Newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed that as of the 2018/19 season, the club have officially retired their No.1 shirt as a mark of respect for their former goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.
After coming through a 12-month fight against acute leukaemia, 32-year-old Ikeme decided to retire from football a week or two ago on medical advice.
As a token of respect for his predecessor, Wolves’ new ‘keeper Rui Patricio opted against taking Ikeme’s old shirt number thus allowing the club to retire it in honour of their departing custodian.
Wolves’ 2018/19 @premierleague squad numbers and the names that will be worn on the shirts.
👕#⃣ pic.twitter.com/8zMOLGntvo
— Wolves (@Wolves) 10 August 2018
Elsewhere, Raul Jiminez, signed on loan from Benfica, has taken Wolves’ No.9 shirt, with Adama Traore keeping the same number he wore at Middlesbrough, 37.
Leander Dendoncker, signed from Anderlecht on deadline day, will wear No.32, while Joao Moutinho has plumped for No.28.
We know what you’re thinking and – yes – all those players really do play for Wolverhampton Wanderers now.