​Ismael Saibari is now a Bayern Munich player, and with his arrival comes the decision of which shirt number he will wear on his back. The 24-year-old Moroccan has chosen to don the number 34. If you connect the dots, you might recall Abdelhak Nouri, the former Ajax midfielder and Moroccan international who is closely linked in this story. In July 2017, during a friendly against Werder Bremen, Nouri collapsed on the pitch due to cardiac arrhythmia, an event that caused severe and permanent brain damage. That incident ended his playing career, and although Nouri is still alive at the age of 29, he has not been able to move unaided since that day.
Saibari explained his choice by saying, “I’m supporting him by wearing the 34; it was his last number,” a sentiment he expressed through the channel iMiaSanMia. Wearing numbers beyond 23 is less common, but it does occur. For instance, Jamal Musiala and Lennart Karl have both worn higher digits like #42, while Aleksandar Pavlović wore #45. Even players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, who sports #66 for Liverpool, and João Neves, who has #87 for Paris Saint-Germain, have brought attention to higher shirt numbers in the modern game. Saibari’s selection of the 34 is specifically a tribute to his friend Nouri.
Ajax later retired Nouri’s number 34 in recognition of his legacy, a gesture that resonated throughout Dutch football. The retirement of the number at Ajax signified the profound impact Nouri had on the club, and the number 34 has since been adopted by many of his former teammates at both club and international levels. This tribute underscores the lasting memory of Nouri’s influence and the way his colleagues have continued to honor him in the years following his injury.
For fans and observers, Saibari’s decision to wear 34 is more than a personal preference or a stylistic choice. It is a meaningful homage that ties his Bayern Munich debut to a moment in football history that remains poignant for many. The choice also highlights how players sometimes carry forward memories of teammates and friends through on-pitch symbols, turning a simple squad number into a lasting message of support and remembrance.
As Saibari embarks on his Bundesliga journey with Bayern, his #34 shirt will inevitably carry extra significance, inviting fans to reflect on Nouri’s career, the tragic turn of events in 2017, and the enduring care with which the football community remembers players who have faced unimaginable challenges. The number 34 thus becomes more than a digit on a jersey; it becomes a small, personal monument within the larger story of football, friendship, and resilience.