 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2010–2013 | posthumous[60] | |
![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Striker | 2001–2006 | ||
![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Defender | 2003–2006 | posthumous | |
![]() |
40 | ![]() |
Striker | 2009–2010 | posthumous |
Special cases
Team | No. | Player | Pos. | Career | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
3 | ![]() |
Left back, Centre-back | 1984–2009 | The shirt was not fully retired. Maldini has given consent for his sons to adopt the number 3 shirt if either of them play professionally for the club.[14][62] |
![]() |
6 | ![]() |
Centre-back | 1990–2003 | The shirt number had been retired by the club when the player left the club in 2003. When Kevin Strootman joined Roma in 2013, he asked for permission to wear number 6. The club approved the request after Aldair gave his consent.[63] |
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Striker | 2004–2007 2009–2013 |
Rather than retiring the number, the club opted to freeze the number for any future player that wants it, provided that the applying player meets 7 game achievements. Among those are scoring 3 goals overall against Sparta Prague, being nominated for his national team, winning the trophy for top goalscorer and others. Even though Milan Škoda met the requirements in the 2016–17 season, he opted to keep his number 21. The 7 was eventually given to Danny upon him joining the team for 2017-18 season. Vlček gave his consent and Danny pledged to work to meet the remaining criteria.[64] |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1979–1994 | The number 10 had been retired by Argentine Football Association in October 2001 to honour Maradona. Before the 2002 World Cup, the AFA submitted a squad list of 23 players for the tournament, listed 1 through 24, with the number 10 omitted.[14] FIFA rejected Argentina's list, and the governing body's president, Sepp Blatter suggested the number 10 shirt be instead given to the team's third-choice goalkeeper, Roberto Bonano. AFA ultimately submitted a revised list with Ariel Ortega, originally listed as number 23, as the number 10.[65] The number 10 has been worn by other players since, most notably by Lionel Messi, whom Maradona considered "his successor". |
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4 | ![]() |
Defender | 1981–1996 | The club retired the number after club captain McCathie was found dead in his home on 8 January 1996, as a result of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.[66] At that time, Scottish League clubs used shirt numbered from 1 to 11, so for the remainder of the 1995–96 season, 12 was used instead. However, the number was not retired permanently, and has been re-issued since. |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Striker | 1985–1988 1999–2005 |
In December 2005, Livorno officially retired the #10 jersey. However, Protti, who led the forward line and captained his side in two promotions from Serie C1 to Serie A, quickly gaining a reputation as a fan favourite, announced his willingness to see the #10 number reissued to another player, in order to "give anybody back a dream to dress it one day." This was made effective starting from the 2007–08 season, in which Francesco Tavano played with the #10 number.[67] |
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9 | ![]() |
Forward | 2006–2010 | The club retired the number 9 for nine seasons after the striker died of cancer on 10 August 2010.[12] |
![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Defender | –2007 | During a game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem, Levi chest-controlled and kicked the ball, ran back to defend, then collapsed. He returned to his feet, and then collapsed a second time. He was subsequently on a life-support machine, and has since returned home. The club claims that the number 12 is unofficially reserved for the fans.[68] |
![]() | 9 | ![]() | Forward | 1930–1953 | Number retired only for the 2013 season.[69] |
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17 | ![]() |
Chairman | 2014 | Leeds retired the number 17 shirt due to Italian chairman Massimo Cellino's superstitions, as 17 is considered an unlucky number in Italian culture. Number was re-issued in July 2019. |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1990–1994 2004–2007 |
Phil O'Donnell collapsed while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United in 2007. He was later pronounced dead at Wishaw General Hospital. The number 10 shirt was worn by his nephew David Clarkson during the 2008-09 season. Since Clarkson left in June 2009, it has not been retired, but has not been issued to any subsequent player. |
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22 | ![]() |
Striker | 2000−2003 | The club retired the number 22, after Manyathela died in a car crash in August 2003. However, Confederation of African Football rules state that shirts must be numbered 1–30 in continental club competitions, so Pirates has been re-issued it in those special cases. |
![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1995–2000 | The Spanish Football League allowed Oviedo to retire number 10 just for the 2000–2001 season, as an exception to its rules. At the end of the season, number 10 was re-issued. |
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16 | ![]() |
Left back, Left winger | 2004–2007 | The shirt has not been fully retired. It was temporarily retired after Puerta died of a cardiac arrest on the first matchday in La Liga 2007–2008 However, the Spanish Football Federation rules state that clubs must use number 1 to 25 for their regular squad, and as a result, David Prieto wore the number in 2008 in honour of his friend.[70] It has become a club policy to hold number 16 to players coming from the youth academy as a tribute to Puerta, who was a youth system product. Exceptions have been made when 16 was the only jersey number available.[71] |
![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Central defender | 1995–1998 | The club had retired the number to honor his services for the club. However, the retirement was revoked after 2004 season and the number given to Henning Hauger. |
![]() |
25 | ![]() |
Forward | 1996–2003 | Chelsea have not officially retired the number 25 shirt, but it has not been allocated to another player since Zola left the club in 2003. |
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13 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1994–2001 | Following Flahavan's death in a car accident in August 2001, Portsmouth and his first club, Southampton, retired their number 1 shirts for the 2001-02 season as a mark of respect. From the 2003-04 season, Portsmouth retired the number 13 shirt, as this was the number Flahavan wore during the majority of his time at the club. Number 13 remained unused until 2011, when it was allocated to goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, and it has been reissued since. |
![]() | 13 | ![]() | Midfielder | 1996–2007 | The number was not officially retired by the Galaxy but had not been worn since Jones retired. In 2017, it was given to Jermaine Jones.[72] |
![]() | 7 | ![]() | Forward | 1977–1981 1984 1988–1990 | Although his number had been retired by the original franchise in 1989,[73] the current team has reissued it. |
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14 | ![]() |
Forward | 1994–2008 | First ever retired shirt number in the history of Finnish football is ex-Haka's Valeri Popovitch's number 14. Popovitch has stated that his sons, who are still playing for Haka's junior teams, can wear the legendary number if they want.[74] |
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14 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2004–2006 | Philo was killed in a car accident and the number 14 shirt retired. It was later revealed he was significantly over the drink-drive limit and his car veered on to the other side of the road, killing a 58-year-old mother of two.[75] |
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16 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 1998–1999 | posthumous — returned to use in 2011 |
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17 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2000–2003 | posthumous — returned to use in 2008 |
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10 | ![]() |
Winger | 2002–2006 2009–2012 |
The club had announced that the number would remain out of circulation as long as Podolski is playing football on a professional level. Nevertheless, the #10 was given to Patrick Helmes in July 2014.[76] |
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3 | ![]() |
Central defender | 1984–2005 | Despite the club announcing the retirement of the number, it has been re-issued. |
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23 | ![]() |
Striker | 1995–1998 2000–2001 2004–2005 2006–2008 2011 |
The number was out of circulation for a period of 23 months (starting May 2012) in honor of the second top scorer in the history of the club.[77] |
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11 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1998–2011 2013– (as part of the coaching staff). |
The shirt was never officially retired, but it was not issued out of American competitions for the time between Morales' exit and his return as a coach. All players intending to wear the jersey have to ask for Morales' consent. It is now being worn by Isaác Brizuela. |
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8 | ![]() |
Midfielder/Forward | 1998–2002 2003–2004 2005–2009 |
His number was just temporarily retired for 5 years. After that period, it was reactivated and given to Hirving Lozano in 2014.[78] |
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17 | ![]() |
Non-player | 2001– | The shirt was retired posthumously, to honour Michikata who played a key role in establishment of former Tosu Futures and their revival as Sagan Tosu, and who died due to kidney cancer on 7 January 2000. Number 17, derived from the day of his death, was selected to be retired. The number would later also be dedicated to the club's fans, thus they have not retired squad number 12 like most Japanese League teams. |
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7 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1970–1987 | The shirt was retired after Parvin's retirement, but Parvin gave the shirt to player Hamid Estili and the shirt has since not been retired permanently. |
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21 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 1996–2004 | Joined the club as a free agent from eternal rivals Real Madrid, and spent eight years at Barcelona. In his last years, he became the captain of the team. The shirt was retired for just two years (2004–06), since La Liga did not allow to retire numbers permanently. Former coach of the team. The number 21 shirt was awarded to Lilian Thuram in 2006. |
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7 | ![]() |
Striker | 2010–2012 | At the time Raúl left the club, the team intended to retire the jersey indefinitely.[83] However, the retirement of this shirt only lasted one year; since 2013 it has been worn by Max Meyer. |
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1 | ![]() |
Goalkeeper | 2003–2018 | Carl Ikeme retired from professional football before the 2018–2019 season after complete remission from acute leukaemia and the club decided to leave the jersey previously worn by Ikeme vacant[84] with newly signed Rui Patrício unusually wearing the number 11[85] and the other team goalkeepers wearing numbers ending in "1".[86][87] |
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15 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2005–2014 | Sydney FC have not officially retired the number 15 shirt, but it has not been allocated to another player since McFlynn retired from professional football in 2014. McFlynn also held a staffing position with Sydney FC from 2014 until 2019. |
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20 | ![]() |
Midfielder | 2018–2020 | Akhaa Ahli Aley have retired the squad number 20, in honour of Atwi's death in 2020 due to a stray bullet in the head. The club has retired the number for two seasons—from 2020 to 2022—the duration in which Atwi stayed at the club.[88] |
Dedication to fans
Some clubs dedicate a number to their fans, and do not issue it to any player. The most common number for this practice is 12, from descriptions of the fans as "the twelfth man".
In Japanese footballing tradition, almost all the professional teams retired the number 12 for their supporters. The only two teams not to retire 12 are Urawa Red Diamonds and Sagan Tosu (Sagan retired 17 for a similar reason).
Other clubs and teams include:
Notes: 1 Despite of having their number "12" retired, Brazilian clubs have had to re-issue them for CONMEBOL competitions such as Copa Libertadores, where the squads must be numbered from 1 to 25 consecutively.[91]
2 Exeter City reserve the number 12 shirt for the 'Twelfth Man' sponsor of individual games. [92]
AIK and Djurgården IF reserve the number 1 for their supporters.
Indy Eleven reserve the number 11 for their supporters.
Reading, Notts County and Bryne reserve the number 13 for their supporters, Panathinaikos reserve this number in honour of Gate 13, the ultras based in the respective gate in home matches. Norwich City also reserve the number 13 shirt for "the fans" while Shrewsbury Town reserve the number 13 shirt for the fan who wins a pre-season competition.
After their 15-point deduction, Leeds United retired the number 15 shirt for the 2007–08 season only.[93]
Bursaspor reserve the number 16 for their supporters.
AFC Bournemouth use squad number 27 for the Steve Fletcher Stand which houses the large majority of hardcore supporters, the number 50 for "12th man" and the number 99 shirt for their mascot, Cherry Bear.
Gillingham use squad number 13 for the 'Rainham End' Stand of Priestfield Stadium as this stand holds the majority of hardcore supporters.
Oldham Athletic reserve the number 40 for their fans.
Panathinaikos have reserved the number 13 in honour of Gate 13.
Levadiakos have reserved the number 10 for the club president, Giannis Kobotis.
Leicester City have reserved the number 50 for the mascot, Filbert Fox, which he wears on his shirt at every game.
APOEL have reserved the shirt number 79 in honour of PAN.SY.FI. (APOEL Ultras), to denote the year the group was founded, 1979.[94]
Rochdale retired the number 55 shirt on 13 January 2017 in honour of five-year old Joshua McCormack who lost his battle with cancer.[95]
Atlanta United reserve the number 17 for their supporters and to reference their inaugural season in Major League Soccer.[96] For the 2021 MLS season, the club also reserved the number 44 as part of a tribute by Atlanta-area sports teams in memory of Henry Aaron of the local MLB club, who died January 22, 2021, where all sports teams in the area reserved the No. 44 for the year.
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