High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! As in other team sports, squad numbers are used in association football to identify and distinguish players on the field. Numbers were originally used to also indicate position, with starting players being assigned numbers 1-11, but most competitions and leagues now use squad numbers. However these numbers bode little or no significance in the modern game other than players favourite numbers, and the numbers available. The main numbers (1-11) are often still worn by players of the previously associated position.