In this post, we are going to take a look at just what can make a Football jersey “iconic”. From beautiful designs and sponsors to the kit being worn by a legend or a combination of both, there are many factors behind what makes the most memorable football shirts so special.
Design
One of the most important aspects of any football shirt is its overall design. The aesthetics of a jersey can cement its place in footballing history whether that’s in the hall of fame or the hall of shame, quite simply to be iconic from its design a kit has to stand out and be unique, something a little bit different to the norms. The Netherlands’ 1988 home jersey is a prime example of this, in the 1980s kit designs were mostly extremely basic until Adidas introduced the “Ipswich Template” in 88. The shirt’s style consists of a stunning tile-like pattern which broke the status quo and revolutionised how football kits were designed, today the shirt is regarded as one of the most famous jerseys of all time.
Players
Sometimes the style of a football kit doesn’t have to be the most important factor in giving it iconic status. Sometimes incredible players will come around and make the kit their own and the jersey becomes synonymous with that legend. The Arsenal 2004/2005 home shirt is one case of this, a shirt that is heavily associated with the great Thierry Henry just by looking at it. Henry finished the 04/05 season with an incredible 30 goals in all competitions and helped the side win their 10th FA Cup trophy. Original versions of the shirt are highly sought after by Arsenal fans and collectors alike, and one with Henry’s name on the back is considered an iconic piece of Footballing memorabilia.
Manufacturer
The manufacturer of a football shirt is a key factor in how legendary a jersey can become. Certain brands have a very high nostalgic value in a specific period such as Kappa in the 1990s. The Italian manufacturer created some of the most beautiful kits of all time, mainly featuring the famous kappa sleeves. Nike and Adidas have probably made the majority of the most iconic jerseys ever between them as they’ve had deals with the biggest clubs and nations for many years. The Arsenal 91/93 away, England 20/21 home and Real Madrid 1998/99 away are just a few examples of the 2 brands’ renowned catalogue of kits.
Sponsorship
Some of the most iconic Football shirts ever are mainly remembered for their sponsorship. We have seen all kinds of different brands and industries move into football sponsorships over the years and create highly memorable shirts, gaming sponsors have left a particularly famous legacy with brands such as Nintendo, SEGA and Playstation all sponsoring kits at periods in time. Another very famous example is the motoring industry with car manufacturers such as Opel and Jeep sponsoring shirts and tyre company Pirelli, who sponsored Inter Milan’s kits for over a quarter of a century! A few of the most iconic jerseys remembered for their sponsorships include the Fiorentina 97/98 home, Barcelona 10/11 home and the Auxerre 03/04 home shirt.
Achievements
There are occasions when a Football kit will mostly be remembered and considered iconic for the achievements that were made when the player or team wore the shirt. The most famous example of this is arguably the England 1966 away jersey that was worn when The Three Lions won the World Cup, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final after extra time. Liverpool’s 2004/05 is another good example of this. The jersey is now heavily associated with the club’s memorable Champions League final comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005.
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