Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum says that Zinedine Zidane is the inspiration behind his Reds shirt number.
Although the No.5 is traditionally seen as a number favoured by defenders, Dutch midfielder Wijnaldum has sported it throughout his time in the Premier League at both former club Newcastle and now at Anfield.
Zidane sported the shirt during his time at Real Madrid, while Liverpool also have a fairly varied history with it as it was sported by midfielders such as Ray Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan many years ago and also forward Milan Baros when the Reds won the Champions League in 2005.
Wijnaldum has already created several special memories for Reds fans in his Liverpool No.5 shirt, including his famous brace against Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.
Speaking in a video he posted on Twitter during football's current coronavirus suspension, Wijnaldum explained why the number is so important to him.
"I started with No.5 at Feyenoord, I made my debut there," said the Dutch international.
"No. 5 is really special number for me because it was my lucky number since I was young, but also because my favourite player Zinedine Zidane was playing with No.5.
"I was really happy that I could start my professional career at No.5, and since then I played with No.5 at Newcastle, and then when I came to Liverpool the club kept No.5 for me.
"I was really happy with that because I have great memories with No.5 because it was lucky number, and also because my favourite player was playing with No.5."
Zidane wore the shirt throughout his five-year stint at Real Madrid between 2001 and 2006, during which he won the Champions League and La Liga.
