Marko Grujic became a fully-fledged Liverpool player this afternoon when the January signing from Red Star Belgrade was granted a work permit.
With the 20-year-old now eligible to play for the Reds, the club opted to grant him a squad number earlier today.
The LFC club website announced that the first Marko Grujic shirt number at Liverpool will be no.16, which has been vacant since Sebastian Coates left Anfield.
Coates didn’t do much to impress at Liverpool. And he’s not the only Reds no.16 who flopped.
The man who wore the shirt before Coates was none other than Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who last just two seasons on Merseyside after taking no.16 from Jermaine Pennant.
Pennant – now arguably less famous than his glamour model wife Alice Goodwin – joined Liverpool for £6.7m (fee reported by BBC Sport) and left for free three years later.
However, no.16 hasn’t always been worn by flops.
German midfield boss Dietmar Hamann wore the jersey for seven seasons between 1999 and 2006, winning four domestic cups, three European trophies – including the 2005 Champions League – and one Charity Shield.
SEE MORE:
Liverpool secure work permit for £5.1m unbeatable title-winner
Alice Goodwin: 40 hot photos of STUNNING former Liverpool & Arsenal WAG who now works on BABESTATION
Pre-season photo suggests possible new Liverpool squad numbers: Ings, maybe Can too, could be set for legendary status