Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has revealed that he turned down the chance to inherit the No.1 jersey in the summer.
The number one has long been a traditional number for first-choice goalkeepers to take, but it was back-up 'keeper Brad Jones who possessed the jersey when Mignolet first arrived in the summer of 2013.
But that didn't bother the Belgian, who has long donned the No.22 jersey. Nevertheless, he was offered the opportunity to change his mind when Jones left the club in the summer.
But Mignolet, who has kept three consecutive clean sheets already this season, opted instead to keep what he called his number.
The 27-year-old said that he has "always worn it" ever since he first turned professional back in Belgium at Sint-Truiden. He wore the number when he moved to Sunderland in 2010 and decided to continue doing so when he moved to Merseyside three years later.
He stated that he "didn't want to change it" as a result, and that even though he wouldn't say he is a superstitious person - the no.22 "is part of" him and that he feels comfortable and good with the number, asking "why would change it?"
Mignolet looking to continue superb resurgence
It's been an eventful 12 months for the shot-stopper, who found himself dropped shortly before Christmas as his form took a turn for the worse.
But after an injury to Jones granted him a return on Boxing Day, Mignolet never looked back and soon became a crucial part of the Reds' mid-season revival.
Whilst they ultimately fell short of the top-four, Mignolet did himself more than justice after his sensational form saw him keep just one less clean sheet than Manchester City's Joe Hart.
But with the Reds currently unbeaten three weeks into the 2014-15 season, Mignolet bid for the golden gloves is going well - having yet to concede a single goal against Stoke City, Bournemouth or Arsenal.
Throughout those clashes, a renewed defensive stability has seen Liverpool afford just eight shots on target to their opponents - less than only the two Manchester clubs - meaning Mignolet has had a calm start to the new campaign.
As such, he has more clean sheets than any other 'keeper in the Premier League in 2015 - keeping 12, and he said he is "happy personally" with how things are going for him, both on and off the pitch.
He married his partner in the summer and ranked that well up amongst his highlights of the year so far, which he continued were the way he responded after being dropped, keeping so many clean sheets last term, winning the Player of the Year award from the Liverpool Former Players Association and starting well in 2015-16.
Sint Truden-born Mignolet however stated that because they are only halfway through the calendar year, he hopes to keep it going "until the end" and continue their form, both personally and as a team, going into 2016.
Reds "very happy" with first three results
He can complete another personal achievement this Saturday should he managed to keep a fourth straight shut-out against West Ham United, which would put him equal in the club's records with the most clean sheets at the start of the season.
Mignolet added he hopes he and his team-mates can do that, but "there are still 90 minutes to be played" against a "tough" opponent which he said will ensure that it isn't an easy game.
The goalkeeper said that Brendan Rodgers' charges "have to make sure" they maintain their performance levels to continue to do well, insisting the Reds are "very happy" with their start.
Despite creating enough opportunities to potentially win at Arsenal recently, Mignolet said that they were "pleased" to have kept another clean sheet and to get a point at a ground in which they were thrashed 4-1 on their previous visit.
He referred to the last game before the international break against the Hammers as an important one, as a win would ensure they can "speak of a good start to the season."