Top 7 Football Shirts of All-Time
The start of each new football season sees clubs across the planet launch their fancy new shirts. These days the latest offerings can often be bland and often the manufacturers simply release a template and use that for a plethora of different teams. That hasn't always been the case however and there have been some absolute belters over the years. Here at FREEbets.org.uk, we take a look at seven classics from over the years that we think look the bees knees.
Barcelona home 1996-1997
The Catalonian's red and blue home shirts are always a smart ensemble in our eyes and never have they had a better version than the Kappa produced one from the mid-90's. In its design, it's very similar to the version from earlier on in the decade with the Kappa logo running repeatedly down the sleeves. A number of the kits on here can be remembered for the iconic players that wore them and this one has a standout moment from said icon. The 1996-97 season saw the 'original' Ronaldo play his only season at the Camp Nou and the Brazilian was quite simply frightening that year. He hit 47 goals in 49 games, with the most memorable coming away to Compostela. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, the then 20-year-old shrugged off an attempted to shirt pull to charge forward like a rampaging bull to beat three men and slam the ball home. It left his manager the late Sir Bobby Robson in shock with his hands on his head in celebration and was made all the better for the kit he was wearing in the process.
England Home 1982 World Cup
Leicestershire based manufacturers Admiral were the pioneers in the replica football shirt market. They were the first to realise the massive commercial market in allowing footie fans to don the strip of their heroes and in the 70's they were making numerous kits for clubs across the English divisions. Their Leeds home kit in 1973 was the first branded shirt with the Admiral logo clearly on display and the year later agreed a deal with the English national team to produce the first commercially available England shirt. It was until the start of the 80's however that they produced their finest with the kit for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. The v-neck with blue and red stripes on the shoulders gave it a distinctive look and is one of the most loved Three Lions strips of all-time.
Fiorentina Home 1998-1999
This is a classic late 90's Serie A gem. In Fiorentina's distinctive purple home colour this one benefits from having arguably the coolest sponsor ever to grace a football shirt. We can all have a little moan about the commercialisation in modern football but you can't really complain when the end result is the Nintendo logo on shirt. Made by Fila with a button neck fastening and a collar, this one is best remembered as being worn by legendary Argentinian striker Gabriel Batistuta in an era when baggy was best. La Viola's striking purple means they will hardly ever produce a shirt that goes un-noticed but this is our favourite.
Argentina Home 1986 World Cup
The sky blue and white stripes of Argentina make for a great mix in our eyes and they have never been better than for the 1986 World Cup. The kit was made by French brand Le Coq Sportif, whose emblem sat proudly on the right of the chest but the beauty of this kit remains its simplicity. It wasn't until the latter parts of the 80's that the sportswear giants began experimenting with different patterns so this shirt was one of the last of the more subdued era. It will also conjure happy memories for Argentina as they won the 1986 World Cup, inspired by Diego Maradona in the Mexican heat. Despite breaking English hearts in the tournament with the infamous 'Hand of god', Maradona proved to the world he was the best player on the planet and did so whilst looking the business.
Manchester United Away 1990-1992
Manchester in the early 90's was caught up in the midst of the 'Madchester' scene. The Hacienda, baggy clothes, the Stone Roses and Acid house. At the start of the decade Manchester United had an away kit to capture the times which would not have looked out of place at a massive open air rave. A classic old school adidas shirt with a white backdrop and the distinguished all over bold graphic print in blue. Perhaps subjective to some but this is a cult classic that has since inspired their black away kit for the 2017-18 season.
Sampdoria Home 1990-1991
Another Italian kit to make the list and like Fiorentina, Sampdoria are usually reliable for something stylish. Whereas La Viola are famous for the purple, Samp are similarly synonymous for their royal blue with black, white and red horizontal stripes. Perhaps the best manifestation came in the halcyon days of football shirt design, the early 90's. Made by asics, the shirt featured a v-neck and collar given it a smarter feel with sponsors logo ERG in bold white letters centrally on the chest. Sitting just below were the coloured hoops and the shirt was complete with an Italian flag logo on the left hand side of the chest. The Genoa-based side were a force to be reckoned with back then, winning the Scudetto in the season they wore this jazzer and reaching the European Cup final the year after.
Germany Home 1990 World Cup
Quite simply the greatest football shirt of all time. adidas and Germany kits go hand in hand and for their 1990 World Cup success, they were not only crowned the top international side on the planet but also kitted out the best. The standard white home shirt with the striped sleeves featured the classic adi trefoil on the right hand side of the chest but also the Bundesfalgge right across the front. The bold colours upon the white backdrop makes for a standout graphic design in an era where manufacturers were really beginning to push the boundaries.
P.S Honourable mentions go to:
- Orlando Pirates Home 2017-18
- Denmark Home 1986
- France Home 1984-1986
- Saint Etienne Home 1976
- Netherlands Home 1988