Haaland Chooses No. 9 Manchester City Shirt
Update: As expected, Erling Haaland has elected to wear the No. 9 shirt at Manchester City. The No. 9 has been free since the departure of Gabriel Jesus.
Synonymous with goalscorers, the No. 9 is iconic at City and has previously been worn by hugely popular figures such as Francis Lee, Brian Kidd, Joe Royle, Trevor Francis, Paul Dickov, Niall Quinn and Paulo Wanchope.
Meanwhile, Ortega gets the No. 18, Kalvin Phillips gets the No. 4, while Julian Alvarez gets the No. 19.
Original Article - June 16 - Haaland Has No Manchester City Shirt Number Yet
One of the biggest transfers of the summer was officially confirmed today, with Erling Haaland signing his 5-year contract with Manchester City and being officially unveiled to the media wearing his new work clothes. One thing that remains unsure however, is which squad number he will wear.
Haaland Unveiled as Manchester City Player
As is par for the course with player unveilings of this scale, Haaland took part in a photoshoot giving the us our first look at him in his new colours. All of the usual poses were in there, including the particularly popular recreation of a childhood photo in which he was wearing Manchester City's 08-09 home shirt made by Le Coq Sportif.
One staple photo was missing though, as there was no shot of the Norwegian holding his new jersey aloft to display his name and number printed on the back. The club themselves have stated that:
Some people online are reading a lot into the following tweet from the man himself, believing it could well be a hint about his chosen number:
To be continued… 🔜 💙 pic.twitter.com/zSbIHFMANT
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) June 10, 2022
The number 15 is readily available, so if it was his first choice, there is no reason for it not to be announced as part of his unveiling. It seems likely that he is waiting to see if the number 9 will be vacated by the departure of Gabriel Jesus the start of the 22-23 season, while 15 could be his back-up in the event that Jesus stays on.
Haaland's Man City Shirt Number
There are a few numbers available in the Man City squad, with some seeming more likely than others to be taken up by the Norwegian cyborg. We'll start with the most logical choices.
Number 9
The traditional striker's number. Haaland is a goal-scoring machine so the number 9 would surely be the most fitting for him, given his ability and status. I'ts also what he's been wearing for Dortmund since his initial 6 month spell donning 17. The only snag here is that it is currently occupied by Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian is rumoured to be one his way out of the Etihad this summer (possibly to Arsenal), largely due to Haaland's arrival, so if this comes to pass we're almost certain Haaland would pick up the vacant shirt. City could even hold off on announcing Haaland's squad number until after Jesus' transfer, if there is to be one. If he stays, could he give his number to the new main man? It's happened before, with Juan Cuadrado at Juventus and Edinson Cavani both taking a new squad number to allow Cristiano Ronaldo's CR7 identity to avoid any embarrassment.
Number 15
The most notable striker to wear 15 on his back was probably Didier Drogba at Chelsea, but Haaland would have a more personal reason for this choice than his respect for the Ivorian legend. Alfe Inge Haaland, Erling's father, was Man City's number 15 back in the early 2000s.
Like father, like son? It's safe to say that Haaland Junior is more talented than his old man, but taking the same number at the same club would be a nice way of following in his dad's footsteps, maybe while he waits for the number 9 jersey to free up?
Number 19
This was Haaland's number in his first season as a pro in 15-16 for Byrne FK in his homeland. 19 is also quite a popular choice for strikers when their preferred single digit is already taken, with Fernando Torres adopting it during his second spell at Atlético Madrid.
Number 30
It was at Red Bull Salzburg that the giant striker really started to garner attention, and he did so while playing with the number 30 on the back of his shirt. A certain Lionel Messi also started out at Barcelona wearing the number 30, before switching to 19 and of course 10, before reverting to 30 when he joined PSG. Of course, that was mainly because the 10 was already taken, but surely his beginnings with the shirt influenced his choice somewhat. Could we see the same thing from Haaland?
Other Free Numbers
As things stand, Manchester City do not currently have a number 12, 18, 24, 28 or 29 in their squad, so these are also possibilities, but Haaland has no obvious link to any of these. He has previously worn the number 23 for Norway, but City retired that shirt following the death of Marc-Vivien Foé.
Foé passed away after collapsing on the pitch at the 2003 Confederations Cup while playing for Cameroon. He had worn the number 23 while on loan at Manchester City from Lyon.
Whatever number City's new striker ends up going for, the club will sell plenty of shirts with it printed on the back. Which one do you think the Norwegian will choose? Our money is on the number 9, given all the talk of Gabriel Jesus leaving the club and it being the most natural choice for Haaland.
Which number would you like to see him wear? Comment below.
FC Famalicão 26-27 Third Kit Released
Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Famalicão have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Branded under the club's "100% Famalicão" initiative and carrying the concept "Famalicão, o Centro do Norte" (Famalicão, the Center of the North), the shirt celebrates the city's geographical importance and rich industrial heritage. For the second consecutive season, the special alternative jersey has been produced exclusively in partnership with local textile manufacturers from the Famalicão region.
The Puma FC Famalicão 26-27 third shirt combines a clean light mint-green base with refined metallic gold accents. Inspired by the 1940s Manoel de Oliveira documentary film dedicated to the municipality, the jersey features intricate map-like line patterns that converge on a central compass emblem, representing Famalicão's role as a historic crossroads and hub in northern Portugal. A centered club badge adorned with a golden wreath, a gold bwin front sponsor, and coordinating gold trim along the round collar and sleeve cuffs complete the design.
Matching mint-green shorts and socks with gold details round off the full strip. The new FC Famalicão 26-27 third kit is now available through the club's official stadium store and online shop.
A Look at Football Broadcast Scorebugs Across Major Competitions
On-screen graphics have become an integral part of modern football broadcasting, directly shaping how supporters digest match details and information. A comparison shared by sports media creator @Braylon_Breeze brought together 16 distinct scorebugs featured across contemporary broadcasts, highlighting the diverse visual identities adopted by major leagues and networks. From the clean, vertical arrangements of Ligue 1 and La Liga to the horizontal bars used across UEFA club competitions, the overview captures the differing design philosophies currently on display.
While all scorebugs serve the fundamental purpose of presenting the scoreline, match clock, and team colors, their execution varies considerably. Tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the Premier League opt for streamlined horizontal strips with strong contrast and subtle tournament branding. In contrast, competitions such as the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 utilize distinctive square or stacked formats, while Apple TV's presentation for MLS embraces extreme minimalism by stripping away ornate design elements in favor of a low-profile look.
The side-by-side comparison sparked lively discussion among fans regarding legibility versus graphic flair. Supporters often single out the high readability of the Bundesliga and Champions League graphics for praise, while bulkier or more generic designs frequently draw criticism. As broadcast networks and leagues continue to overhaul their visual packages season after season, scorebugs remain one of the most prominent and scrutinized design pieces in televised football.
Swiss Brand "On" Prepares Official Entry Into Football Boot Market
Swiss sportswear company On is taking its first official steps into football. Renowned globally for its high-performance running footwear and rapid expansion across tennis and athletics, the brand has begun teasing its venture into the world's most popular sport with dedicated football channels. This move follows reports earlier in 2026 indicating that On is preparing to challenge established giants like Nike, Adidas, and Puma by bringing its innovative production methods, including its robotic LightSpray upper technology, to football cleats.
The groundwork for On's football expansion has been developing behind the scenes for several months. The brand initially signaled its interest by partnering with young Swiss international Sydney Schertenleib to co-develop training and lifestyle products. As the Swiss company readies its debut boot models, speculation regarding marquee athlete endorsements has also accelerated, fueled by persistent industry rumors linking top-tier players to potential landmark deals with emerging market disruptors.
Early concepts and design previews indicate that On will translate its clean, technical aesthetic and seamless upper constructions directly onto the pitch. While technical specifications, launch timelines, and the official player roster for the upcoming 26-27 period remain tightly guarded, On's arrival represents one of the most fascinating shifts in the modern football footwear landscape.
Adidas Originals Liverpool EQT Collection Released
Liverpool FC and adidas Originals have officially released a brand-new retro collection heavily inspired by the iconic adidas Equipment (EQT) era of the 1990s. Following earlier heritage drops, this new lifestyle capsule leans fully into the bold aesthetics of vintage nineties teamwear, combining a sharp black and EQT green colorway with oversized retro design elements.
The centerpiece of the range is a retro-inspired shirt crafted with subtle tonal vertical stripes, bold diagonal block stripes extending across the shoulders, and centered vintage logos featuring the classic 1990s Liverpool crest and adidas Trefoil wordmark. Alongside the jersey, the apparel collection includes a woven track jacket, half-zip top, crewneck sweatshirt, graphic t-shirts, and track pants, spanning unisex, women's, and kids' sizes.
The new adidas Originals Liverpool EQT collection is available immediately through the official Liverpool FC online store, club retail locations, and the official LFC Store app.
Central Coast Mariners 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
A-League side Central Coast Mariners have officially unveiled their new home, away, and third kits for the 26-27 season. Made by Australian brand Konqa in their debut A-Leagues collection following their Australia Cup release earlier this winter, the entire set is designed around the identity of the region, carrying the theme "inspired by the sand, the tide and the character of the Coast."
The 26-27 home kit represents the sand, sticking to the club's traditional bright yellow base complemented by navy accents. Across the front and back runs a subtle horizontal wave graphic reminiscent of ripples on the beach, completed by a ribbed navy-and-yellow crew collar and matching sleeve cuffs. In contrast, the away kit symbolizes the ocean's tide, featuring a navy foundation highlighted by electric blue vortex rings radiating outward from around the club crest.
Completing the trio, the sky blue third kit embodies the coast with a sublimated repeating palm tree graphic. The pattern draws directly from the iconic palm trees lining the bayside stadium in Gosford, paired with subtle Art Deco design elements. All three kits feature Polytec as the primary front-of-shirt sponsor and will be worn by both the men's and women's teams throughout the 26-27 campaign.
Not Unique: Inter Milan 26-27 Champions League Kit Font Is Identical to Barcelona's
While the Nerazzurri introduced a dedicated cup font for their European campaign in the UEFA Champions League, the typeface is actually not exclusive to the Italian club. It is completely identical to the custom font introduced by FC Barcelona on their own 26-27 third kit.
Barcelona officially presented the typography in August alongside their third kit, sporting an angular, blocky, and squared-off aesthetic that contrasts with the curved, art-inspired font used on their home and away shirts. For Inter's 1990s-inspired Iron Ore grey third jersey, Nike used the exact same font set. The only differences are the color scheme - Speed Yellow with a subtle blue outline for Inter compared to deep navy for Barcelona - and the club crest stamped at the bottom of the numbers.
Inter Milan have traditionally stuck with the standard Serie A league font even in European fixtures, so the appearance of a bespoke Champions League typeface on their third kit caught plenty of attention. However, it seems Nike chose to streamline the design across their elite roster rather than creating a truly unique typography for each club.