Liverpool’s kit manager has explained the reason why Trent Alexander-Arnold wears the number 66.
The England full-back has sported the unusually high No.66 shirt since he broke into the Reds’ first team back in 2016, and has shown no willingness to change it.
Plenty expected the right-back to switch to a lower number as his reputation grew, but the 21-year-old has instead embraced the ‘weirdly’ high number, which also features on his Instagram handle.
“When we get any young lads that come down from the Academy, we always deliberately try to give them a high-ish number,” Liverpool’s kit management coordinator Lee Radcliffe told the club’s website.
“We don’t like to give them a low number in case they sort of think they’ve made it straight away, if you know what I mean.
“You pick it out because it’s a free number and it’s around that sort of number you think, ‘We’ll give that out because he’s only just come down.’
“When you see him now lifting trophies and celebrating with No.66 on the back, it’s a weird feeling and I can’t really describe it. It’s weird to see such a high number and for someone to be happy with it!
“Someone like Trent has just been happy to be around the first team and obviously doesn’t realise how good he is. He doesn’t really ask for anything, to be honest.
“I think he’s so laidback that he’s obviously been given the number and thought, ‘Yeah, that’ll do me, I’ll keep that,’ and not realised how iconic its become over the years."
Alexander-Arnold made his debut in a 2-1 League Cup victory over Tottenham in October 2016, and has now made 125 appearance for the Reds.
The born and bred Liverpudlian is a leading contender to be named Young Player of the Year, but the prospect of there being no PFA awards for the first time since 1973 has significantly increased after the voting process was suspended.
At just 21 years of age, the phenom has won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and will soon be crowned a Premier League winner.
In 125 club appearances, Alexander-Arnold has racked up 34 assists and scored 6 goals, meanwhile establishing himself as Gareth Southgate’s top option at right-back for England.