Top 100 Football Shirts of 2019 - Part 3: 80-71
The best football shirts of 2019
We are experiencing the second renaissance.
Italian football shirts have always been beautiful, and you only have to look at pretty much any picture of Serie A in the 90s to immediately fall in love. But despite a few diamonds in the rough, I would argue that Italian clubs have largely been playing catchup in regards to kits over more recent times.
We’ve reached the light at the end of the tunnel now though, and Italian clubs look to be reigning supreme once again.
So far in Top 100 Shirts we’ve already enjoyed both the Venezia home and away shirts, and in part 3 we see 2019 debuts for two giants of world football: Inter Milan and Roma. This is not the last we’ll see of either side by any means, but let it serve as a reminder that Italy is looking once again like one of the true powerhouses of the football shirt world.
Other blogs in this series
Part 1: 100-91 | Part 2: 90-81 | Part 3: 80-71 | Part 4: 70-61 | Part 5: 60-51 | Part 6: 50-41 | Part 7: 40-31 | Part 8: 30-21 | Part 9: 20-11 | Part 10: 10-1
80 - Inter Home
The Nerazzurri’s home shirt this season is an interesting shakeup to the normal idea of an Inter shirt. The stripes in the middle of the shirt are titled, breaking up the flow above and below it. And yet it works. It’s an experimental design, but it works. However, the white neckline really takes away some brownie points for me.
- Apollo
Some shirts grow on you over time. I was sceptical at best when I saw leaks for this year’s Inter home, but following its release I’ve grown to appreciate what Nike are trying to do.
There’s more than a little bit of 2006 in the design (with the white neckline and thickness of stripes), and the central diagonal section nods to the classic 1990 away shirt. Method in the madness.
- Phil
Compare prices on the Inter Home Shirt
79 - Roma Home
I can’t be the only one wondering what the hell this is doing so low down? I know it’s been upstaged by the awesome away and third kits, but this is still an absolute gem of a football shirt. The traditional Roma colours are just as stunning as ever, but it’s obviously the lightning-themed collar and cuffs which completely steal the show. I mean, the design is just plain cool.
Much like the club itself, this shirt is packed with character and, more importantly, just plain fun. Petition to get this moved up a few places!
- Ben
I’m shocked that this isn’t higher on the list, and that’s coming from a Lazio fan. The Giallorossi’s home shirt this season keeps the same shade of deep red as before, but the lightning bolt design on the trimmings make the shirt pop and give the shirt a good energy.
- Apollo
Compare prices on the Roma Home Shirt
78 - Netherlands Women Home
2019 has been big for Nike, and in more ways than you think. Yes, their unique designs for Women’s teams have been a hugely welcome addition. And it’s true that their third kits deserve a tonne of praise.
But you know what I love most about this beautiful Netherlands home? The ‘problem’ of the dropneck collar has been mitigated with a little additional material. It’s delicate variations like this that speak volumes to a brand’s success.
- Phil
Compare prices on the Netherlands Home Shirt
77 - Mali Away
African football shirts seem to be synonymous with huge animal prints, and I love them for it! The Mali shirt is predominantly white and grey in a camouflage-like pattern but it's the eagle in the centre of the shirt that takes pride of place. The colours of the Malian flag make up the eagle's wings and they spread out across the shirt and continue as stripes onto the sleeves. The colours of the Malian flag are also used as details on the collar.
Overall, this is cracking shirt that would make any player or fan stand out from the crowd.
- Pedro
76 - Frankfurt Home
I love this shirt. It's somehow so basic, yet so refined. So retro, yet so contemporary. Simultaneously making excellent use of all Eintracht's traditional colours,this is a loud design and one that I feel you could only see donned by a German side. Solid effort from Nike.
- Chris
Compare prices on the Frankfurt Home Shirt
75 - West Brom Away
I’m so happy to see West Brom back in green and yellow again this season. It’s simply one of my favourite colour combos in English football, the kind of look which shouldn’t work but actually does and is more the memorable for it.
Things are kept fresh this year with some thinner stripes and a subtle pattern in the sleeves. Turns out Puma are the perfect fit for the Baggies.
- Phil
Compare prices on the West Brom Away Shirt
74 - Sao Paulo Away
Yeah, this isn’t bad. Personally, I would’ve loved to see the stripes continue onto the back of the shirt, but São Paulo’s new away shirt is still fairly pleasing on the eye. The traditional club colours are all there, of course, but the use of a slight gradient freshens things up and offers a welcome modern twist. Decent, but nothing special.
- Ben
73 - Dundee United Home
Macron are one of my favourite kit manufacturers at the moment and this Dundee United shirt is a great example of why.
Some people may be getting bored of manufacturers raiding the archives for their designs but I don’t mind at all, particularly when the final design looks this classy. Macron have used the Dundee United 1985/86 home shirt as inspiration and have created a fresh, modern-looking shirt.
The subtle diagonal pattern looks great and the collars and cuffs add a lovely pop of colour. Even the sponsor works well with the overall look. A superb effort from Macron and Dundee United.
- Pedro
72 - Spurs Third
This isn’t quite as good as last year’s third shirt, but I still think this is a beauty.
The shirt appears to take inspiration from the 1991 third shirt by Umbro, both in terms of the colours and the use of the word ‘Spurs’. Rather than putting the ‘Spurs’ across the chest like that 91 shirt, Nike have opted to run the ‘Spurs’ graphic across the whole shirt, in a pattern that seems to be based on the outside of the new Spurs stadium.
Add to this, the classy-looking button-down collar and the classic ‘Futura’ Nike logo and the 90s vibe is complete. Lovely stuff.
- Pedro
Compare prices on the Spurs Third Shirt
71 - Forest Green Third
Forest Green Rovers are well known for their support of environmental issues across throughout the day to day running of their club, this has now been reflected in their 2019/20 3rd (Cup away) kit. This blue camouflage kit which is made from 50% bamboo material is raising money for Conservationists Sea Shepherd, the camouflage theme and blue colouring is based on their flagship the “Steve Irwin” and its unique paint job – look it up, it really does!
PlayerLayer (the kit manufacturers) pull off a stunning design with this effort and with their unique home/away kit designs are some of the most stand out kits in the Lower English Leagues, just a shame it is unlikely to get many outings this season.
- Gavin
The Top 100 shirts of 2019 - Table
| Rank | Shirt | Read More |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roma Away | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 2 | Barcelona Away | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 3 | Arsenal Home | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 4 | Coventry Home | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 5 | Inter Milan Third | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 6 | Inter Milan Away | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 7 | Cambridge United Away | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 8 | West Ham Away | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 9 | Roma Third | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 10 | AC Milan Home | Part 10: 10-1 |
| 11 | Hull City Home | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 12 | West Ham Home | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 13 | Germany Women Home | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 14 | PSV Away | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 15 | V-Varen Nagasaki Peace Jersey | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 16 | Club America Home | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 17 | Everton Away | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 18 | Tunisia Third | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 19 | England Women Away | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 20 | PSG Third | Part 9: 20-11 |
| 21 | Monaco Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 22 | Pescara Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 23 | Marseille Fourth | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 24 | France Women Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 25 | Ajax Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 26 | Go Ahead Eagles Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 27 | Western United Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 28 | Lille Home | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 29 | Chelsea Third | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 30 | AIK Away | Part 8: 30-21 |
| 31 | Hackney Wick Away | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 32 | Hearts of Oak Home | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 33 | Hackney Wick Home | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 34 | Barcelona Third | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 35 | Vancouver Whitecaps Home | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 36 | Middlesbrough Away | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 37 | Athletic Bilbao Away | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 38 | Derby County Home | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 39 | China Women Away | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 40 | Kaizer Chiefs Home | Part 7: 40-31 |
| 41 | Philadelphia Union Away | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 42 | Sampdoria Home | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 43 | Atlético Tucumán Home | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 44 | Hamburg Home | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 45 | Huesca Third | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 46 | Charlton Away | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 47 | Leones Negros Third | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 48 | Arsenal Away | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 49 | Forward Madison Third | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 50 | Club Puebla Home | Part 6: 50-41 |
| 51 | Valencia Third | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 52 | Manchester City Away | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 53 | Besiktas Home | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 54 | UNAM Pumas | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 55 | Middlesbrough Home | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 56 | Zenit Away | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 57 | Australia Women Home | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 58 | Ecuador Home | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 59 | Ajax Home | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 60 | Coventry Away | Part 5: 60-51 |
| 61 | UNAM Pumas Away | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 62 | 1874 Northwich Away | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 63 | Blackburn Away | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 64 | Monchengladbach Third | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 65 | Costa Rica Cup | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 66 | Real Madrid Away | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 67 | RB Reipzig Third | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 68 | Parma Third | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 69 | Fortuna Dusseldorf Third | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 70 | Marseille Away | Part 4: 70-61 |
| 71 | Forest Green Third | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 72 | Spurs Third | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 73 | Dundee United Home | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 74 | Sao Paulo Away | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 75 | West Brom Away | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 76 | Frankfurt Home | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 77 | Mali Away | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 78 | Netherlands Women Home | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 79 | Roma Home | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 80 | Inter Home | Part 3: 80-71 |
| 81 | Venezia Home | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 82 | Schalke Third | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 83 | AGF Aarhus Home | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 84 | Marseille Home | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 85 | Atletico Madrid Third | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 86 | Newport County Home | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 87 | Brazil Cup | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 88 | Schalke Away | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 89 | Charleroi Away | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 90 | Gremio Home | Part 2: 90-81 |
| 91 | Zenit Saint Petersburg Home | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 92 | Fluminense Home | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 93 | Lazio Away | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 94 | Portland Thorns Home | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 95 | Venezia Away | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 96 | Stuttgart Third | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 97 | Newport County Away | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 98 | Atletico Madrid Away | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 99 | Nantes Away | Part 1: 100-91 |
| 100 | Urawa Red Diamonds Home | Part 1: 100-91 |
Thanks for reading the latest part of Top 100 Shirts!
We’re continuing to gradually release the full list in chunks of 10, so keep checking back on here as we approach the halfway point, and eventually the coveted #1 spot.
