Jamiro Monteiro swaps No. 35 for No. 10 shirt for 2020 season

If you have a Jamiro Monteiro jersey with the No. 35 on it, you can consider it vintage.

The Philadelphia Union designated player has swapped his 35 shirt for No. 10, becoming the fifth player in the past five seasons to wear the coveted number.

Monteiro is the eighth player to wear the jersey number for the Union, joining Marco Fabian (2019), Borek Dockal (2018), Roland Alberg (2017), Tranquillo Barnetta (2016), Cristian Maidana (2014-2015), Roger Torres (2013) and Danny Mwanga (2010-2012).

The Cape Verde international finally rejoined the team for preseason camp this week in Florida after finalizing immigration paperwork. He was signed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year last month after the Union paid FC Metz a $2 million transfer fee.

This will be the first time the 26-year-old wears No. 10. He’s worn 35, 14 and 2 in his previous seasons as a pro.

“I joked with him when he got off the plane last night that number…is a heavier shirt, let’s put it that way,” head coach Jim Curtin said in a conference call on Tuesday.

Matthew Ralph

Matthew Ralph is the managing editor of Philadelphia Soccer Now. He's covered soccer at all levels for a decade in the Philadelphia region and has also written for TheCup.us, NPSL, PrepSoccer and other publications. He lives with his wife and two young children in Broomall, Pa., but grew up in South Jersey and is originally from Kansas.

See Full Bio