Why Tottenham's Debut Players Have No Small Numbers on Their Kits
- Legacy Number System: Tottenham has a legacy number system since 2023 where players receive a unique three-digit number after their competitive debut.
- Debut Protocol: Debut players wear shirts without the small number on the back because they cannot receive their legacy number until they actually play in an official match.
- Number Assignment: When multiple players debut in the same match, their legacy numbers are assigned in alphabetical order.
If you watched the Champions League last night, you might noticed that the shirt of debutant Jun'ai Byfield was different from the others.
Tottenham Players Get Legacy Number Only After First Match
Jun'ai Byfield wore a shirt without the small number on the back. The unusual sight has a straightforward explanation related to Tottenham's debut protocol.
Since 2023, Tottenham has a legacy number system, which assigns unique three-digit numbers to players after they make their competitive debut. When multiple players debut in the same match, alphabetical order determines their legacy number assignment. The system means players cannot receive their legacy number until they actually step onto the pitch in an official fixture, explaining why debut players initially wear unnumbered shirts.
Check out old Tottenham kits on Football Kit Archive
Byfield will get the number 902 on the back under the collar.
Do you like the idea of players having a unique number on the back of the collar? Let us know in the comments.
