In 1995/96, 43.2% of the numbers issued were 1–11. By 2025/26 it was 38.5%, a fall of 4.7 points. The average number rose from 13.9 to 16.6.
See the numbers
Season
1–11
Average
Numbers
1995/96
43.2%
13.9
329
1996/97
39.9%
14.7
353
1997/98
38.5%
15.2
361
1998/99
38.5%
15.2
330
1999/2000
37.2%
15.8
288
2000/01
38.2%
15.5
280
2001/02
38.6%
15.4
228
2002/03
37.9%
16.5
314
2003/04
36.3%
16.8
234
2004/05
36.3%
16.8
237
2005/06
37.8%
16.6
341
2006/07
37.7%
16.4
308
2007/08
37.8%
15.7
368
2008/09
37.3%
16.4
287
2009/10
37.9%
15.9
354
2010/11
36.6%
16.6
434
2011/12
39.6%
15.1
444
2012/13
40.9%
14.9
416
2013/14
40.5%
14.8
504
2014/15
39.7%
15.3
546
2015/16
40.1%
14.9
499
2016/17
39.3%
15.1
521
2017/18
36.5%
16
570
2018/19
38.1%
15.6
533
2019/20
36.5%
16.3
561
2020/21
35.9%
16.5
601
2021/22
36.7%
16.4
591
2022/23
38.3%
15.9
562
2023/24
38.3%
15.6
551
2024/25
40.9%
14.9
530
2025/26
38.5%
16.6
169
Which numbers get worn
#1 is the most-worn number in this selection, 469 times. The thinnest end of the tail is #49, worn 1.
1–11 in green, 12 and above in blue.
Who leaves out 13
Share of squads that issued 13 at all, since 2000. English lower-league clubs skip it most often.
La Liga is shown in a different colour because it isn’t a choice there: Spanish clubs register a first-team squad numbered 1–25, so 13 is issued unless the squad is unusually small. For the same reason, Spain barely appears above 25 and shouldn’t be compared with the rest on the chart above.
The one-number men
Longest unbroken runs in the same number at the same club.
The season in progress is left out of the trends. Squads fill up as a season goes on, and the numbers added last are the high ones.
Leagues run different rules. Spain numbers its first-team squad 1–25, which decides both how high its numbers go and whether 13 is used, so it is never averaged in silently.
The data is compiled from Wikipedia and is thinner for some seasons than others; a season with fewer than 100 numbers on record is left off the trend.