List of retired numbers in association football

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Association football clubs around the world sometimes retire squad numbers to recognise players' service to the club, whether that be through their loyalty or quality.

Background

Signed jersey worn by Diego Maradona during his tenure on Italian club Napoli, exhibited at the San Siro Museum of Milan. The number 10 he wore was retired by Napoli in 2000.[1]

This practice, long established in the major North American sports, is a recent development in football elsewhere, 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.

In contrast, in the former American league the North American Soccer League, players 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 on 1 October 1977,[3] becoming the first number ever retired in association football.[4]

Mexico was a pioneer country in the use of permanent numbers in football; these were adopted in the Primera División in the 1980s.[5]

Retiring a player's shirt number usually occurs after the player has left the team or retired. It honours a player who has meant much to his club, and no other player is permitted to use that number in the future. In some cases, such as those of Marc-Vivien Foé, Davide Astori, and Diogo Jota, 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 had not been officially retired, Gianfranco Zola's No. 25 shirt had not been reissued by Chelsea since he left the club in 2003 until re-issued to Moisés Caicedo in 2023.[6]

The Argentina, Ecuador and Cameroon national teams have been prevented from retiring the numbers of Diego Maradona (10), Christian Benítez (11)[7] 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[8] and CONMEBOL have such rules in their club competitions,[9] but CONCACAF does not.

Some South American teams (such as Universitario de Deportes and Flamengo, and even Mexican teams invited for the occasions) occasionally had to re-issue their retired numbers for special cases due to CONMEBOL rules, which stated that shirts had to be numbered 1–25/30 in continental club competitions (such as Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, among others), although nowadays clubs are not forced to number their players consecutively.

Retired numbers

More information Team, No. ...
Team No. Player Pos. Tenure Notes
Argentina Godoy Cruz 18 Uruguay Santiago García FW 2016–21 Posthumous[n3 1]
Australia Central Coast Mariners
19
 Australia Matt Simon 2006–12, 2013–15, 2018–22 Club legend[14]
Austria Red Bull Salzburg
26
 Spain Jonathan Soriano 2012–17 Club legend[15]
Austria Sturm Graz 3 Austria Günther Neukirchner DF 1989–2006 Club legend
7 Austria Mario Haas FW 1993–2012
Austria SV Ried 27 Austria Sanel Kuljić 2003–06
Azerbaijan Netfçi PFK 9 Azerbaijan Anatoliy Banishevskiy 1963–1978 Club legend[16]
Belgium Sporting Charleroi 11 Belgium Dante Brogno 1986–2001 Club legend
Belgium Club Brugge 23 Belgium François Sterchele 2007–08 Posthumous[17]
Belgium Genk 16 South Africa Anele Ngcongca DF 2007–16 Posthumous
Belgium OH Leuven 13 Belgium Bjorn Ruytinx FW 2004–14 Club legend
Belgium UR Namur 3 Belgium Michel Soulier DF 1967–77 Posthumous
Bosnia and Herzegovina Borac Banja Luka 8 Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Žižović MF 2012–14 Posthumous
Brazil Avaí 88 Brazil Cléber Santana MF 2012, 2013–14 Posthumous[18]
Brazil São Paulo
01
 Brazil Rogério Ceni GK 1990–2015 Club legend[n3 2]
Bulgaria Lokomotiv Plovdiv
8
 Bulgaria Hristo Bonev MF 1963–67, 1968–79, 1982–84 Club legend
Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 84 Bulgaria Marcelinho 2011–20
Canada CF Montréal 20 Canada Mauro Biello FW 1993–98, 2000–09
Canada Serbian White Eagles 9 Canada Mike Stojanović 1973–76 Club legend[20]
Canada Vancouver Whitecaps 5 Canada Bob Lenarduzzi DF 1974–84, 1987–93 Club legend
10 Canada Domenic Mobilio FW 1987–2001 Club legend[21]
Chile Cobreloa 8 Chile Fernando Cornejo MF 1992–97, 2000–04 Posthumous
China Beijing Enterprises 24 Ivory Coast Cheick Tioté 2017
China Beijing Guoan 13 China Xu Yunlong DF 1999–2016 Club legend
China Chengdu Blades 18 China Yao Xia FW 2005–10
China Dalian Shide 26 China Zhang Yalin MF 2000–09 Posthumous
China Dalian Transcendence 17 China Wang Renlong FW 2014
China Heilongjiang Ice City 5 China Ren Jianglong DF 2015–22
Costa Rica Alajuelense 20 Costa Rica Mauricio Montero DF 1987–98 Club legend
Costa Rica Cartaginés 11 Costa Rica Leonel Hernández FW 1957–77
Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
14
 Georgia (country) Temur Ketsbaia MF 1991–94, 2002–09
Czech Republic Baník Ostrava 27 Czech Republic Milan Baroš FW 1998–01, 2013, 2014–15, 2017–20 No. retired in 2020[22]
Czech Republic České Budějovice 8 Czech Republic Karel Poborský MF 1991–94, 2005–07 Club legend
Czech Republic Viktoria Plzeň 27 Czech Republic František Rajtoral DF/MF 2009–16 Posthumous
28 Slovakia Marián Čišovský DF 2011–14
Denmark AaB 12 Denmark Torben Boye 1984–2002 Club legend
Denmark Nordsjælland 26 Denmark Jonathan Richter MF 2005–09 After retirement[n3 3]
Denmark Næstved BK 7 Denmark Rasmus Green 2005–06 Posthumous
Denmark Viborg FF 22 Denmark Søren Frederiksen FW 1989–94, 1998, 2001–05
England Accrington Stanley
29
 Northern Ireland Billy Kee 2009–10, 2015–20 Prematurely retired[n3 4]
England Birmingham City 22 England Jude Bellingham MF 2019–20 [n3 5]
England Chesterfield 14 England Jack Lester FW 2007–13 Club legend
England Hartlepool United 25 England Michael Maidens MF 2004–07 Posthumous[24]
England Liverpool 20 Portugal Diogo Jota FW 2020–25 Posthumous[25]
England Macclesfield 20 England Ethan McLeod MF 2025–26 Posthumous[26]
England Macclesfield Town 21 England Richard Butcher MF 2010–11 Posthumous[27]
England Manchester City
23
 Cameroon Marc-Vivien Foé MF 2002–03 Posthumous[n3 6]
England Millwall
20
 Montenegro Matija Sarkic GK 2023–24 Posthumous[28]
England Queens Park Rangers 31 England Ray Jones FW 2006–07 Posthumous[24]
England Rochdale 15 England Joe Thompson CM 2006–12, 2016–19 Posthumous[29]
England Rushden & Diamonds 1 England Dale Roberts GK 2008–10 Posthumous[30]
England West Ham United 6 England Bobby Moore DF 1958–74 Posthumous[24]
38 Australia Dylan Tombides[31] FW 2010–14 Posthumous
England Wycombe Wanderers
14
England Mark PhiloMF2004–06Posthumous[n3 7]
France Clermont 14 France Clément Pinault DF 2008–09 Posthumous
France Lens 17 Cameroon Marc-Vivien Foé MF 1995–99
France Nantes 9 Argentina Emiliano Sala FW 2015–19 Posthumous[33]
France Nice 17 France Kevin Anin MF 2012–13 Prematurely retired[n3 8]
France Rennes 29 France Romain Danzé DF 2006–19 Club legend[35]
France Saint-Étienne 24 France Loïc Perrin 2003–20 Club legend
France Sedan 29 France David Di Tommaso 2000–04 Posthumous
Germany Bayern Munich 5 Germany Franz Beckenbauer DF 1964–77 Posthumous[36]
Germany Wacker Burghausen 11 Slovakia Marek Krejčí FW 2004–07 Posthumous
Germany VfL Wolfsburg 19 Belgium Junior Malanda MF 2012–15
Greece AEL 29 Uruguay Mathías Acuña FW 2021–22
Greece Panathinaikos 32 EnglandGreece George Baldock DF 2024
Greece PAOK 17 Greece Panagiotis Katsouris MF 1996–98
Greece Skoda Xanthi 13 Nigeria Olubayo Adefemi DF 2010–11
56 Ivory Coast Steve Gohouri 2013–14
Guatemala C.S.D. Municipal 15 Guatemala Juan Carlos Plata FW 1990–2010 Club legend
Haiti Roulado 7 Haiti Jean-Robert Menelas 1993–2007 [n3 9]
Honduras Olimpia 11 Honduras Wilmer Velásquez 1991–2009 Club legend
Hong Kong Happy Valley
8
 Hong Kong Cheung Sai Ho MF 1994–2011 Posthumous
Hong Kong Hong Kong Rangers 15 Hong Kong Cheung Yiu Lun DF 1992–99, 2001–02 Posthumous
Hong Kong Sham Shui Po 83 Hong Kong Wong Chun Hin MF 2022 Posthumous
Hong Kong South China 38 Serbia Mateja Kežman FW 2011, 2012 Club legend[39]
Hong Kong Kitchee 19 Hong Kong Huang Yang MF 2011–24 Club legend[40]
Hungary Ferencváros 2 Hungary Tibor Simon DF 1985–99 Posthumous
Hungary Kispest AC/Honvéd 10 Hungary Ferenc Puskás FW 1939–56 No. retired in 2000
India Bethlehem Vengthlang 21 India Peter Biaksangzuala MF ?–2014 Posthumous[n3 10]
India Dempo SC 10 Brazil Christiano Junior FW 2004 Posthumous[42]
Indonesia Arema 1 Indonesia Kurnia Meiga GK 2008–17 Club legend
47 Indonesia Achmad Kurniawan 2006–08, 2010–17 Posthumous
Indonesia Persebaya Surabaya 19 Indonesia Eri Irianto MF 1998–2000
Indonesia Persela Lamongan 1 Indonesia Choirul Huda GK 1999–2017
Indonesia Persib Bandung 24 Indonesia Hariono MF 2008–19 Club legend
Indonesia Persija Jakarta 14 Indonesia Ismed Sofyan DF 2002–22
20 Indonesia Bambang Pamungkas FW 1999–2005, 2007–13, 2015–19
Indonesia Persis Solo 17 Indonesia Ferry Anto 2001–16 Posthumous
33 Paraguay Diego Mendieta 2011–12
Indonesia PSIS Semarang 9 Indonesia Erik Dwi Ermawansyah 2017–18
22 Indonesia Hari Nur Yulianto 2013–23 Club legend
Iran Persepolis
24
 Iran Hadi Norouzi MF/FW 2008–15 Posthumous[43][44][45][46]
Iran Sepahan 4 Iran Moharram Navidkia MF 1998–2004, 2006–16 Club legend
Iran Zob Ahan 30 Iran Mehdi Rajabzadeh MF 2003–07, 2010–18 [47]
Republic of Ireland Derry City 5 Republic of Ireland Ryan McBride DF 2007–17 Posthumous[n3 11]
18 Republic of Ireland Mark Farren FW 2000–14 Posthumous[n3 12]
Republic of Ireland Limerick 4 Republic of Ireland Joe O'Mahony DF 1966–86 Posthumous[48]
Republic of Ireland Treaty United 4 Posthumous
Israel Hapoel Be'er Sheva 6 Zambia Chaswe Nsofwa FW 2007
Israel Maccabi Haifa 20 Israel Yaniv Katan MF/FW 1998–2014 Club legend
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 8 Israel Avi Nimni FW 1990–97, 1998–2003, 2005–08
12 Israel Meni Levi DF 2000–02 Prematurely retired[n3 13]
Italy Atalanta 14 Italy Federico Pisani FW 1991–97 Posthumous
Italy Bari 2 Italy Giovanni Loseto DF 1982–93 Club legend
Italy Bologna 27 Italy Niccolò Galli 2000–01 Posthumous
Italy Brescia 10 Italy Roberto Baggio FW 2000–04 Club legend
13 Italy Vittorio Mero DF 1998–2002 Posthumous
Italy Cagliari 11 Italy Gigi Riva FW 1963–78 Club legend
13 Italy Davide Astori DF 2008–14 Posthumous
Italy Chievo 30 Democratic Republic of the Congo Jason Mayélé FW 2001–02
31 Italy Sergio Pellissier 2002–19 Club legend[50]
Italy Crotone 4 Italy Antonio Galardo MF 1995–98, 2002–16 Club legend
Italy Fiorentina 13 Italy Davide Astori DF 2015–18 Posthumous
Italy Genoa 6 Italy Gianluca Signorini 1988–95
7 Italy Marco Rossi MF 2003–13 Club legend
Italy Internazionale 3 Italy Giacinto Facchetti DF 1961–78 Posthumous
4 Argentina Javier Zanetti 1995–2014 Club legend[51][52]
Italy Livorno 25 Italy Piermario Morosini MF 2012 Posthumous[53]
Italy Messina 41 Italy Salvatore Sullo 2001–07 Club legend[54]
Italy Milan 3 Italy Paolo Maldini DF 1984–2009 Club legend[n3 14]
6 Italy Franco Baresi 1977–97 Club legend[24]
Italy Napoli 10 Argentina Diego Maradona MF 1984–91 Club legend[56]
Italy Parma 6 Italy Alessandro Lucarelli DF 2008–18 Club legend
Italy Pescara 4 ItalySwitzerland Vincenzo Zucchini MF 1973–79 Posthumous
Italy Roma 10 Italy Francesco Totti FW 1993–2017 Club legend
Italy Salernitana 4 Italy Roberto Breda MF 1993–99, 2003–05
Italy Sassuolo Italy Francesco Magnanelli 2005–22 Club legend[n3 15]
Italy Siena Italy Michele Mignani DF 1996–97, 1998–2006 Club legend
Italy Vicenza 3 Italy Giulio Savoini 1953–66 Posthumous
25 Italy Piermario Morosini MF 2007–09, 2011
Jamaica Montego Bay 2 Jamaica Stephen Malcolm DF 1989–2001
Jamaica Reno 7 Jamaica Caple Donaldson MF
Japan Fujieda MYFC 2 Japan Toshihide Saito DF 2009–13
Japan Thespa Kusatsu 31 Japan Ryosuke Okuno 2002–03
Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 3 Japan Naoki Matsuda 1995–2010 Posthumous
Kazakhstan Astana 1 Kazakhstan Nenad Erić GK 2011–20 [58][59]
Kazakhstan Shakhtar Karagandy 14 Kazakhstan Andrei Finonchenko FW 2000–16 [60]
Kosovo Trepça '89
15
 Kosovo Erion Kajtazi[61] MF 2022 Posthumous
 Liberia 14 Liberia George Weah FW 1987–2018 [62]
Libya Al Ahly Tripoli Libya Tarik El Taib MF 1995–2001
Maldives VB Addu FC 7 Maldives Ali Ashfaq FW 2008–11
Malta Valletta Malta Gilbert Agius MF 1990–2013 Club legend
Malta Lija 6 Malta Daniel Scerri 2003–23
Mexico Atlante 12 Mexico Félix Fernández GK 1989–2003
Mexico Guadalajara 8 Mexico Salvador Reyes FW 1953–67, 2008 No. retired in 2013[63]
22 Mexico José Martínez González MF 1970–81 Posthumous[64][65]
Mexico Monterrey 26 Chile Humberto Suazo FW 2007–14 Club legend
28 Mexico Jesús Arellano 1992–97, 2000–11 [n3 16]
Mexico Pachuca 1 Colombia Miguel Calero GK 2000–11 Posthumous[n3 17]
17 Costa Rica Hernán Medford FW 1994–97
20 Argentina Pablo Gómez 1999–2001 Posthumous
110 Colombia Andrés Chitiva MF 2001–08, 2011 [n3 18]
Mexico UANL 7 Peru Gerónimo Barbadillo 1977–82 [68]
Morocco Raja Casablanca 23 Morocco Zakaria Zerouali DF 2011 Posthumous
Netherlands Ajax 14 Netherlands Johan Cruyff FW 1957–73, 1981–83 No. retired in 2007[69]
Netherlands SCG'18 11 Netherlands Jan van Os 1998–
Netherlands Telstar 22 Netherlands Luciano van den Berg DF 2004–05 Posthumous
Netherlands Utrecht 4 France David di Tommaso 2004–05
Netherlands Vitesse Netherlands Theo Bos 1983–98
New Zealand Wellington Phoenix 22 New Zealand Andrew Durante 2008–19 Club legend[70]
North Macedonia FK Osogovo 7 North Macedonia Nikola Mantov FW ?–1973 Posthumous[71]
Northern Ireland Linfield 11 Northern Ireland Noel Bailie DF 1986–2011 Club legend[n3 19]
Norway Fredrikstad 8 Norway Dagfinn Enerly MF 2004–05
Panama Árabe Unido 21 Panama Amílcar Henríquez 2003–08, 2016–17 Posthumous[72]
Panama Chepo 77 Panama Jonathan Rodríguez 2006–09 Posthumous
Peru Universitario
9
 Peru Teodoro Fernández FW 1930–53 [73]
22
 Peru José Luis Carranza MF 1986–2004 [74]
Poland Arka Gdynia 5 Poland Zbigniew Bieliński DF 1966–81 Posthumous[75]
Poland Cracovia 1 Poland Vatican City John Paul II GK – Club supporter[n3 20]
Poland GKS Katowice 9 Poland Jan Furtok FW 1979–88, 1995–98 Club legend[78]
Poland Legia Warsaw 10 Poland Kazimierz Deyna MF 1966–78 Posthumous
Poland Piast Gliwice 21 Spain Gerard Badía 2014–21 Club legend[79]
Poland Pogoń Szczecin 5 Brazil Edi Andradina FW 2005–07, 2011–13 Club legend[80]
78 Poland Olgierd Moskalewicz MF 1991–98, 2003–04, 2009–10 Club legend[81]
Poland Raków Częstochowa 13 Poland Piotr Malinowski 2015–21 Club legend[82]
Poland Stal Kraśnik 5 Poland Damian Pietroń DF 2002–03, 2010–12, 2013–19, 2022–25 Club legend
Poland Stomil Olsztyn 2 Poland Andrzej Biedrzycki DF 1985–2001, 2002 Posthumous[83]
Poland Widzew Łódź 11 Poland Włodzimierz Smolarek FW 1974–78, 1980–86 Posthumous
Poland Zagłębie Lubin 10 Poland Paweł Piotrowski MF 1996–2002 Posthumous[84]
Portugal Benfica 29 Hungary Miklós Fehér FW 2002–04 Posthumous
Portugal Boavista Portugal Edu Ferreira 2016–17 Posthumous[n3 21]
Romania Argeș Pitești 10 Romania Nicolae Dobrin MF 1962–81, 1982–83 Posthumous
Romania Dinamo București 11 Romania Cătălin Hîldan 1994–2000
14 Cameroon Patrick Ekeng 2016
25 Romania Ionel Dănciulescu 1995–97, 2002–09, 2010–13 Club Legend
Romania Steaua București 7 Romania Marius Lăcătuș FW 1983–90, 1993–2000 No. retired on 7 July 2021
Russia CSKA Moscow 16 Ukraine Serhiy Perkhun GK 2001 Posthumous
Russia Rubin Kazan 17 Russia Lenar Gilmullin DF 2003–07 Posthumous
61 Turkey Gökdeniz Karadeniz MF 2008–18 Club legend
Russia Ural 23 Russia Pyotr Hrustovsky FW 1999, 2001–03 Posthumous
Scotland Heart of Midlothian 26 Lithuania Marius Žaliūkas DF 2007–13 Posthumous
El Salvador FAS 10 El Salvador Mágico González FW 1977–82, 1991–99 Club legend
El Salvador Municipal Limeño 11 El Salvador Oscar Armando Díaz ?–1998 Posthumous[86]
Saudi Arabia Najran SC 20 Saudi Arabia Al Hasan Al-Yami 1991–96, 2005–10 No. retired in 2012[87]
Serbia Partizan Belgrade 22 Serbia Saša Ilić MF 1996–2005, 2010–19 Club legend[88]
Serbia Radnički Niš 10 Serbia Ivan Krstić 1999–2000 Posthumous
Serbia Red Star Belgrade 11 Serbia Dragan Džajić 1963–75, 1977–78 Club legend[89]
26 Serbia Goran Gogić 2013−14 Posthumous[90]
Slovakia Spartak Trnava 9 Slovakia Ladislav Kuna 1964–80 Posthumous
Slovenia Maribor 19 Croatia Stipe Balajić DF/MF 1998–2005 Club legend
33 Slovenia Jasmin Handanović GK 2011–21
9 Brazil Marcos Tavares FW 2008–22
South Africa Ajax Cape Town 21 South Africa Cecil Lolo DF 2009–15 Posthumous[91]
South Africa Orlando Pirates 1 South Africa Senzo Meyiwa GK 2005–14 Posthumous[92]
10 South Africa Jomo Sono MF Club legend
13 South Africa Clifford Moleko 1997–98 Posthumous
22 South Africa Lesley Manyathela FW 2000–03
South Korea Daejeon Citizen FC 18 South Korea Kim Eun-jung 1997–2003, 2014 Club legend
21 South Korea Choi Eun-sung GK 1998–2012
South Korea Daewoo Royals 16 South Korea Kim Joo-Sung MF 1987–92, 1994–99
South Korea FC Seoul 13 South Korea Go Yo-han 2004–23
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 20 South Korea Lee Dong-gook FW 2009–20
Spain Córdoba 8 Spain Juanín 1960–70 Posthumous
Spain Espanyol 21 Spain Daniel Jarque DF 2002–09
Spain Extremadura 19 Spain Jose Antonio Reyes FW 2019 Posthumous[93]
Spain Real Betis 26 Spain Miki Roqué DF 2010–12 Posthumous
Sweden Assyriska FF 18 Sweden Eddie Moussa FW 2001–10
Sweden Helsingborgs IF 17 Sweden Henrik Larsson 1992–93, 2006–09
Sweden Kalmar FF 15 Sweden Johny Erlandsson MF 1973–88 Club legend[n3 22]
8 Sweden Henrik Rydström 1993–2013 Club legend[n3 23]
Sweden Norrköping 18 Iceland Stefán Þórðarson FW 2004–07, 2009 Club legend[n3 24]
Sweden Umeå IK 6 Sweden Malin Moström MF 1995–2007 Club legend[n3 25]
Switzerland Basel 2 Switzerland Massimo Ceccaroni DF 1987–2002
20 Switzerland Fabian Frei MF 2007–15, 2018–24
Switzerland St. Gallen 17 Switzerland Marc Zellweger DF 1994–2001, 2003–10
Thailand TOT-CAT 19 Thailand Chanont Wong-aree 2009–10 Posthumous
Turkey Alanyaspor 90 Czech Republic Josef Šural FW 2019 Posthumous[96]
Turkey İstanbul Başakşehir 12 Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – – Significant supporter[n3 26]
Turkey Konyaspor 6 Turkey Ahmet Yılmaz Çalık DF 2013–22 Posthumous
United States Baltimore Blast
3
Canada Mike ReynoldsDF1986–91Posthumous[98]
United States Colorado Rapids
17
 United States Marcelo Balboa DF 1996–2001 No. retired in 2025[99]
25
 United States Pablo Mastroeni MF 2002–13 No. retired in 2021[100]
United States Eastern Illinois men's
19
United States Erik Proffitt1987–88Posthumous[n3 27]
United States Hofstra men's
5
United States Gary FloodDF2003–06No. retired in 2008[103][104]
9
England Michael ToddFW2003–06No. retired in 2008[103][104]
United States Hofstra women's
17
United States Tiffany YovinoFW2007–10No. retired in 2011[103][105]
20
United States Sue WeberDF2005–07No. retired in 2008[103][105]
United States FC Kansas City 12 United States Lauren Holiday MF 2013–15
United States New York Cosmos
9
 Italy Giorgio Chinaglia FW 1976–83 Posthumous[n3 28]
10
 Brazil Pelé 1975–77 Club legend[n3 29]
United States New York Red Bulls
99
 England Bradley Wright-Phillips 2013–19 Club legend[n3 30]
United States Portland Timbers
3
 England Clive Charles DF 1978–81 Posthumous[n3 31]
United States Rochester New York
14
Trinidad and Tobago Mickey TrotmanMF2001Posthumous[112]
19
United States Doug MillerFW1996–99, 2003–06No. retired in 2006[113]
United States Tampa Bay Rowdies
6
 South Africa Mike Connell DF 1975–84 No. retired in 2013[114]
12
 United States Perry Van der Beck MF 1978–82, 1984, 1991–93 Club legend[n3 32]
United States UMass women's
1
United States Briana ScurryGK1990–93Club legend[116][117]
2
United States April KaterFW1987–90Club legend[116]
Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 33 Croatia Darijo Srna[118] DF 2003–18 Club legend
Ukraine Zorya Luhansk Ukraine Maksym Bilyi MF 2010–13 Posthumous[119]
Vietnam Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
13
 Thailand Kiatisuk Senamuang FW 2001–06 Club legend
14
 Vietnam Võ Bá Khôi DF 2003–06 Posthumous
Wales Cardiff City 7 England Peter Whittingham[120] MF 2007–17
Wales Swansea City
40
 Austria Besian Idrizaj[121] FW 2009–10
Close
Notes
  1. [1]
    Number retired after García died by suicide on 4 February 2021.[10][11][12] He was the all-time club top scorer in Argentine Primera División.[13]
  2. [2]
    His double-digit number, worn from 2007, was retired on 12 December 2015 when he retired from football. The single-digit '1' may still be used, but the iconic '01', which is an inverted '10', is retired.[19]
  3. [3]
    Richter lost his leg as a result of a lightning strike[23]
  4. [4]
    Kee had to leave football due to mental health issues.
  5. [5]
    Recognised as the youngest-ever first-team player and goalscorer.
  6. [6]
    Foé died on the pitch while playing for Cameroon, was at Manchester City on loan from Lyon at the time.[24]
  7. [7]
    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.[32][24]
  8. [8]
    Anin retired after suffering a serious car accident which left him paralyzed.[34]
  9. [9]
    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.[37][38]
  10. [10]
    Biaksangzuala died while celebrating a goal[41]
  11. [11]
    Number was retired in dedication to the club's captain after he died in his sleep in 2017. McBride was 27 years old.
  12. [12]
    Number was retired in dedication to the club's all-time record goal scorer after Farren died of cancer in 2016.
  13. [13]
    On January 26, 2002 during an Israeli Premier League match against Beitar Jerusalem, Levi suddenly collapsed in the middle of the pitch, away from the run of play. Levi was treated for years, and later returned to his family house in a vegetative state.[49]
  14. [14]
    Exception granted for another member of Maldini family, in which case the number would be reissued.[55]
  15. [15]
    Current record holder for most appearances[57]
  16. [16]
    The shirt is not fully retired. Arellano has given consent for his son to adopt the number 28.
  17. [17]
    Calero's 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.
  18. [18]
    Chitiva was given number 100 in 2011 to commemorate the 110th. anniversary of the club. Chitiva was chosen to carry that number due to his career in the club.[66][67]
  19. [19]
    No. retired in 2011 to commemorate his world record of 1,013 senior appearances for the club.
  20. [20]
    Pope John Paul did not play for Cracovia but was a strong supporter of the team.[76] The number was retired on 4 January 2005 during Pope's private audience with the players and staff of Cracovia in Vatican City, during which they gave him a shirt with his name and number.[77]
  21. [21]
    Ferreira died on 23 December 2017, with the number retired on 3 January 2018. Leonardo Acevedo was the last player to hold the number, but changed to the 59 shirt midway through the 2017–18 season.[85]
  22. [22]
    Previous record holder for most appearances
  23. [23]
    Current record holder for most appearances and current manager[94]
  24. [24]
    The shirt was worn by Þórðarson during his comeback for the club during the 2009 season. Has been worn again since 2017.
  25. [25]
    The shirt was worn by Moström during her comeback at the club during the 2007 season.[95]
  26. [26]
    Erdogan was not a player but a politician (Turkish prime minister, later president) and long-time supporter of the club.[97] The number 12 refers to the "12th man".
  27. [27]
    Proffitt died in April 1989 after contracting spinal meningitis. He was 20 years old.[101][102]
  28. [28]
    Number retired in June 2014 by the |second incarnation of the Cosmos and remained retired by the current franchise.[106][107]
  29. [29]
    Number retired by the original New York Cosmos on 1 October 1977, at half-time of his testimonial match.[108] The number remained retired by the second incarnation of the club and then by the current franchise.[109]
  30. [30]
    Wright-Phillips left the New York Red Bulls in 2019, but the franchise had announced his number would be retired in August 2018[110]
  31. [31]
    Number retired on 23 August 2003[111]
  32. [32]
    Number retired on 1 October 2010 by Tampa Bay before they rebranded into the second incarnation of the Rowdies.[115]

Special cases

More information Team, No. ...
Team No. Player Pos. Tenure Notes
 Argentina national team
10
Argentina Diego MaradonaMF1977–94Retired and re-issued[n1 1]
Argentina River Plate
12
––1949–2013[n1 2]Unofficially retired[n1 3]
Australia Sydney FC
15
Northern Ireland Terry McFlynnMF2005–14Unofficially retired[n1 4]
Austria Rapid Wien
5
Austria Peter SchöttelDF1986–2001Temporarily retired[n1 5]
Austria Rapid Wien
11
 Germany Steffen Hofmann MF 2002–18 Retired for at least eleven years
Brazil Palmeiras 12 Brazil Marcos GK 1993–2012 Retired for GK only[n1 6]
Brazil Santos
10
 Brazil Pelé FW 1956–74 Temporarily retired[n1 7]
Colombia Santa Fe
23
Colombia Léider PreciadoFW1995–98, 2000–01, 2004–08, 2011Temporarily retired[n1 8]
Czech Republic Slavia Prague
7
 Czech Republic Stanislav Vlček 2004–07, 2009–13 Not fully retired[n1 9]
 Ecuador national team
11
Ecuador Christian Benítez2005–13Retired and re-issued[n1 10]
England Bradford City
8
England Tomi Solomon2019–21Retired in academy[n1 11]
England Portsmouth
13
 England Aaron Flahavan GK 1994–2001 Temporarily retired[n1 12]
England Leeds United
17
Italy Massimo Cellino–2014Temporarily retired[n1 13]
England Exeter City
9
England Adam StansfieldFW2006–10Temporarily retired[n1 14]
England Wolverhampton
1
Nigeria Carl IkemeGK2003–18Temporarily retired[n1 15]
Finland FC Haka
14
Russia Valeri PopovitchFW1994–2008Partially retired[n1 16]
France Lyon
16
France Luc BorrelliGK1998–99Temporarily retired[n1 17]
17
Cameroon Marc-Vivien FoéMF2000–03Temporarily retired[n1 18]
Germany 1. FC Köln
10
 Germany Lukas Podolski MF 2002–06, 2009–12 Temporarily retired[n1 19]
Germany Schalke 04
7
Spain RaúlFW2010–12Temporarily retired[n1 20]
Honduras Motagua 16 Honduras Edy Vásquez MF 2003–07 Temporarily retired[n1 21]
Hungary Diósgyőri VTK 77 Spain José Juan Luque 1996–2013 Temporarily retired[n1 22]
Indonesia PSIM Yogyakarta 91 Brazil Rafinha FW 2024–25 Temporarily retired[n1 23]
Iran Persepolis
7
 Iran Ali ParvinMF1970–87Partially retired[n1 24]
Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
12
 Israel Meni Levi DF 2000–02 Unofficially retired[n1 25]
Italy Livorno
10
 Italy Igor Protti FW 1985–88, 1999–2005 Temporarily retired[n1 26]
Italy Milan
3
 Italy Paolo Maldini DF 1984–2009 Partially retired[n1 27]
Italy Roma
6
Brazil AldairDF1990–2003Temporarily retired[n1 28]
Japan Sagan Tosu
17
 Japan Sakata Michitaka – 2001– Key figure[n1 29]
Kosovo Llapi 9 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Fadil Vokrri FW 1976–79 Retired and re-issued
Lebanon Akhaa Ahli Aley
20
 Lebanon Mohamed Atwi MF 2018–20 Temporarily retired[n1 30]
Mexico Guadalajara
11
 Mexico Ramón Morales 1998–2011[n1 31] Unofficially retired[n1 32]
Mexico Pachuca
8
 Mexico Gabriel Caballero MF/FW 1998–2009 Temporarily retired[n1 33]
Mexico UNAM
12
Mexico Sergio BernalGK1989–2001, 2003–10Retired and re-issued[159]
Netherlands Ajax
34
Netherlands Abdelhak NouriMF2016–17Unofficially retired[n1 34]
Norway Stabæk
7
Norway Christer BasmaDF1995–98Temporarily retired[n1 35]
Portugal Benfica
10
Portugal Fernando ChalanaMF1976–84, 1987–90Temporarily retired[n1 36]
Portugal União Leiria Portugal Hugo Cunha 2004–05 Temporarily retired[n1 37]
Scotland Dunfermline Athletic
4
 Scotland Norrie McCathie DF 1981–96 Temporarily retired[n1 38]
Scotland Motherwell
10
 Scotland Phil O'Donnell MF 1990–94, 2004–07 Unofficially retired[n1 39]
South Africa Orlando Pirates
22
 South Africa Lesley Manyathela FW 2000−03 Occasionally re-issued[n1 40]
Spain Barcelona
21
Spain Luis EnriqueMF1996–2004Temporarily retired[n1 41]
Spain Oviedo
10
Slovakia Peter DubovskýMF1995–2000Temporarily retired[n1 42]
Spain Sevilla
16
Spain Antonio PuertaDF2004–07Temporarily retired[n1 43]
Sweden Östers IF
6
 Sweden Mario Vasilj DF 2006–18 Temporarily retired[n1 44]
Sweden Hammarby IF 10 Sweden Kennedy Bakircioglu MF 1999–2003, 2012–18 Temporarily retired[n1 45]
Turkey Galatasaray
3
Turkey Bülent KorkmazDF1984–2005Temporarily retired[n1 46]
United States LA Galaxy
13
United States Cobi JonesMF1996–2007Unofficially retired[n1 47]
United States North Carolina women's
19
 United States Mia Hamm FW 1989–93 Retired[169][170] and re-issued[171]
United States Real Salt Lake
9
 United States Jason Kreis MF/FW 2005–07 Retired and re-issued[n1 48]
11
 Argentina Javier Morales MF 2007–16 Retired and re-issued[n1 48]
United States Tampa Bay Rowdies
7
South Africa Steve WegerleFW1977–81, 1984, 1988–90Temporarily retired[n1 49]
Close
Notes
  1. [1]
    The number 10 had been retired by the 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.[24] 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.[122] The number 10 has been worn by other players since, most notably by Lionel Messi, whom Maradona considered "his successor".
  2. [2]
    Period counts since squad numbers were established as mandatory in Argentina.[123]
  3. [3]
    Following an initiative by then manager Ramón Díaz,[124] the club decided to put this number out of circulation in 2013 because arch-rival Boca Juniors fans are nicknamed "La 12".[125][126][127] Due to Conmebol rules (that forced players to wear consecutive numbers) the #12 was occasionally re-issued for international competitions. Nevertheless, the number has not been issued since 2024 neither in domestic nor in international competitions.[124]
  4. [4]
    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.
  5. [5]
    Schottel's number was temporarily retired for at least ten years. In 2013, it was reactivated and given to Thanos Petsos.
  6. [6]
    Outfield players are allowed to use the number.
  7. [7]
    The number 10 was temporarily retired in honor renowned striker Pelé following the club's relegation from the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A after 111 years.[128]
  8. [8]
    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.[129]
  9. [9]
    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.[130]
  10. [10]
    The number 10 had been retired by the FEF in 2013 to honour Benítez, died at 27 years old from a cardiac arrest.[131][132] Nevertheless, the number had to be reissued due to FIFA rules for the 2014 World Cup that stated squads to be numbered 1–23.[7] For that occasion, Felipe Caicedo was given number 11.[133]
  11. [11]
    Bradford retired number 8 across all age groups of the Bradford Academy, after the tragic death of 13-yo player Tomi Solomon, stating that it shall 'remain with him forever'.[134] Solomon drowned in River Calder in 2021.[135] The decision did not include the senior squad, where the number remain in use.
  12. [12]
    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. [13]
    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.[136]
  14. [14]
    The club retired the number 9 for nine seasons after the striker died of cancer on 10 August 2010. The number returned to use in 2020, following the arrival of Stansfield’s son, Jay Stansfield, at Exeter City. As of 2023, Jay Stansfield continues to wear the number 9 shirt.[137]
  15. [15]
    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,[138] with newly signed Rui Patrício unusually wearing the number 11[139] and the other team goalkeepers wearing numbers ending in "1".[140][141] In 2021, the number was reissued following the signing of new goalkeeper José Sá, and after Ikeme stated publicly that he wished for someone to take the number.[142][143]
  16. [16]
    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.[144]
  17. [17]
    Posthumous – returned to use in 2011.
  18. [18]
    Posthumous – returned to use in 2008.
  19. [19]
    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.[145]
  20. [20]
    At the time Raúl left the club, the team intended to retire the jersey indefinitely.[146] However, the retirement of this shirt only lasted one year; with Max Meyer wearing it from 2013 to 2018.
  21. [21]
    Posthumous, retired from 2007 to 2009.
  22. [22]
    Retired on 2 June 2013 in respect of Luque being the most notable player in the DVTK history. His number was retired for ten years.
  23. [23]
    Rafina left PSIM for PSIS Semarang on 29 December 2025 in a loan deal with an option to buy. However, seeing that he had contributed massively in PSIM's promotion back to the top-flight after 18 years away, the PSIM management has decided to retire his number with nobody else other than him being allowed to use the number again.[147]
  24. [24]
    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.[148][149][150][151]
  25. [25]
    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.[152]
  26. [26]
    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.[153]
  27. [27]
    Maldini's number was not fully retired so he gave consent for his sons to adopt the number 3 shirt if either of them play professionally for the club.[24][154]
  28. [28]
    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.[155][156] The number remained in use and has given to other players since.
  29. [29]
    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.
  30. [30]
    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.[157]
  31. [31]
    Career as player. Since 2013, Morales became part of the coaching staff.
  32. [32]
    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.
  33. [33]
    Caballero's number was just temporarily retired for five years. After that period, it was reactivated and given to Hirving Lozano in 2014.[158]
  34. [34]
    Nouri collapsed on the pitch after suffering severe cardiac arrhythmia,[160] which forced him to leave football.[161] Number 34 has not been issued since then.
  35. [35]
    The club had retired the number to honor Basma's career at Stabæk. However, the retirement was revoked after 2004 season and the number given to Henning Hauger.
  36. [36]
    After the death of Chalana, the club announced the number 10 jersey would become vacated for the 2022–23 season.[162]
  37. [37]
    Posthumous; has been worn again since 2009.
  38. [38]
    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.[163] 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.
  39. [39]
    O'Donnell collapsed while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United in 2007. He was 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.
  40. [40]
    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 re-issued it in those special cases.
  41. [41]
    Luis Enrique joined the club as a free agent from eternal rivals Real Madrid, spending eight years at Barcelona, even becoming captain of the team. The shirt was retired for just two years (2004–06), since La Liga did not allow numbers to be retired permanently. The number 21 shirt was awarded to Lilian Thuram in 2006. Since his arrival at the club in 2020, Frenkie de Jong currently holds the number 21 shirt, taking it from Carles Aleñá.
  42. [42]
    The Spanish Football League allowed Oviedo to retire number 10 just for the 2000–01 season, as an exception to its rules. At the end of the season, number 10 was re-issued.
  43. [43]
    The number was temporarily retired after Puerta died of a cardiac arrest on the first match day in La Liga 2007–2008. However, 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.[164] It has become a club policy to reserve number 16 for 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.[165]
  44. [44]
    Retired for six years.[166]
  45. [45]
    Retired for ten years between 2019 and 2028.[167]
  46. [46]
    Despite the club announcing the retirement of the number, it has been re-issued.
  47. [47]
    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.[168]
  48. [48]
    Jason Kreis's number 9 was not worn by RSL players after the time of its retirement in 2011.[172] However, in 2019, when the club decided to retire Javier Morales's number 11, Kreis pleaded with the club to recirculate his number 9. As a result, both number 9 and number 11 are still circulated numbers for the club. Kreis and Morales's names and numbers are "retired" and displayed prominently above the player's tunnel on the west concourse of America First Field.[173]
  49. [49]
    Although his number had been retired by the original franchise in 1989,[174] the current team has reissued it.

Dedication to fans

Number 12

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". Clubs and teams that do not give the '12' to any player include:

Notes
  1. [1]
    Despite 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,[175] although that rule changed and teams can use arbitrary numbers from 1 to 50.[9]

Other numbers retired

  • 1 – AIK, Djurgården IF, and PSIM Yogyakarta[182] reserve the number for their supporters.
  • 7 – Paysandu reserve the number for their supporters.
  • 11 – Indy Eleven reserve the number for their supporters.
  • 13 – Reading and Bryne reserve the number for their supporters, Panathinaikos reserve the number in honour of Gate 13, the ultras based in the respective gate in home matches. Between 2002 and 2007 Norwich City reserved the number 13 shirt for "the fans" after which it was worn by Declan Rudd while Shrewsbury Town reserve the number 13 shirt for the fan who wins a pre-season competition.
  • 16 – Bursaspor reserve the number for their supporters.
  • 17 – Atlanta United FC reserve the number for their supporters and to reference their inaugural season in Major League Soccer.[183] For the 2021 MLS season, the club also reserved the number 44 as part of a tribute by Atlanta-area sports teams in memoriam of Henry Aaron of the local MLB club, who died on 22 January 2021.[184]
  • 17 – Sagan Tosu retired the number in dedication to their fans.
  • 27 – Bournemouth use squad number 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.
  • 33 – Remo reserve the number for their supporters.
  • 40 – Oldham Athletic reserve the number for their fans.
  • 55 – Rochdale retired the number on 13 January 2017 in honour of five-year old Joshua McCormack who died of cancer.[185]
  • 58 – Portsmouth retired the number for their mascot Nelson, with Nelson’s name and number appearing on club issued match day programmes
  • 79 – APOEL have reserved the shirt number in honour of PAN.SY.FI. (APOEL Ultras), to denote the year the group was founded, 1979.[186]
  • 88 – Barito Putera have reserved the shirt number to honor the identity of the team which was formed in 1988.[187]

References

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