The numbering scheme and the names of the positions remained the same as first introduced. With the advent of the “W-M” formation in the 1950s, players started to move into positions on the field that are a little more familiar to the common day. Accordingly, the following numbers were applied to the jerseys of the players, corresponding to the positions they played: There was no real substitution, very little interchange between positions, and teams played the same formation. Beginning with number 1, numbers were assigned from the back-to-the-front, and from right-to-left, starting with the goalkeeper and proceeding along the lines of the fullbacks, halfbacks, and forwards in a straight 2-3-5 formation. The first position number scheme in soccer appeared in England in the 1920s. This is possibly due to the proliferation of position names (See: “ Soccer Positions”), it appears to be hoped that a general numbering scheme will reduce confusion, both among players and coaches, and help with a common understanding that transfers between teams, coaching instruction, and different formations. It has also recently come back into vogue.

The use of soccer position numbers is to help identify positions all over the field and has been in practice for years.

Soccer positions by number explained