When it comes to Football shirts, the manufacturer is the single biggest factor in the overall quality of the kit, from Industry titans like Adidas and Nike to smaller designers such as Icarus Football, the objective is all the same, try to create the best football shirt possible. In this Article we are going to take a look at some of our favourite jersey brands and talk about just what makes their products so good.
Nike
A Company of the magnitude of Nike really needs no introduction, the US giant has been producing football kits for over 50 years and in that time have created some of the most memorable designs ever, and have produced kits for some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Manchester United, Barcelona and PSG. When it comes to overall quality, it’s very hard to beat what Nike can produce especially with their match spec kits. Their designers often work closely with clubs to produce jerseys that represent the history and values of the team.
Adidas
Another behemoth of the kit manufacturing business is Adidas. Much like Nike, the German brand has been around for a long time and has produced kits as legendary as it can get. One example of this is the Netherlands 1988 shirt, which is often regarded as the greatest football shirt of all time. That’s quite a big bragging right to have! In the modern era, the company still produces high quality, beautifully designed jerseys fit for clubs of any size. Adidas were the manufacturer for the joint most team’s kits (8) in the 23/24 UEFA Champions League.
Matchwinner
One of the pioneers of football kit design, Matchwinner created some of the boldest and most outrageous shirt patterns for UK clubs in the 80s and 90s. Whilst they do not produce kits for as many clubs as they once did, their historic jerseys have stood the test of time and are still as magnificent to look at today as they were over 30 years ago. Some of our favourites of their work include the Swansea 94/95 home shirt, Wigan 93/94 away and the Hull City 92/93 home jersey.
Umbro
When it comes to experience not many brands can come close to Umbro, who have been making football kits since 1934! The manufacturer produces fantastic looking kits that are more affordable for fans than some of their rivals like Nike and Adidas! Umbro has always represented some of the world's biggest football clubs, with some of their biggest hits coming in the 1990s, such as the iconic Manchester United 99/00 home shirt and Inter Milan 97/98 third kit. Umbro produced kits for 25% of all Premier League clubs this season, making them the most used manufacturer in the competition.
Ennerre (NR)
Ennerre are an Italian jersey manufacturer formed in 1972, they are one of the most loved kit brands by avid football shirt collectors and fans of Italian football between the 1970s and 1990s. They don’t have as wide of a portfolio as some of the other manufacturers we’ve mentioned, but the saying quality of quantity really rings true here. Almost every shirt that Ennerre produced felt and looked special. NR were responsible for creating masterpieces like the Roma 88/90 home shirt and the Napoli 89/90 home jersey worn by the late, great Diego Maradona.
Hummel
Some of our favourite kits of the past and present have been made by Danish kit producer Hummel. Their modern jersey’s are often inspired by some of their most iconic designs from the 80s and 90s, such as their run of 23/24 shirts inspired by the famous Denmark 1986 template. Much like Umbro, Hummel often produces kits that are cheaper for fans, but are still manufactured to super high quality standards.
Kappa
No manufacturer has a trademark design more iconic than the Kappa sleeves of the 1990s, used on kits for clubs such as Barcelona, Porto and Real Betis. In modern times Kappa still rolls out stunning football shirts year after year, with the most recognisable (and beautiful) being the jerseys of Serie B club Venezia FC. The brand has always combined it’s fashionable styles with it’s football shirt designs, creating some jerseys that are so good they can be considered works of art.
Icarus Football
This might not be a brand that you know, but it’s certainly one that you should! Icarus FC are a modern American based manufacturer, who create some of the most creative and visually stunning kits on the market. Every club that Icarus works with, no matter how big or small, is assigned a graphic designer, who collaborates with the team to produce a truly unique jersey. Icarus FC also creates amazing concept kits for fun, which really allow their incredible design team to flex their muscles.
Asics
Another manufacturer that hit its prime in the 1990s was Asics. They created some of the greatest Premier League kits of the era including Aston Villa’s 1994/1995 home shirt and the Newcastle 94/95 away kit. Asics also produced countless stunning jersey’s in the Serie A during this time period, along with one of the most famous international tops ever, the Japan 1998/99 flame design home shirt! Even though Asics are not as active in the football shirt world as they once were, we think their iconic designs of the late 20th century cemented them firmly on our list.
Admiral
One of the oldest sportswear brands in the United kingdom, Admiral were responsible for producing England’s national Football jerseys from 1974-1982, crafting some of the most incredible tops ever put on the international stage. Admiral also created legendary kits for British clubs, with wild designs similar to that of Matchwinner sportswear. Some of these include Southampton’s 1991/93 away top, Leeds’ 92/93 third shirt and Charlton Athletic’s iconic 89/90 home jersey. The British manufacturer is still producing great kits in 2024, our favourites being Japanese club Jubilo Iwata’s tops, which they have been manufacturing since 2022.
Honorable Mentions - Pony, Fila, Puma, Lotto and Macron.
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