Why did Ter Stegen wear the unusual number 22 on his Girona debut?
Barcelona's on-loan keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made his Girona debut with a non-traditional goalkeeper number - we explain the curious reason behind it.
The German shot-stopper made his long-awaited Girona debut against Getafe on Monday night, sporting an unusual number on his back that raised a few eyebrows among Spanish football’s anoraks.
Spanish goalkeeper numbering rules
In Spanish football, there are strict regulations about the numbers keepers can wear:
- According to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules, first-team goalkeepers must wear numbers 1, 13, or 25
- These numbers are specifically reserved for goalkeepers within the 1-25 range that first-team players must use throughout the season
- Any deviation requires special circumstances and approval
Girona’s goalkeeper conundrum
Ter Stegen’s situation at Girona created the perfect storm for a numbering anomaly:
- Girona currently has four first-team goalkeepers on their books (a rare situation)
- Dominik Livakovic wears number 1
- Paulo Gazzaniga has claimed number 13
- Vladyslav Krapyvtsov sports number 25
With all traditional goalkeeper numbers already assigned, Ter Stegen needed something different.
How number 22 became available
The situation became even more complicated because Girona had all 25 first-team spots filled when Ter Stegen arrived. However:
- Jhon Solís’s departure to Birmingham freed up his number 22 jersey
- This was the only available number when Ter Stegen completed his move to Montilivi
- Both LaLiga and the RFEF approved this non-traditional goalkeeper number
The German keeper made his number 22 debut count with a crucial save in the 96th minute to secure a point for Míchel’s side. Had the only available number been between 2-11 (traditionally outfield player numbers), it would have created an unprecedented situation in Spanish football.