7 shirt numbers football stars should be made to wear from Chambers to Cornet 99

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Ebbsfleet United nailed it when they gave Yado Mambo the no.5 shirt in honour of Lou Bega's classic hit – but not all clubs share quite the same sense of humour.

There are more than a few high-profile footballers out there whose names lend themselves perfectly to a specific squad number. The issue (a very serious one at that) was brought to public attention on Saturday morning when one eagle-eyed Twitter user complained about Aston Villa defender Calum Chambers wearing the no.16 on his back.

From Chambers to Maxwel Cornet, here are seven stars who should be made to wear a particular number, all in the name of comedy.

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Calum Chambers

How could we start anywhere else? Former Arsenal defender Chambers currently wears the no.16 top for Aston Villa, as we've already identified.

However, really he should have been given the no.36 shirt. Why? Because 36 Chambers is the name of the legendary debut studio album by American hip hop supergroup Wu-Tang Clan. Twitter users and fans of Shaolin's finest crew were up in arms about the 27-year-old's digits, with one user writing: "Absolute joke he doesn't wear 36." We're sure the RZA and Method Man would agree.

Maxwel Cornet

Whoever decided to give Maxwel Cornet the no.20 shirt at Burnley needs a good talking to. Surely there has never been a better opportunity in English football for some shirt number fun than with the Ivory Coast international.

What we're referring too, of course, is Cornet 99, in honour of the ice-cream. Social media users have been moaning about the 25-year-old's digits ever since his move to Turf Moor.

One wrote: "Eternally disappointing that Burnley didn’t give Cornet number 99." While someone else moaned: "I'm not having that Cornet doesn't wear number 99 for Burnley."

Harry Winks

Tottenham star Harry Winks could be on his way out of north London this summer. And if he does leave, let's just hope his next club does the right thing and gives him the no.40 shirt number.

Winks currently wears no.8 for the Lilywhites, but with the obvious potential for "40 Winks" jokes and tweets, Tottenham really have been missing a trick with the 26-year-old.

Maryan Shved

Celtic missed an absolute sitter by giving Ukrainian star Maryan Shved the no.20 shirt. Granted, Shved is a winger, which means the no.20 actually makes total sense in the grand scheme of things.

But clearly no-one at Celtic Park is a big fan of English rock band Shed Seven, or they would have given Shved the iconic digit in a heartbeat. It was probably a good job they didn't waste their time on such an elaborate joke in the end as Shved only played three games for the club before joining Belgian side K.V. Mechelen.

Vincent Kompany

Two's company, three's a crowd. That's the old saying, so why oh why did Manchester City not give their iconic defender Vincent Kompany the number he was born to wear when he signed for the club in 2008.

Kompany actually wore the no.4 shirt for the duration of his time at the Etihad – a number he persisted with following his move to Anderlecht in 2018. Another huge missed opportunity.

Gabriel Heinze

Manchester United certainly gave it some beans in the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson, but the 13-time champions were found wanting for a sense of humour when they signed Gabriel Heinze in 2004.

Brought in from Paris Saint-Germain, Heinz was given the no.4 shirt – not the no.57 in honour of the famous bean firm. It's a decision that still rankles with some supporters.

"I sometimes think that when Gabriel Heinze played for Man Utd not giving him the "57" shirt was a missed marketing opportunity," wrote one disgruntled fan in 2015.

Simeon Jackson

Former Gillingham, Norwich and Coventry forward Simeon Jackson is still going with National League South side Chelmsford City at the age of 35.

But sadly he still isn't wearing the shirt no.5 in honour of the American pop band that featured the likes of Michael, Jackie and Tito in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Jackson (that's Simeon) has worn a variety of numbers throughout his long career and donned the no.12 for the Clarets last season.

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