There is one squad number at Manchester United which stands out above all the others.
However, while the famous seven steals most of the headlines, it is hardly the only digit with a deeper Manchester United meaning behind it. In fact, given the dizzying array of stars to have donned the famous red strip over the years, there are precious few squad numbers that haven't been worn by an iconic individual.
Here is a selection of some of the most memorable numbers in the club's history.
Man Utd's number 18
Casemiro didn't make the connection to Paul Scholes when he was given the slim choices of squad numbers upon his arrival at Manchester United in 2022, but the Brazilian plumped for the 18 shirt which his midfield predecessor made famous.
Scholes, who Casemiro cited as one of his "idols" growing up, spent 15 trophy-laden seasons in the number 18.
Man Utd's number 16
It was Sir Alex Ferguson who suggested Michael Carrick should inherit Roy Keane's famous number 16 shirt after the former United skipper left the club on bad terms in 2005.
Unlike many players taking over the digits of a legendary player, Carrick wasn't fazed in the slightest. "I really didn't give a monkey's, to be honest," he remembered. "It really didn't bother me one bit."
Man Utd's number 11
All three members of Manchester United's feted 'Holy Trinity' of Dennis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best wore the number 11 shirt at one point or another. However, contrary to public perception, it was Best's most common number - far outweighing his appearance in a seven.
The 'Fifth Beatle', upheld as football's first global superstar, reached peaks that few - if any - of his successors could ever match but crashed lower than any would care to go. Ryan Giggs, by comparison, was a picture of consistency across 23 years in the first team draped in those famous digits.
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Man Utd's number nine
Sir Bobby Charlton made his Manchester United debut against, fittingly, Charlton Athletic, fighting off the pain of an ankle injury to score twice. While the goals would continue to flow, Charlton wouldn't always remain in the number ten shirt he wore that day. It wasn't until seven years after his debut that Charlton began to consistently don the number nine at club level which he wore for his country.
The likes of Andrew Cole, Louis Saha and Dimitar Berbatov have been unable to get near Charlton's total tally but his scoring record has not dissuaded players from inheriting the iconic number. Anthony Martial had the nine wrestled off his back after Romelu Lukaku's arrival in 2017, biding his time before returning to his favourite figure once his rival joined Inter.
Brian McClair faced the same dilemma two decades earlier when Cole wanted his digit. However, while Martial plumped for 11, McClair asked Ferguson for the 69 shirt. He had to settle for 13.
Man Utd's number seven
Unquestionably the most storied squad number in the history of Manchester United - if not any other club on the planet. "No 7 at Old Trafford" was officially trademarked by the club in 2017.
While Best dipped in and out of the digit, Bryan Robson wore it consistently during the 1980s before Eric Cantona picked up the baton. With his ballooned chest filling the billowing, oversized style of the 1990s, the collar turned up and the number seven slicing through the red on the back, Cantona did more than most to foster the mythos of the shirt.
Cristiano Ronaldo initially didn't want the number, believing the responsibility of following in David Beckham's footsteps was too much after joining United as an 18-year-old in 2003. Ferguson convinced the teenager to take on the challenge, knocking down the first domino in the creation of the CR7 brand.
Man Utd's number six
Two of the most iconic figures to ever wear United's number six shirt earned that status despite having their time at the club curtailed. While Jaap Stam was the victim of Ferguson's ruthless streak of sales despite winning six trophies in three years, Duncan Edwards was one of eight United players that died after the 1958 Munich air disaster.
Hailed by Charlton as a player who "had everything", his former teammate believed "he would have proved himself the greatest player we had ever seen". Nobby Stiles took over Edwards' number, forming the steel at the base of midfield as Sir Matt Busby reconstructed his side in the wake of the crash.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Man Utd's most iconic shirt numbers.
