Florian Wirtz’s blockbuster £116 million move to Anfield marks a pivotal moment as he steps into the fabled No. 7 shirt, a jersey deeply interwoven with Liverpool’s rich football history and worn by some of the club’s most revered icons. This inheritance places immediate pressure and significant expectation on the young German, who now carries the immense weight of a truly legendary legacy on his shoulders.
The evolution of consistent squad numbers in English football is a relatively modern phenomenon. While shirt numbers were formally introduced as early as 1928, players only began adopting fixed numbers throughout an entire season from 1993. Prior to this pivotal change, the No. 7 was typically assigned to the right winger, making the precise tracking of its early wearers in Liverpool’s extensive archives a notably complex endeavor.
Among the earliest giants to frequently don the famous number was Ian Callaghan, an undisputed Liverpool stalwart. Though he interchangeably wore other significant numbers like 9 and 11 across his extensive 14-year career at the club, Callaghan’s profound association with the No. 7 firmly solidified its early significance. His prolific goal-scoring prowess further cemented his revered place as an enduring Anfield legend.
The transformative arrival of Kevin Keegan in 1971 ushered in a new, dynamic era for the No. 7. Keegan swiftly made the shirt his own, guiding Liverpool to an impressive array of domestic and European triumphs, including three league titles and the coveted European Cup. His electrifying play and charismatic presence indelibly linked his name with the iconic jersey, elevating its status.
Succeeding Keegan, Kenny Dalglish ascended to become not only Liverpool’s most revered No. 7 but arguably the club’s greatest ever player. Dalglish’s profound and transformative impact on the team firmly established him as an all-time legend, making the shirt synonymous with unparalleled skill, visionary leadership, and consistent success, a status often paralleled only by Steven Gerrard.
With the dawn of the Premier League era, standardized squad numbers became commonplace. While various players held the No. 7 in the interim years, it was Luis Suárez who truly reignited its inherent magic in 2010. During his remarkable four years at Anfield, Suárez’s consistently astonishing and awe-inspiring performances nearly delivered a surprise Premier League title, emphatically re-establishing the jersey’s prestige.
Following Suárez’s departure, Jordan Henderson and then James Milner took on the significant mantle, each contributing their unique qualities to the jersey’s ongoing narrative. More recently, Harvey Elliott continued this lineage of talented individuals to wear the shirt. Now, Florian Wirtz embarks on his ambitious journey with the No. 7, embracing the monumental challenge and immense pressure that inevitably accompanies inheriting such a celebrated piece of Liverpool’s rich football heritage.
The No. 7 at Anfield is undeniably more than just a mere number; it is a profound symbol of excellence, inspirational leadership, and a deep, enduring connection to the club’s illustrious past. As Wirtz steps onto the hallowed turf, he carries not only the hopes of the present but also the resonant echoes of the legendary figures who have graced that iconic shirt before him, adding another compelling chapter to its already storied history.
