Manchester United fans may soon see new signing Joshua Zirkzee sporting a familiar shirt number, following a recent change in the squad.
Unlike Leny Yoro, who quickly received the No.15 shirt, Zirkzee’s number was not immediately assigned upon his arrival. The Dutch forward previously wore No.9 for Bologna during the 2023/24 season but also donned No.11 during his debut year with the Serie A side. With No.9 vacant at Old Trafford after Anthony Martial’s departure in June, many speculated it might be given to Rasmus Hojlund, who wore No.11 last season.
However, Hojlund opted for No.9, leaving the No.11 shirt open. Zirkzee, who has expressed flexibility about his number, is likely to take over the No.11 jersey now that it’s available.
The No.11 shirt at United carries significant historical weight. It was worn by Charlie Mitten during the 1948 FA Cup final as United secured their first major trophy since 1911. It became associated with the Busby Babes, including David Pegg, who tragically perished in the Munich air disaster, and was frequently worn by Bobby Charlton in the early part of his career. George Best also wore No.11 regularly, although he is most famously linked with No.7.
In the 1968 European Cup final, No.11 was worn by John Aston Jr., and later by Gordon Hill in the late 1970s and Jesper Olsen in the 1980s. During Alex Ferguson’s era, Danny Wallace wore it in the 1990 FA Cup final, and Lee Sharpe was another notable occupant.
When Ryan Giggs, who would become a United legend, joined the first team in 1991, he took on No.11. Giggs held the number throughout his illustrious career, which spanned 13 Premier League titles and 963 appearances for the club before his retirement in 2014. Despite his on-field success, Giggs’s reputation has suffered due to personal controversies, though he was found not guilty of criminal charges in 2022.
After Giggs’s departure, Adnan Januzaj took No.11 at just 19 but struggled to make an impact and was loaned out. Anthony Martial briefly wore the number after making a strong debut in No.9 but was later moved to No.11, a change he found disappointing. He wore it until 2019 when Romelu Lukaku, who had taken over No.9, was sold.
Mason Greenwood then inherited No.11 but his time at United ended controversially following legal issues and his permanent departure in 2024. Rasmus Hojlund was the last player to wear No.11, showcasing promising talent before Zirkzee is expected to take it next.
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