Should Mohun Bagan “retire” the number ten jersey after the long serving Brazilian hung his boots recently. Till that debate rages on here is a look at a possible “retired shirts XI”
16. Luc Borrelli - Goalkeeper
The former Lyon keeper was just 33 when he died in a car crash on the motorway from Paris to Lyon in February 1999. In his honour, Lyon retired his number 16 shirt only to reissue it last season.
2. Tibor Simon- Right Back
Another to have a shirt number retired posthumously, Simon had been given Hungarian giants Ferencvaros 14 years sterling service before being beaten to death in a brawl outside a Budapest drinking hole in 2002. His club retired his number two shirt shortly after.
4. Michael Magnani - Centre Back
This defensive stalwart gave Siena such reliable service during two separate spells that when he finally called it a day in 2006, his number 4 shirt was retired with him.
6. Franco Baresi- Centre Back
A true Milan legend and after 20 years of showing the rest of the world that catenaccio wasn’t something you ordered at Starbucks, the least they could do was retire his shirt forever.
3. Paolo Maldini- Left back
His number 3 shirt will only be seen again if his son ever joins Milan as a left back. Although a likelier prospect might be actually he himself donning this jersey yet again.
41. Salvatore Sullo- Right Midfield
No one at Messina was ever likely to wear the 41 shirt again anyway, but after a player dubbed ‘superman’ by the club’s supporters left the field for the last time in January 2007, they made doubly sure.
17. Marc-Vivien Foe- Centre Midfield
The former Cameroon international , who collapsed and died during the 2003 Confederations Cup match against Colombia, actually holds the distinction of having three shirts retired in his memory, 17 at Lens and Lyon and 23 at Manchester City. Lyon however returned the jersey to use in 2008.
7. Gianluca Pessotto- Left Midfield
The former Juve man had a controversy riddled career but he can draw some comfort from the fact that the Stadio Della Alpi will never see a black and white shirt with the number seven on it again.
10. Pele – Striker
The New York Cosmos no longer exist, but even if they did there would be no number 10 running rings around confused defenders thinking they were playing baseball.
10. Diego Maradona- Striker
If Pele and Napoli’s number 10 wearing legend can be given joint “Player of the Century” awards; surely Mr. Blatter can bend the rules for us and include the pair of them in his side.
11. Gianluigi Riva-Striker-
Riva spent 15 seasons at Cagliari between 1963 and 1978, so it’s no surprise to find that his number 11 shirt has been awarded a permanent holiday.