The Top 100 Shirts of 2018: 90-81
The best football shirts of 2018
Welcome back to Top 100 Shirts.
After the big launch of the list, we’re back with numbers 90-81.
In my personal opinion I don’t think adidas have reached their potential on the club scene this season, which was a shame after such a strong set of international shirts. That being said, there’s some great adidas club shirts in this section.
But it’s not just the German giants involved, Nike, Macron, Umbro and Kappa are all represented.
So dive into part 2 of our series, and remember I’m always keen to hear what you agree or disagree with over on Twitter.
Other blogs in this series
100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51 | 50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-2 | 1
90 - Atlanta United Away
I’m a big fan of MLS kits. Since 2004, adidas have had exclusive rights to produce kits for teams across the league and whilst many people argue that a league-wide brand = a lack of creativity, but I would argue there are great opportunities for the brand to experiment and test designs without having to worry about that contract renewal date coming up.
One of the best this season is Atlanta’s peach-tinged effort. It’s a superb design and the sort which is really coming back into fashion this year (see Spain away for a different flavour).
I’m happier for it.
- Phil
Atlanta is known for peaches and the club use this as inspiration for the shirt. Logos, sponsors and stripes are all, unsurprisingly, in peach. This contrasts well with the white shirt which itself has a subtle panel pattern decorating it. This is the type of pattern that Adidas do so well and although it might look familiar, the pattern has been inspired by the stadium’s amazing Mercedes-Benz roof.
It wasn’t my one of my favourites to begin with but it has grown on me. King Peach may not be the King of this list but it certainly deserves a place on it.
- Pedro
Compare prices on the Atlanta United Away Shirt
89 - Corinthians Away
I don’t know where to begin with this shirt; some people love it and some people hate it.
It’s difficult to determine if the pattern is supposed to look like someone has drawn a forest using charcoal or if it’s just supposed to make the shirt look as if it is made out of velvet. Either way it’s a unique design and definitely one of my favourites from this year.
- Chris
There’s something about this kit that just ain’t the same. Although it’s incredibly simple, the design is really something else. Glad they took a risk on this kit because it certainly has paid off.
For me, this black velvet looking kit should’ve been higher.
- Dane
Compare prices on the Corinthians Away Shirt
88 - Dinamo Bucharest Home
A brilliant kit that reeks of cold-war class. White pinstripes on a red shirt is always a winner, the distance between stripes is perfect and the stylised “1948” tucked just under the bottom of the badge adds a modern twist. Add a nice v-neck collar and the national flag on the back and it all comes together.
- Alec
Macron have released some great shirts this year and this Dinamo Bucharest home shirt is one of the best.
To compliment Dinamo’s traditional red home shirts, white pinstripes have been added giving the shirt a more elegant look. Behind the club badge, the year of the club’s foundation is embossed into the fabric and a Romanian flag can be seen on the back of the neck.
There isn’t a lot to this shirt, yet this minimalist design still looks classy.
- Pedro
87 - USA Away
Although this kit is from the same mould as the France 2018 Home Kit, it still deserves a mention as Nike have done just enough to make it stand out. No where near as American as the 94’ away kit, but still rather classy with some nice subtle details.
- Dane
I’m always a big fan of home and away strips that follow the same unique template so it’s no surprise to see both of America’s shirts on this list. The only difference between this piece and the home one is that the hoops fade in an opposite direction. However the colour scheme isn’t particularly inspired and is relatively modest in comparison with the innovative design, meaning that with a few slightly more vibrant shades this could have placed a lot higher on our list.
A strong and classy effort nonetheless.
- Chris
Compare prices on the USA Away Shirt
86 - Juventus Third
Juve’s Third Kit at a glance, just seems to be carbon copy of the others, but take a second look you’ll see it’s more than that. The gunmetal shade clashing with the bright yellow just works and really complements the new Juve logo. The wicked stitching pattern running up the kit is class too.
- Dane
Now I’m not hugely keen on this shirt. The dark grey itself isn’t too bad, but the bright yellow secondary colour looks really quite shocking, and for me not in a good way. The textured look of the kit isn’t great either, and almost looks as if it was made of duct tape stuck together. However, it’s hard not to respect the usage of recycled materials.
- Apollo
Compare prices on the Juventus Third Shirt
85 - Fulham Home
adidas went above and beyond with their international kits this year, creating retro-inspired designs that had everyone frothing at the mouth. On the club side it looked for large part that they’d gone a little too vanilla, but Fulham’s home kit was an example of their wonderful international approach.
The shirt is inspired by The Cottagers lovely late 90s kits, and it’s a strong look which they should come back to again and again.
- Phil
Simple but really effective. A nod to the late 90s classic, that definitely belongs to the west London club and no-one else. The collar sets the whole thing off and it is an excellent modern rendition of a kit that will remind Fulham fans of a wonderful period in their history.
- Alec
Compare prices on the Fulham Home Shirt
84 - West Ham Away
Not the traditional sky blue of old Hammers away kits, this colour is Gibraltar Sea apparently. Is a nice departure from tradition and the cut, collar and retro umbro trim help it along. Still prefer the third kit, mind!
- Alec
Umbro have been making waves this year, largely thanks to their uniform approach to cuffs. No matter how many times I see their double diamond trim on the sleeves, I don’t get bored.
All of West Ham’s shirts are glorious this year, and their away shirt is my favourite of the lot thanks to it’s perfectly weighted colour scheme. With a better sponsor this easily moves us several spots.
- Phil
Compare prices on the West Ham Away Shirt
83 - Napoli Third
Napoli’s shirts in recent years have made headlines and truly divide opinion; like marmite, you either love them or hate them. Whilst guaranteed there is a lot going on - too many sponsors for many peoples liking, large Kappa branding and an intense diamond-like design on the front - there’s no denying it’s an intriguing piece.
The hidden tiger on the front though, convinces me it deserves a place amongst our top 100.
- Chris
Not for me.
The smashed glass style pattern could be interesting, but the usage of those shades of grey leaves it looking dull, and the other elements of the shirt work in tandem to make it look even worse. The white leading from the collar down the shoulders looks really out of place, and that’s not even mentioning the black and white stripes at the end of the shoulders.
- Apollo
Compare prices on the Napoli Third Shirt
82 - Kaizer Chiefs Home
There are some clubs who consistently deliver in terms of shirts. Thanks to their iconic name, strong colour scheme and long term partnership with Nike, Kaizer Chiefs are a regular on any top shirt list.
This year their home shirt is one of the best going, with a unique pattern which captures the angular dynamism you find on all the best Chiefs shirts.
I’m not sure what angular dynamism is exactly but I’m going to use it in future.
- Phil
Nike get this just right. Predominantly orange with some black diagonal lines emanating from the bottom and ribs towards the centre. The sponsor detracts a little but this is a home kit fit for the South African Chiefs.
- Alec
Compare prices on the Kaizer Chiefs Home Shirt
81 - Colombia Away Shirt
This is another shirt wrapped up in a favourite World Cup memory for me.
Colombia’s demolishing of an out-of-sorts Poland on matchday 2 was a truly magnificent attacking display, made all the more memorable by their really strong away kit. The luminous orange popped out perfectly against the blue, and the subtle pattern running down the front is the kind of thing adidas do best.
- Phil
Colombia went for a very bold effort with their away kit this year and it has really flown under the radar. A distinct blue pair with an eye catching orange is a potentially risky mix, but adidas have gave it their touch and made it work.
- Dane
Compare prices on the Colombia Away Shirt
The Top 100 shirts of 2018
| Rank | Shirt | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China Away | Read more |
| 2 | Nigeria Home | Read more |
| 3 | Germany Away | Read more |
| 4 | Japan Home | Read more |
| 5 | Corinthians Third | Read more |
| 6 | Mexico Away | Read more |
| 7 | Parma Third | Read more |
| 8 | Leeds Away | Read more |
| 9 | Boca Juniors Away | Read more |
| 10 | Parma Away | Read more |
| 11 | Newcastle Away | Read more |
| 12 | New Zealand Away | Read more |
| 13 | Inter Third | Read more |
| 14 | Croatia Away | Read more |
| 15 | Real Betis Third | Read more |
| 16 | Parma Home | Read more |
| 17 | V-Varen Nagasaki Away | Read more |
| 18 | Brondby Away | Read more |
| 19 | Clapton CFC Away | Read more |
| 20 | Marseille Away | Read more |
| 21 | Argentina Away | Read more |
| 22 | Colombia Home | Read more |
| 23 | Galatasaray Third | Read more |
| 24 | Jamaica Away | Read more |
| 25 | Gremio Home | Read more |
| 26 | Real Betis Away | Read more |
| 27 | Tottenham Third | Read more |
| 28 | Germany Home | Read more |
| 29 | Lazio Home | Read more |
| 30 | Everton Third | Read more |
| 31 | Tigres Home | Read more |
| 32 | Houston Dynamo Away | Read more |
| 33 | Portland Timbers Home | Read more |
| 34 | Shimizu S-Pulse Home | Read more |
| 35 | Bayern Munich Home | Read more |
| 36 | AIK Special | Read more |
| 37 | Aston Villa Home | Read more |
| 38 | Chapecoense Home | Read more |
| 39 | Al-Ahli Third | Read more |
| 40 | UNAM Pumas Home | Read more |
| 41 | Chelsea Home | Read more |
| 42 | Peru Home | Read more |
| 43 | Chapecoense Away | Read more |
| 44 | Cameroon Home | Read more |
| 45 | RB Leipzig Third | Read more |
| 46 | Barcelona Third | Read more |
| 47 | Man City Away | Read more |
| 48 | Jubilo Iwata Home | Read more |
| 49 | Porto Third | Read more |
| 50 | Atletico Madrid Third | Read more |
| 51 | Rangers Away | Read more |
| 52 | PSG Third | Read more |
| 53 | Torino Third | Read more |
| 54 | LAFC Home | Read more |
| 55 | Hellas Verona Third | Read more |
| 56 | Tibet Home | Read more |
| 57 | Iceland Away | Read more |
| 58 | Belarus Home | Read more |
| 59 | FC Copenhagen | Read more |
| 60 | Fiorentina Home | Read more |
| 61 | Napoli Away | Read more |
| 62 | Vitesse Away | Read more |
| 63 | Cruzeiro Home | Read more |
| 64 | UNAM Pumas Away | Read more |
| 65 | CD Leganes Third | Read more |
| 66 | Hertha Berlin Away | Read more |
| 67 | Sampdoria Home | Read more |
| 68 | Orlando Pirates Home | Read more |
| 69 | Senegal Away | Read more |
| 70 | France Away | Read more |
| 71 | Torino Home | Read more |
| 72 | Bayern Munich Away | Read more |
| 73 | South Korea | Read more |
| 74 | Canada Home | Read more |
| 75 | Netherlands Away | Read more |
| 76 | CD Leganes Away | Read more |
| 77 | Stuttgart Third | Read more |
| 78 | Juventus Away | Read more |
| 79 | Werder Bremen Home | Read more |
| 80 | Nice Home | Read more |
| 81 | Colombia Away | Read more |
| 82 | Kaizer Chiefs Home | Read more |
| 83 | Napoli Third | Read more |
| 84 | West Ham Away | Read more |
| 85 | Fulham Home | Read more |
| 86 | Juventus Third | Read more |
| 87 | USA Away | Read more |
| 88 | Dinamo Bucharest Home | Read more |
| 89 | Corinthians Away | Read more |
| 90 | Atlanta United Away | Read more |
| 91 | USA Home | Read more |
| 92 | Saint-Étienne Home | Read more |
| 93 | Spain Away | Read more |
| 94 | Iceland Home | Read more |
| 95 | Ajax Away | Read more |
| 96 | Real Betis Home | Read more |
| 97 | PSG Away | Read more |
| 98 | Cape Town City FC Home | Read more |
| 99 | Red Star Belgrade Home | Read more |
| 100 | Portugal Away | Read more |
So, that’s numbers 90-81 on our list.
What do you think? Are we completely off the mark with anything here? How could we possibly think there are 95 shirts better than the Betis home kit?
As usual, let me know what you think over on Twitter!
And don’t forget you can compare prices on all these shirts and more by keeping it right here at FOOTY.COM
