The History of Retro Football Jerseys: Why Classics Are Back

Until the seventies, a jersey was essentially a work uniform: heavy cotton, one color, no sponsors. The turning point came in that decade, when synthetics entered production and clubs began selling replicas to fans; the first major shirt sponsor in Europe appeared in 1973.

The eighties and nineties brought what we recognize retro jerseys by today: bold patterns, geometric prints, and wide, relaxed cuts. Printing technology of the time allowed all-over designs for the first time, and manufacturers used that freedom to the fullest.

Some jerseys transcended sport and became part of general culture. These are the models mentioned most often when people talk about the most beautiful kits of all time:

• Brazil 1970: the yellow shirt of Pele's generation from the first World Cup broadcast in color — probably the most recognizable jersey ever.
• Netherlands 1988: the orange geometric-pattern shirt in which Van Basten scored his famous volley at the European Championship.
• Yugoslavia of the late eighties and early nineties: the blue shirt of the Stojkovic, Savicevic and Prosinecki generation, today one of the most sought-after retro models in the Balkans.
• AC Milan of the early nineties: the red and black stripes from Capello's unbeaten 1991/92 season.
• Barcelona of the nineties: the blue and red shirts of Cruyff's Dream Team that won the club's first European Cup in 1992.

For Balkan fans, no retro jersey carries the weight of the blue Yugoslavia shirt. The generation that won the 1987 World Youth Championship in Chile and reached the 1990 World Cup quarter-final in Italy is remembered as one of the most talented in European football history.

That is why the blue shirt is still bought both as fan gear and as a keepsake, and often as a gift for older generations who watched that team live. We wrote more about today's national teams of the region in Balkan national team jerseys.

Jersey collecting has grown into a serious scene over the last decade: original pieces from the eighties and nineties sell at specialized auctions, and the rarest match-worn shirts reach five-figure sums.

For most people, though, the point is wearing the shirt, not locking it in a safe. A quality retro replica delivers the same look and emotion at the price of a regular jersey — in our case around 45 EUR — without the fear of ruining a collector's piece by wearing it. We explained how to spot a well-made replica in how to recognize a quality jersey.

The retro jersey left the stands long ago and became part of street fashion, following the same logic as vintage hoodies and nineties sneakers. The easiest combinations: a jersey over jeans or wide trousers, with sneakers and, if you like, a cap.

The wide cut of retro models is an advantage here — it drapes loosely and does not demand an athletic build. The full retro look is rounded out by retro tracksuits, which are coming back for the same reason as the jerseys: nostalgia plus comfort.