Soccer kits aren’t just something to wear to the pub or to a game whenever your team is playing but are a staple piece within the wardrobes of many men. You don’t even need to support a team to be able to wear one either, as some designs are so cool that they easily veer into streetwear territory.
Manufacturers are very much playing up to this fact, providing limited edition tops that say more and more about the culture of the team they represent. They’ve even been known to work in collaborations, as highlighted by the sensational joint effort between Paris Saint Germain and Nike Air Jordan.
Until recently fans of a particular team had to wait two years before their side released a new version of a home or away kit, but brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma pay soccer teams such huge amounts of money to produce their shirts, they now create new designs every season. And most teams even have a third kit and a training kit. Some die-hard fans are up in arms about this, but for those of us who looking for something stylish and handy for the odd kick around, it just means more choice, and even better, reduced prices come the end of the season!
But bear in mind that there should be some method behind buying your new soccer shirt. The last thing you want is someone asking why you bought one from a particular team without a good answer. A lot of people buy shirts from places they have visited, or because their family heritage goes back to a certain place, limited editions, collaborations, or of course because they actually support the team!
The biggest football shirt manufacturers such as Nike, Adidas and Puma are creating tops with a modern fit and with sweat-wicking fabrics that work with casual wear like never before, blurring the lines between sports clothing and fashion trends. So if you want a cool statement piece or just something classy to wear for a kick about, there are a lot of great options out there from the past and present, and here we’ve noted a few that have particularly caught out attention across recent seasons.
F.C. Barcelona Stadium Third Jersey 20/21
They may have suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2020 Champions League, but Barcelona will be having the last laugh with this incredible third-kit. Everyone knows real men wear pink, and the pastel softness of this shirt is simply perfection. Contrasting splashes of black and a minty-colour green are just the icing atop a very good-looking cake.
As ever, Nike's Dri-FIT technology helps to wick sweat from your body, while the relaxed fit makes it suitable for wearing on and off the pitch.
France FFF Home Stadium Jersey 20
We're pretty sure France is incapable of producing a bad soccer jersey. The current world champions can always be relied upon to launch something slick, suave and sophisticated, that regardless of your opinions of the country's residents, will always make you swoon.
This 2020 FFF Stadium Home shirt is a testament to that, rocking a striped design we're now accustomed to, complete with a solid red band across the middle. Nike's Breathe fabric will keep you cool (although, maybe not as cool as the shirt itself).
Portugal Strike Drill Jersey 20/21
Current UEFA European champions Portugal will be hoping to repeat their success when the next tournament (hopefully) goes ahead in 2021. If the amount of practice they put in during training is anywhere near the level of quality of this Nike drill top, we fancy their chances. Ice cool mint green contrasts with the Portuguese colours of red and green to result in a top that is fresher than fresh.
Tottenham Away Jersey 20/21
Tottenham Hotspur finished the 19/20 season sixth in the Premier League table, way below what they would like or what we would have expected. If this gorgeous green away jersey is anything to go by, however, then it's clear they'll mean business. Taking heavy inspiration from North London's streetwear scene, this jersey will be just at home off the pitch as it is on it and thanks to Nike's Dri-FIT sweat-wicking technology, you'll remain cooler than cool.
Liverpool Training Jersey 20/21
Training jerseys can often take the back seat, as fans would much rather wear the same shirt their heroes wear on the field, rather than off it. But when we spotted this Liverpool training jersey, we had nothing else to say but "wow". Slim-fitting, Nike's Dri-FIT technology for sweat wicking, a ridiculously slick colour scheme and half the price of the on-pitch shirt. How good.
AC Milan Third Jersey 20/21
AC Milan may not have finished the 19/20 season in their usual top four spot, but they'll be back next season and if this third jersey is anything to go by, they'll mean business. The teal colourway, much like Liverpool's below, is stunning, but for us, it's the houndstooth design in the bottom half that has us sitting up and taking notice. We'll forget it looks pretty similar to the also-Puma-produced Arsenal away shirt of 17/18.
Liverpool Away Jersey 20/21
We've featured Liverpool's third jersey further down this list, and it's certainly a great shirt, but this 20/21 away kit is one we'll be seeing a lot more of, and we're all for it. The teal colouring isn't a common colour in the Premier League, and proves the recently-crowned champions will be wanting to stand out on the field and make their mark as they hope to repeat their success. The front pattern is inspired by Anfield's Shankly Gates while the textured print is said to mimic music flyers posted through the city that gave us The Beatles.
Juventus Away Jersey 20/21
While the home jersey may look like a child's attempt at colouring in between the lines, Juventus' away jersey for the upcoming 20/21 season is a far smoother affair. The Night Indigo colour block colour finish is oh-so easy on the eye and the silver accents add a subtly stylish touch. This is Italy's finest, after all.
The shirt itself is made by Adidas, and so you're treated to the company's Aeroready technology for moisture control, leaving you as cool as this shirt.
Barcelona Away Jersey 20/21
FC Barcelona are known globally for their cool, calm and collected tiki-taka style of play, but we think the away jersey for the 20/21 season is even cooler. This is the fully-fledged match version that will be worn by the players themselves (a stadium version with Nike's Dri-FIT technology is also available) which means you get Nike's VaporKnit technology for the ultimate in moisture wicking. It's made from recycled materials too, so is good for the earth. But we're all about that black and gold colouring, which gives off an incredibly premium look. It's a far cry from the vibrant orange we've seen in the past, and we're big fans.
Inter Milan Home Jersey 20/21
Milan and fashion go hand-in-hand, so it only makes sense for its star team to have a soccer jersey that reflects that. This home kit for the upcoming 20/21 season takes the familiar black and blue colour scheme of the club, but gives it an injection of quirkiness with zig-zag stripes. Long-term sponsor partner Pirelli is emblazoned across the front and secondary sponsor Driver at the bottom of the back. Since it's made by Nike, it makes use of Dri-FIT sweat-wicking fabric technology too, so you can look cool and feel cool at the same time.
Bayern Munich Away Jersey 20/21
Bayern Munich has always been a force to be reckoned with in world football and this Adidas away shirt proves they're masters of minimalist cool too. The combination of two shades of grey with orange text and logos is sehr sehr gut.
AS Roma Home Jersey 20/21
Roma is an Italian team to rely on for great looking jerseys and this 20/21 iteration is a testament to that. It brings back the "Ice Lolly" design that featured on the club's shirt at the start of the 1980s, injecting some retro cool into this wholly modern Nike manufactured kit.
Liverpool FC Third Jersey 19/10
What a season Liverpool has had. Despite the lockdown period putting a halt on the season, Liverpool still managed to end their 30 year wait for another Premier League title. Naturally, you could get Liverpool's iconic red home kit, but we think this third jersey in black with a gorgeous neon emerald green is the real dark horse. A champion jersey for a champion team.
Manchester City GK Jersey 20/21
They may not have retained the title for the 2019/20 season, but Manchester City won't let that put them down. They'll be back next season to try and reclaim the title, but we think they've already won on this goalkeeper kit alone. Made by Puma, it rocks a subtle honeycomb pattern, while Puma's dryCEII technology wicks sweat away from your body to keep you as cool as this shirt looks.
Tottenham Drill Kit Jersey 20/21
The Nike Training T-Shirt 2020/21 features Nike Dri-FIT technology and Nike Breathe Fabric, helping you stay dry and cool. The Nike Training T-Shirt 2020/21 is what the players will wear when they are training during the week preparing for a match for the 2020/21 season.
PSG x Jordan Fourth Kit 19/20
Such has been the success of PSG’s partnership with Jordan, this year they released four shirts! Designed with collectors in mind, it’s a take on their home jersey which features the Nike Swoosh, but coloured black instead of blue, with the Air Jordon imprint. It has a slim fit and also features the three colours of the French flag running vertically down the centre. This is probably one that looks better on the football pitch or stadium than the street, but a modern classic none the less.
Real Madrid Third Jersey 19/20
The Spanish are so nuts about football that at times borders on religion, and their capital is home one of the most successful, richest clubs on the planet - Real Madrid. The literal translation for Real in English is Royal, and their players are looked upon as kings of the football pitch. A great team needs a great jersey, such as this classy turqoise third choice top. If features a classic overlapping Adidas collar, and is made from fast wicking fabrics.
Barcelona Stadium Third 18/9
Catalonians are very touchy when it comes to their beloved team’s shirts. They’ve only been allowed sponsors on their tops for the past 10 seasons, and that had to be ofset by allowing charity Unicef to don their logo also, completely free of charge! Their away kits, however, are always typically Spanish in that they are bold, extremely colourful and at times insane. This Stadium Third kit by Nike is certainly very Barcelona in that it is standout pink, with the yellow and red stripes of the Catalan flag hidden on the back of the collar.
Liverpool Home GK SS 19/20
Liverpool finally secured the Premier League trophy for the 2019/20 season, ending a 30 year wait for the title. While they'll be going into the next season as champions, they won't be going into it with New Balance as their kit provider anymore, making the switch to Nike. That makes this stunning New Balance goalkeeper home jersey that bit more special, and one that will look great as part of a casual outfit thanks to its black and gold colouring.
Manchester City Hacienda Away 19/20
The real concept of the year award must go to the team at Nike for their Hacienda kit in collaboration with Manchester City. If you’re not ware of the Hacienda, it was one of the birthplace of House, Techno and Indie music in Manchester in the late 80s and 90s, and is now viewed in near mythical status. The use of fluorescent lines ran throughout the club and it is this that Nike has used as inspiration on this Manchester City Away top. This is definately be one for the collectors and already referred to as a classic, so get your hands on one whilst you can.
FC Bayern Third 19/20
This shirt is a marriage of two German sporting giants in manufacturer Adidas, and Bavarian soccer superpower, Bayern Munich. It’s the club’s official third shirt, far away from the red and white stripes the club are so closely associated with. Constructed using, soft to touch fabrics that keep you cool and dry when the heat is on, it’s made for the pressures of football but can also work under a more casual street ensemble.
Tottenham Stadium Away - Nike
When Tottenham moved into their brand new state of the art super stadium they needed a snazzy strip to mark the start of a new era. The result was this classy collaboration with Nike, using their traditional navy blue away colours with a modern print across the chest. Nike seem to be most effective in their soccer top designs when they keep in simple, just like they have here for the mighty Spurs.
