Football squad numbering is simply implemented in order to classify each player’s role on the pitch from one another, with each number signifying the role and responsibility of each player.
With that being said, the first instance of players wearing jerseys with number inscriptions on their backs was in 1911, and fast forward to 1950 in a FIFA competition.
In football, the jersey numbers 10, 7, 9, and 11 are the most iconic numbers in the game, but over the years football enthusiasts have seen great players wear different numbers inscriptions on their backs.
While modern football has departed from the traditional numbering of jerseys, with some of the game’s most iconic players donning the unconventional and unorthodox number let’s look at the best number 4 players of all time.
Best Players To Wear The Number 4 Jersey
Center-defenders or defensive-minded midfielders are more often than not given the number 4 jersey, perhaps due to their style of play, role, and responsibility on the pitch.
In years past the number 4 was often donned by what the German or South Americans called the sweeper/libero in a team.
The sweeper or libero as the case may be is often saddled with mopping up the ball upfield whenever an opposition breaches the defensive line and also building up the attack when the team is on the ascendency.
1. Franz Beckenbauer
During Beckenbauer’s formative years, he wasn’t known for donning the number 4 jersey, but when he grew up into a more mature and renowned player he was really popular amongst the fans with the number 4.
The legendary German as a professional footballer wasn’t about the ‘no 4’ alone, he was actually a perfect example of what a sweeper or libero was.
Like Kompany, Beckenbaur started his career as a midfielder before making a successful transition to defense, a position he played with aplomb during his active years as a professional.
As a defender, he won the Balloon d’Or twice, and that automatically inked his name as one of the greatest players to ever laced cleats in the history of the game.
2. Sergio Ramos
Former Real Madrid legend Ramos is the only active player on this list still wearing the number 4 jersey, unlike others who are retired.
Like Fernando Hierro, he also inherited the number 4 jersey from the man himself and went on to replicate his goal-scoring ability, leadership skills, and passion for winning at Real Madrid.
With Ramos in your defense as a coach, you could go to bed without the fear of misfortune to your team, just because he’s an amazing defender and a leader.
He notched over 100 goals for Real Madrid and won several trophies before bidding goodbye to the Santiago Bernabeu fans.
3. Patrick Vieira
Vieira, being one of the rear-gem signed by Arsene Wenger went on to dominate the Premier League with swashbuckling and domineering style
Prior to his move to Highbury Stadium the old ground of Arsenal, the Frenchman wasn’t blistering with eye-catching performance at AC Milan where he struggled with fitness issues.
However, his move to North London under Wenger repositioned his career, and he went on to become a legend at the club, where he captained them to several successes.
During his successful nine-season at Arsenal, he played as a defensive midfielder of note, and was renowned for his leadership skills, tackling prowess, amazing ball-playing skills, eye for brilliant passes, and tactical intelligence.
You can’t talk about some of the finest players that wore or still wearing the number 4 jersey, without including the lanky midfielder in the conversation for his indelible mark and contributions to the beautiful game.
4. Ronald Koeman
The legendary Dutch defender is arguably one of the best to ever play the beautiful game for the Netherlands and particularly Barcelona where he stands as a legend.
Koeman will not only be remembered for wearing the number 4 jersey, he’ll also be remembered for winning and scoring free-kicks with his thunderous left foot.
The versatile defender didn’t only play professionally at Barcelona, he turned up for Groningen, Ajax Amsterdam, and PSV Eindhoven in his home-country.
Before bidding goodbye to the game at the highest level during his illustrious career, he won four consecutive La Liga titles and a Champions League at Barcelona.
5. Fernando Hierro
The legendary Los Blancos captain ranks as one of the most scoring defenders in the world, having notched in 163 goals throughout his professional career.
Being one of the best players to ever wear the number 4 jersey in the history of the game.
Hierro inherited the number 4 in the early 90s and went on to make a name for himself wearing the number.
Like Kompany, he also started his career as a central midfielder before he was later deployed into a more defensive role, where he racked up a total of 163 goals throughout his 14-season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
6. Claude Makelele
If you’re to ask a manager or an ex-footballer what he thinks about Makelele’s football career, they’ll definitely have a lot to say about the legendary midfielder.
However, speaking of players’ and managers’ thoughts on Makelele the ones that come to mind is Zidane’s thought, where he famously compared him to an engine in a Bentley.
While Ranieri also compared him to the battery in Chelsea’s midfield when he was on the pitch for the Blues following his arrival from Real Madrid.
Makelele is arguably the finest defensive midfielder ever to wear the number 4 jersey, and he convincing wore the number with immense intelligence and sniffed out the danger with aplomb.
The Frenchman was no doubt an unappreciated glue at Madrid, but his name will never be forgotten as one of the best efficient midfielders with a mind-blowing tackle.
7. Steve Bruce
If the old saying about as time dulls memories are anything to go by, perhaps people who couldn’t see Bruce in full flesh at Old Trafford probably won’t have much to say about his legends.
However, those who saw him walk through the tunnel to the pitch won’t forget in a hurry his contributions at United.
Bruce’s name will forever stand tall as one of the most astute signings made by the great Scot ‘Sir Alex Ferguson’, in 1987 going on to form a formidable partnership with Gary Pallister.
The no-nonsense defender didn’t just make a name for himself as one of the finest center-back that came out of English football.
He also inked his name in the lore of the game as one of the best players to ever donned the ‘No 4’ in the history of the game.
The former Red Devils captain donned the number 4 jersey for the entirety of his career at club level, but couldn’t play for the Three Lions despite all of his qualities as a defender playing over 414 games and notching 113 goals.
8. Rafael Marquez
Barcelona and Mexico often come to mind at the mention of Marquez, who started his career in his home country with Atlas before going to Europe.
The legendary defender is well renowned for his versatility and ability to play as a center-back and defensive-midfielder both at club and national level.
Marquez didn’t only wear the number 4 jersey with pride, he does with winning a lot of trophies during his illustrious career, particularly at Barcelona where he won La Liga titles and the Champions League.
For the Mexican national team, he won two Gold Cups and also featured in five World Cups before he bid farewell to the game.
9. Vincent Kompany
When Kompany bid farewell to the beautiful game of football in 2020 putting his illustrious 11-year spell with the Cityzens on hold to take up a player-manager role in Belgium, it brought to the fore the end of a leader and brilliant defender for City.
The defender’s importance to both City and Belgium cannot be underestimated, due to his role as a leader, and as a defender you could rely on going into a crunch game.
The Belgian joined City from Hamburg for a bargain £ 6 million in 2008 as a defensive midfielder under Mark Hughes but turned out to be one of the finest defenders ever to grace the English Premier League.
Kompany‘s inclusion in this list is basically based on his qualities, leadership skills, and stats for City, where he won four Premier League titles, four league cups, two FA cups with over 360 games, and 20 goals for the Etihad outfit.
10. Demetrio Albertini
Albertini is arguably the finest player ever to wear the number 4 jersey for Milan and probably the Azzurri’s national team.
His time at San Siro when he was drafted into the team by Fabio Capello made him quite popular amongst the Rossaneri’s fans in the 90s, however, it must be said that he had a stint at Padova.
He didn’t just perform brilliantly at Milan, he went on to make over 300 appearances for the Rossaneri and also won a total of 14 trophies.
Like Andrea Pirlo for Milan, Juventus, and Italy, Albertini was also a technically gifted player that possessed brilliant passing skills, shooting, and mind-blowing free-kicks as a deep-lying playmaker.
Notable Mention
- Claudio Gentile
- Virgil van Dijk
- Pep Guardiola
- Cesc Fabregas
