Not many clubs have as rich a history as Manchester United. An iconic stadium, iconic players and a jersey number that has become legendary after being worn by some of the greatest players to ever grace the game, the number seven.
Squad numbers were first used in 1928 in professional play and have been a mainstay of the game ever since. However, until the Premier League era, team numbers were largely used to determine position on the pitch, with the number seven usually being reserved for either the left or right wing position.
This is how one of the most iconic players who has played at Old Trafford came to wear the shirt. George Best. However, Best is synonymous with number seven, actually only wearing it in 141 games of the 470 he played for United, actually wearing number 11 in more than half of his games. The reason he is fondly remembered wearing the number seven probably has to do with the 1968 European Cup final victory against Benfica.
I think it’s fair to say that the iconic jersey number only took its place when a new signing from West Brom arrived in 1981. Bryan Robson, known as ‘Captain Marvel’ took Steve Coppell’s number seven jersey and wore it. consistently throughout his time at United. Robson, a rambunctious midfielder in his day, is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever play for the Red Devils and is the real first entry into the big number seven, however not even Robson could have foreseen the impact of his usurper to the number. .
Team numbers were assigned in the 1993/94 season and Robson’s number seven was given to a Frenchman with sublime talent and an unrivaled sense of legitimate hubris. Entering Old Trafford with arrogance, it’s hard to say that any player has had more of an impact on United’s Premier League history than Eric Cantona.
Entering the team at the end of 1992, the Frenchman changed United’s fortunes in the league and changed the whole attitude of the team, with Paul describing the legend: “He just had that aura and that presence. He took the responsibility off us. It was as if he was saying, ‘I’m Eric, and I’m here to win the title for you.
As issue seven rolls on, King Eric has to be up there, not only for his brilliance on the pitch but also his presence off it, an impressive player, and a larger-than-life, sometimes controversial character.
The mantle of wearing the iconic jersey was then passed on to a player who transcended football and became a global celebrity as well as a world-class talent.
David Beckham picked up the number once Teddy Sheringham entered the team, having originally worn number ten. Sheringham wanted the ten jersey, so Beckham was given the seven jersey.
A player of extreme talent and one of the best free-kick takers in the modern game, Beckham went from a former Preston loanee to a global megastar at United, all while wearing the number seven shirt. In any conversation about who is United’s best number seven, Beckham has to be in the mix. Extremely talented, hard-working on and off the pitch, Beckham transcended the sport in a way that few other players have, which ultimately led to his departure from United.
From here there is only one place to go. United’s current number seven, who originally picked up the shirt in his first spell at the club in 2003. Cristiano Ronaldo was so good in his first spell that it led George Best to say: “There have been some players described as ‘the new George Best’ over the years, but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.” Undoubtedly one of the best young players in the world under Sir Alex, Ronaldo has returned to the club a different player but still lethal in front of goal.
There have been many number sevens between the two spells of Ronaldo, Owen, Valencia, Cavani, Sánchez, Di MarÃa, Memphis Depay, but none can claim to have made a lasting impact with the jersey. For me, United would not have been the team they were under Sir Alex without Eric Cantona, he changed United’s fortunes, he changed attitudes, he added confidence to a whole team, and that is why he truly is ‘The King’.
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