In the last few years, the soccer jersey collecting hobby has expanded tremendously. It has turned from a niche hobby into a viable market. It’s no longer just collectors and fans looking to buy the clothes; it’s the memorabilia sellers at sports shops! It’s clear from the breadth of jerseys available at markets, shops, and on the internet that there is interest and demand. For collectors in the field, there is still discussion and disagreement of what the differences between “retro” and “vintage” actually are. Let’s break it down into a few levels and help collectors understand the intricacies that come with collecting soccer jerseys.
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Understanding Vintage and Retro Soccer Jerseys
Definition of Vintage and Retro
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While the terms “vintage” and “retro” enjoy the freedom of being interchangeable, in the world of football shirts, these terms are designed to serve unique functions in referring to a world of football shirts. For example, Adidas had a shirt designed back in the day. That shirt is old and dated: it’s a “vintage” shirt. However, if you go to the store and buy a replica shirt today, that “‘s a “retro” shirt as it has the look of the shirt from back in the day, it still has the tagging, branding, and marks of a modern soccer jersey.
The Importance of Football Culture
In the timeline of history, every football shirt tells its own story, whether it be an iconic goal, a tournament win, or an unforgettable season. For football enthusiasts, these shirts are a direct portal to the sport’s rich and deep history. The unique design of shirts from the past, with their bright patterns, unique collar styles, and nostalgic sponsor logos, also fuels the obsession.
The most noticeable aspect of all vintage football shirts.
To detect a vintage football shirt, there are some key indicators.
Manufacturer Logos – The design or logo associated with a manufacturer is older than the logo associated with that manufacturer, and is older than the logo associated with that manufacturer.
Fabric Composition – The design of football shirts on the 80s and 90s is a lot heavier, shinier, and it is vintage.
Labels and Tags – The design of a shirt’s collar label contains important information relating to the manufacturer, along with the tag that is on the manufacturer’s collar.
Sponsorship – The Wassxson and the Texchter logo of a sponsor, along with the print, are all indicators of a vintage football shirt.
Through The Years: Retro Soccer Jerseys
The 90’s: A Time of Nostalgia
The 90’s was a popular time for football jersey designing. The previous two decades had packs of sport clothing companies that used very basic and bland/smooth designs, but from the 90’s they changed to much more electric and colorful designs. New patterns were created to entice drafts and jersey hoarders around the world. Umbro, adidas, and lotto jerseys go for a lot of money still.
Legendary Jerseys: From Players To Boards
Some jerseys gained more of a life and a story once new players rotated into the game. The number 10 jersey of Diego Maradona from Napoli, and the number 7 jersey of Eric Cantona, which he was known for at Manchester United, are just two of the many that are still known today and are of high interest because of the players who once owned these jerseys.
Other Notable Jerseys
West Germany’s 1990 jersey was a wrapped-around design that created many patterns, as conquering nations tend to design jerseys that are more wearable, and the vibrant USA 1994 jersey is a perfect example.
Vintage Football Kits per Club
Classic Football Kits of Premier League Teams
The first few seasons of the Premier League produced some all-time classic designs, like Arsenal’s 1991-1993 “bruised banana” away kit and Manchester United’s 1992-1994 “Newton Heath” style away kit, which are now staples of the collecting community.
Legendary Football Kits of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid
The La Liga heavyweights have always kept their classic designs. One of the most recognizable Barcelona kits is produced by Kappa in the early to mid-90s, and features the iconic vertical text within the stripes. The Real Madrid kit from the same period also features the iconic Kelme logo.
Vintage Football Kits of Manchester United and AC Milan
Most collectors focus on Manchester United’s 1999 Champions League winning kit, which is a key piece of the club’s treble-winning season, while AC Milan’s Lotto kits from the dominant early 90s period are now classics in red and black stripes with large priceless sponsorships.
Curation and Collecting Retro Football Jerseys
Searching for Authentic Football Vintage Kits
Finding genuine vintage items is a tedious process. Authenticity is the least of your worries when shopping in niche vintage stores or denim specialists, while online marketplaces give the most authenticity. Estate sales and general vintage clothing stores have the least promising results.
Identifying Match-Worn Jerseys
Jersey replicas differ from match-worn jerseys and replicas as match-worn jerseys can feature differently sized player numbers, use different technical fabrics (like player-issue special breathable zones), and lack commercial wash labels. Provenance, or documented proof, of the jersey is critical for the jersey to be valued.
Future of the Vintage Retro Soccer Jersey
The continually evolving market of vintage retro soccer jerseys is defined by the rerelease of vintage designs by big brands. Rereleases make it easier for fans to get access to sold-out vintage styles; however, it does not affect the value or price of the original vintage piece. Advanced printing technology also allows for more accurate prints of retro designs to fool those who do not have experience collecting soccer jerseys. For those experienced collectors, it is clear to see the difference as the jersey with verified provenance will always be more valuable.
