Football Special Report: Famous players who wore Number 9 for England
It was announced that Tottenham’s Peter Crouch will be wearing the number 9 shirt for his national team England. Over the years, English team has seen some great players donning the number 9 jersey. But Peter Crouch should be warned that not many players
were able to live up to the expectations that a number 9 jersey brings with it.
Robbie Fowler (2002)
Robbie Fowler was one of the most gifted natural finishers produced by England but he could never fully replicate his brilliant early club start to the national side. The Liverpool striker could never really get a chance in the 2002 World Cup in South Korea
and Japan as the-then England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson preferred playing Emile Heskey upfront with Michael Owen. His only appearance during the World Cup came when he replaced Michael Owen in the second half against Denmark in the round of 16. England
was already leading the game 3-0 and Fowler’s introduction didn’t make a difference to the score line, neither was his arrival influential.
Mark Hately (1986)
Son of former England striker Tom Hately, Mark Hately was one of the first English players who tried their luck abroad. He was playing at A.C Milan when he was selected by the English F.A for the World Cup 1986 in Italy.
During the world cup qualifiers, Hately’s performances were good as he scored 3 goals during the qualification campaign and earned the right to start for England at the World Cup. England lost to Portugal and drew with Morocco in the 1st two games
and Hately was replaced by Peter Beardsley as England defeated Poland 3-0 and qualified for the next round. Hately featured just once after that in a 10 min substitute appearance in the 2nd round.
Glenn Hoddle (1982)
Glenn Hoddle is widely considered as one of the most culture English footballers ever.
Yet, he failed to replicate his club form at International level and was rarely trusted by all English managers he worked with as they all were left frustrated on countless occasions, while on English Duty. He was given the much sought after number 9 jersey
for the 1982 world cup but sat out England’s opening game against France. He then replaced Bryan Robson in a 3-0 win against Czechoslovakia. He again started England’s dull 1-0 victory against Kuwait and was later dropped for the 2nd round. He did
not play for England again as his team went out of the competition after stalemates (0-0) against Spain and West-Germany.
Wayne Rooney (2006)
Now wearing number 10 for club and country, Rooney wore the cursed number 9 in the 2006 world cup in Germany. Owing to a foot injury (not for the first time as it happened again in South Africa), while playing for Manchester United, Wayne started from the
bench against Trinidad and Tobago, he later on started all matches but was never able to make a commanding presence for his team and later on, was sent off in the quarterfinal against Portugal for stamping on Ricardo Carvallho. England lost the match on penalties.
Alan Shearer (1998)
Alan Shearer was one of the greatest players to have don the number 9 jersey for England and ended his international career with 30 goals wearing number 9.
He wore the same number for Newcastle as well.
Two of those goals came in 1998, one against Tunisia and the other one in a memorable match against Argentina, as they lost against their traditional rivals on penalties in which Shearer scored.
Bobby Charlton (1966)
Bobby Charlton is acknowledged as the greatest English player who donned the number 9 Jersey for England and is the only England player to have won the world cup wearing number 9
He played every game for England on his team’s path to its only world cup triumph and score twice in the semi-final against Portugal. He won his 106th cap for England in the 1970 world cup quarterfinal against West Germany but despite leading
2-0, the holders lost out as they conceded two late goals and eventually crashed out when Gerd Muller (no resemblance of any kind to the Muller who destroyed England in the 2010 world cup) scored in extra-time.
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