Player's name on the back of the shirt

[Matt the Giant]

Is there a rule or something, demanding that the player's name is printed on his shirt?

I ask becasue I would just love the idea of a City team with nothing but their squad numbers on the back, with maybe Manchester City written above it instead of the name.
The name could then instead be printed in smaller text on the front, under the crest for example.

I suspect there are commercial aspects of this which would go havoc if the names were taken off, but still... - I would absolutely love it and the message that would send out to the world, that we are a team first and foremost, that Manchester City Football Club is bigger and more important than any of it's individuals.

 

[johnmc]

Also is it the clubs decision what is allowed? We could make Tevez play with Cuntface on his back.

 

[Matt the Giant]

LOL!!

 

[Sleeping_Easy]

Its dependent on the competition i think. I've seen some stories of players have to get permission from the premier league to have a nickname on their back.

A great idea though. Maybe we could do it in a pre-season friendly . Although i doubt it would get us much in terms of credit with the general public.

 

[another generation]

It's not that many years since internationals were played without names on shirts. Tried (and failed) to get an answer from the FA as to why they'd started with this practice. Here in the land of the Nog, only a few teams have begun to print names. Up until now, it's just been masses of sponsors logos, littering the shirts. Really quite difficult to see the names amongst all that!

I s'pose that names are here to stay, given the superstar status that's given to those who kick the ball around. It also allows the TV commentators to be very lazy. Think we've found the real answer....

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

Its quite obviously a commercial issue these days especially for overseas rights and players boot deals etc but why it started is the real question
Doesn't bother me in honesty, i find it more weird when the names aren't on the back these days but i guess thats my generation

I would hate to have Manchester City on the back instead though, think it would make us look like we are trying to force a team mentality

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

It's not that many years since internationals were played without names on shirts. Tried (and failed) to get an answer from the FA as to why they'd started with this practice. Here in the land of the Nog, only a few teams have begun to print names. Up until now, it's just been masses of sponsors logos, littering the shirts. Really quite difficult to see the names amongst all that!

I s'pose that names are here to stay, given the superstar status that's given to those who kick the ball around. It also allows the TV commentators to be very lazy. Think we've found the real answer....

Noggin the Nog and Thor Nogsson. Fantastic. And to think of all the bloody rubbish kids have on telly now.

 

[Matt the Giant]

I would hate to have Manchester City on the back instead though, think it would make us look like we are trying to force a team mentality

Maybe it would work though?
But I don't see how MANCHESTER CITY could be fitted in to such a narrow space without looking too small.
Still very much like the thought of a no-name short though. Maybe just the number on the back and the crest/name on the front.

 

[Franny Lee's Barrel Chest]

Didn't the rags just wear 1-11 with no names in the Munich memorial game?

Also, I think Arsenal had special dispensation at some stage a few years ago to wear 1-11 too. Can't remember the occasion, possibly the last game of the invincibles season.

I know clubs abroad sometimes have the club name above the number and the name below it. Or the sponsors name.

Maybe it could be fun if, given that you're allowed a nickname, your nickname was your number, so for example Micah Richards would have "TWO" above 2, and De Jong would have "THIRTY FOUR" above 34. This would be particularly handy if former French international Didier Six was still playing. Although if he wasn't number 6, it would be rather strange.

 

[irishblue]

It's not that many years since internationals were played without names on shirts. Tried (and failed) to get an answer from the FA as to why they'd started with this practice.

Ireland still play their internationals with players wearing 1-11 and no names on shirts.