Phillipe Coutinho’s Barcelona Shirt Number Revealed

Philippe Coutinho has some big boots to fill at Barcelona, and a heavy shirt number too.

 

The £142m signing from Liverpool looks set to wear the number 14 shirt at Barcelona, previously worn by none other than Johan Cruyff. The shirt is currently occupied by Javier Mascherano – another player signed from Liverpool, but he is expected to complete a move to China imminently.

 

The shirt was made famous by Cruyff during the 1970’s, winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey in his time at the Camp Nou. He also managed the Catalan giants between 1988 and 1996, winning four La Liga titles, the Copa del Rey, Cup Winners Cup and European Cup.

 

Coutinho certainly has the quality to fill the shirt but it is unfair to expect the Brazilian to take over the mantle that the late Johan Cruyff left. The story behind Cruyff wearing the number 14 shirt is an interesting one. Before a game against rivals PSV Cruyff’s teammate Gerrie Muhern couldn’t find his number 7 shirt. Cruff offered him his number 9 shirt and went to get a spare from the basket. He pulled out the number 14, and the rest is history. Ajax won that match 1-0 and the number 14 shirt stuck.

 

Now it is Philippe Coutinho who will wear the iconic number 14 shirt at the Camp Nou. On his arrival at Barcelona, he took a moment to thank the Liverpool fans and board, “I’d like to thank the president of FC Barcelona, the directors who had so much patience. I would like to thank Liverpool for the five years I had there and the directors, Mike Gordon who understood what I wanted, my dream, and they tried very hard to convince me to stay. To the fans who shared five years with me, thank you.”

 

Read More: Why Coutinho will be lifting the World Cup in July.

Relevant news