Athletes and their numbers can be tricky things.
Some players will go their whole careers with just one number, while others aren’t nearly as attached to the number on the back of their jersey. Real Salt Lake has undergone more than a few changes to their jersey numbers this year, as new players have claimed their old numbers and others have shuffled around their numbers.
First, Juan Manuel Martinez changed from the No. 22 jersey he wore last year to the No. 7 that had become his staple through the years. To do so, he had to displace Jordan Allen, who wore 7 last year. Keeping his lucky number intact, Allen switched to No. 70.
Similarly, Yura Movsisyan wanted to wear the No. 14 that saw him garner success in his first stint with Real Salt Lake. That forced Justen Glad to swap out for No. 15.
Meanwhile, Joao Plata switched from the No. 8 he had worn since arriving in Utah in 2013 to the No. 10. New signing Sunday Stephen Obayan quickly grabbed No. 8 upon his arrival with the team and Olmes Garcia switched from 13 to 80.
All the while, three other new signings opted for previously unoccupied numbers – Omar Holness in No. 12, Danilo Acosta in 25 and Emery Welshman taking 30.
New Numbers in 2016 (Old numbers in parenthesis)
Juan Manuel Martinez – 7 (22)
Sunday Stephen Obayan – 8
Joao Plata – 10 (8)
Omar Holness – 12
Yura Movsisyan – 14
Justen Glad – 15 (14)
Danilo Acosta – 25
Emery Welshman – 30
Jordan Allen – 70 (7)
Olmes Garcia – 80 (13)
