Why Liverpool’s No66 Can’t Follow Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure from Liverpool marks more than just the end of an era on Merseyside. The Premier League-winning full-back, long associated with the No66 shirt, will soon be wearing different colours and, crucially, a different number. Real Madrid have completed a £10 million deal to bring the 25-year-old to the Santiago Bernabéu ahead of this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States.
While Liverpool fans grapple with the emotional farewell, Spanish regulations have made another aspect of his identity non-transferable — his shirt number. Alexander-Arnold has worn No66 since making his senior debut for Liverpool in 2016. That number, once random and meaningless, has become a symbol of his rise from academy product to global star.
But at Real Madrid, the rules are rigid and unbending.
La Liga’s Strict Number Policy Forces Change
Unlike the Premier League, where players can pick from a broader range of squad numbers, La Liga imposes a clear cap. According to the Spanish league’s official guidelines, first-team players must wear numbers between 1 and 25. Numbers 26 to 50 are reserved solely for reserve players. There’s little room for sentimentality, even for a player as distinguished as Alexander-Arnold.
The No66 he wore for nearly a decade is simply not allowed under these regulations. It’s not a club decision. It’s a league mandate. In fact, goalkeepers are restricted to only three numbers — 1, 13, and 25 — further emphasising how tightly controlled the numbering system is in Spain.
Real Madrid’s New No12 Prepares for Debut
With his preferred number off-limits, Real Madrid have now confirmed that Alexander-Arnold will wear the No12 shirt at the Club World Cup. The change, while seemingly cosmetic, underscores the broader transition he is making — not just in club, but in identity.
The back of his shirt will also read “Trent” rather than “Alexander-Arnold,” further aligning with Real Madrid’s branding style, which favours simplicity and recognisability. These aren’t just surface-level adjustments. They signal his entry into a new culture, new league, and new way of operating — one where history means less than conformity.
“Trent” could feature as early as June 18, when Real Madrid take on Al Hilal in their opening Club World Cup fixture.
Liverpool Roots Remain, but Reinvention Begins
This isn’t the first time a player has had to abandon a beloved number due to league rules, and it won’t be the last. But for Liverpool supporters, it’s one more reminder that this chapter has truly closed. Alexander-Arnold will forever be associated with the No66 at Anfield — an unlikely number that came to represent one of the club’s most intelligent and technically gifted players of his generation.
As he begins his next phase at Real Madrid, under La Liga’s constraints, it’s clear that while the number may change, the player’s impact on football remains constant.
