Anderson, the plump Manchester United midfielder on loan at Fiorentina, appeared to poke fun at himself when he chose two fat ladies, 88, as his squad number. Less amusing is the name above it: Andow.
This is the Brazilian's unimaginative nickname he will go by for the next four months in Italy as he attempts to resurrect his career.
Yesteryear, it could have been "Chopper" (Ron Harris), "Sniffer" (Allan Clarke), "Mighty Mouse" (Kevin Keegan), "Guv'nor" (Paul Ince) and the like.
Fiorentina, however, are not the first club to allow a player to go by their sobriquet. The trend began nearly 20 years ago...
Players with nicknames on their shirts
(01 of11)
Open Image ModalYou can't see the name, but Norway's No.11, Jahn Ivar Jakobsen is the first to go by his nickname. He became "Mini" for the 1994 World Cup (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of11)
Open Image Modal'Chicharito' means 'little pea'. Considering it has a syllable more than 'Hernández', it's not even a nickname (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of11)
Open Image ModalYes, Pato is Brazilian and Brazilians can be excused shortening their names. 'Pato', however, means 'duck'. Javier Saviola, dubbed 'conjeo' (rabbit), never had it emblazoned on his shirt (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of11)
Open Image ModalThe late Christian Benitez went by the name of 'Chucho' (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of11)
Open Image ModalKun Kun Kun, let me hear you say Agüero...Manchester United fans just call him 'Kun*' (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of11)
Open Image ModalLassana Diarra does a Francesc Fàbregas (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of11)
Open Image ModalLuís Carlos can fit on to a shirt easily, but Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha prefers 'Nani', the name his sister gave him when he was younger (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of11)
Open Image ModalGivanildo Vieira de Souza is not incredible, otherwise he'd be at somewhere other than Zenit, but he is allowed to have 'Hulk' on the back of his shirt. The name stuck from a loan stint in Japan (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of11)
Open Image ModalRicardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, AKA Kaká (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of11)
Open Image ModalNickname related: Aberdeen were allowed to give the late Hicham Zerouali the '0' squad number because he was known as "Zero" (credit:PA)
anderson(11 of11)
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