Many scoffed when Birmingham City announced their plans to retire the number 22 shirt following Jude Bellingham's move to Borussia Dortmund.
The Stourbridge-born midfielder, who made his senior debut for the Blues in August 2019, aged 16 years and 38 days, played just 44 times for the Championship side.
But his influence, both on and off the pitch, was enough to inspire a generation.
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"In such a remarkably short space of time Jude has become an iconic figure at Blues, showing what can be achieved through talent, hard work and dedication," Birmingham said at the time.
"His caring, humble and engaging off-the-field demeanour has also made him such an impressive role model. The 22 shirt has become synonymous with Jude, his rise to the first team aged just 16 years and 38 days and these qualities.
"And as such the club have decided it would be fitting to retire this number, to remember one of our own and to inspire others."
Now, as he continues to shine for club and country, Birmingham's decision to retire the number 22 in July 2020 is appreciated more than anything.
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So who else has had their shirt number retired by a club?
Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni. Number: 01.
After a quite remarkable spell with Sao Paulo in which he scored 131 goals from free-kicks and penalties, Ceni retired from professional football in 2015 at the age of 42.
As well as being given an emotional farewell at the Morumbi stadium, the Brazilian's jersey number, 01, was retired in his honour. He played 1237 professional club matches for the Sampa.
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"I would like to dedicate this moment to my mother, who is no longer here, and only say me play once with the shirt of Sao Paulo," he said on the day of his retirement. "A night like this is not common in Brazilian football."
Accrington Stanley forward Billy Kee. Number: 29
Back in February 2020, Accrington Stanley retired the number 29 shirt in honour of club legend Billy Kee, who retired from full-time professional football at the age of 29 after a long battle with mental health issues.
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"Everyone knows my ongoing issues with depression and anxiety and in the summer I made it known about my bulimia which has affected me since I was at Leicester," Kee told Accrington's website.
"The most important thing is my health and my family, my wife Leigh and two sons and, now I have made the decision, I feel in a better place.
"Accrington will always have a place in my heart and I can never thank owner Andy Holt, manager John Coleman and assistant manager Jimmy Bell enough for everything they have done for me."
West Ham United defender Bobby Moore. Number: 6
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Back in August 2008, West Ham retired the number six shirt before their Bobby Moore Cup clash against Spanish side Villarreal at the Boleyn Ground.
To mark 50 years since Moore's debut, there was only one true gesture that would do him justice, according to West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury, and that was retiring his famous jersey number.
"It is a fitting tribute to the greatest West Ham player ever and the decision to retire the Bobby Moore No6 shirt shows the esteem to which Bobby is held at the club," said then-manager Alan Curbishley.
Matthew Upson, who wore the number six shirt before West Ham decided to pay tribute to Moore, would go on to wear the number 15.
"I am honoured to be the last player to wear the No6," Upson said. "I will miss it, but I am glad that is being retired in honour of such a fantastic player and a true club legend."
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips. Number 99.
Five years ago, MLS side New York Red Bulls honored former Manchester City youth product Bradley Wright-Phillips by announcing that no player will wear his number ever again.
Wright-Phillips joined the club in 2013 and would go on to become a two-time MLS Golden Boot winner. In fact, he became the fastest MLS player to score 100 goals, doing so in just 159 matches.
He was honored with a special game ball, a commemorative one-of-a-kind hat and a special watch as the Red Bulls paid tribute to arguably their greatest ever player.
"When fans have let me know I'm been in so of the best games they've seen or I'm their favorite player or I made them start watching futbol, those ones really humble me," he told podcast SportsJam with Doug Doyle in 2022.
When you're out there playing, you're really just doing what you love, you don't realize the effect it has on the casual fan. Those kind of things warm your heart."
Schalke forward Raul. Number 7. [Temporarily retired]
He may have only spent two seasons with the Bundesliga club but Raul's number seven jersey was retired by Schalke in 2012 after he made a noticeable impact in Gelsenkirchen.
The Spanish forward helped the club to a German Cup and a Champions League semi final but many players expressed their surprise at the news, according to reports.
Olaf Thon, who lifted the UEFA Cup winner with Schalke in 1997, said:“ Raul played himself into the hearts of the Schalke fans in two years. But, in terms of that kind of connection, I want to name players like Ernst Kuzorra, Stan Libuda, Klaus Fichtel and Klaus Fischer.”
A year later, the number 7 shirt was handed to Max Meyer.
Saint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin. Number 24.
Back in 2021, Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne retired the number 24 shirt in tribute to club legend Loic Perrin, who spent his entire career at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
After making his debut in 2003, the defender would make 383 appearances in France top tier. He would also become the third-most capped player in club history behind René Domingo (533) and Robert Herbin (492).
"Even if I was hoping for a different end, I am happy and proud of my career during these 17 seasons as a professional footballer, with ups and downs but always giving my all," he said after Saint-Etienne lost the Coupe de France final to PSG.
"A page is being turned, but my story with ASSE is not over yet."
To see the full list of retired numbers in association football, check out the Wiki page here.
Featured Image Credit: Birmingham City - Getty ImagesTopics: Jude Bellingham, Bundesliga, Football
