The Top 100 Shirts of 2018: 80-71
The best football shirts of 2018
The countdown continues.
Firstly I want to say a big thank you to all those who have read, shared and commented on #Top100Shirts so far!
It’s been incredibly encouraging to see the response, and to see big accounts and even clubs themselves engage with the content is amazing.
But anyway, you’re here for the next 10 on the list. This section has a distinct German flavour to it, with the Bundesliga making their debut and bringing 3 shirts to the party.
If you think any of these shirts don’t deserve their place, let me know on Twitter. I might agree with you.
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
80 - Nice Home
You cannot go wrong with red and black stripes on a footy kit and Macron have done well with this effort, despite it looking like an AC Milan tribute.
The black and red stripes are a nice width and the badge is a magnificent size (I do enjoy a big badge on a shirt). I am still not sure about a white collar but that seems to be a tradition: which is one of the things that makes it so similar to an adidas AC Milan shirt from a few years ago. The white hem is a nice touch and I am delighted that the stripes extend the full length of the back: as all striped kits should be!
- Alec
Another sponsor-free shirt that looks all the better for it, this red and black piece from the French giants has a definite retro feel - Nice’s crest itself features bold eagle imagery that is reminiscent of old Coats of Arms that used to adorn most shirts.
The stiff Polo collar really rounds it out as a classy and majestic piece, which the likes of Balotelli, Dante and Cyprien have been rocking in serious style so far this term. Macron, once again, showing themselves to be serious players on the world stage when it comes to shirt manufacturing.
- Chris
Compare prices on the Nice Home Shirt
79 - Werder Bremen Home
Two colours. That’s all it takes to create a beautiful shirt.
The Werder Bremen home shirt is green, white, and a perfect example of the importance of sponsor integration. After 6 years of shirts laboured with a largely red sponsor it’s completely disappeared this year to great effect. This is a pleasing shirt to look at and the kind of considered design which I would argue is beginning to return to the football shirt world in a big way.
- Phil
I am a big fan of Umbro’s efforts this year. Werder had a slightly pedestrian Nike home kit last year but the cross over to Umbro has brought a touch of class to the German giants.
A beautiful shade of green with white shoulder panels is topped off by a wonderful two-colour retro collar and some similarly old-school cuff trim. The back of the shirt carries the title of their eponymous hymn Green and White for Life which finishes a simple but effective shirt with an individual flourish.
- Alec
Compare prices on the Werder Bremen Home Shirt
78 - Juventus Away
The saying ‘Less is more’ really does apply to Juve’s away kit. The colour scheme isn’t overly bright like some of Juve’s previous away kits, but it’s still extremely refreshing to see them be brave with colours. The detail on the end of the arms really help take it to the next level.
- Dane
Ehhhhhh. Average. The few highlights of this shirt are the stripes on the shoulders and sleeves, which give it something extra. Otherwise it’s a relatively bland grey colour, with little else to discuss.
- Apollo
Compare prices on the Juventus Away Shirt
77 - Stuttgart Third
I have a soft spot for the late 90s, when Nike entered the fray and brands started to simplify things. This Stuttgart shirt has a bit of a Brazil ‘98 about it, with it’s piping down the sleeves and a gorgeous gold used as a secondary colour.
In tandem with this retro style, we have a strong central band, a marl effect (a regular feature for Puma shirts this year) and a subliminal stallion. Quite simply, we’re completely spoilt by this shirt and if I was solely in charge of this list, this would be knocking on the door of the Top 10.
- Phil
A kit that otherwise would not be anything to write home about, Stuttgart’s third strip sneaks into our top 100 thanks to the grey stallion elegantly inserted into the bottom left of the front of the shirt. Large animal branding seems to be a big trend at the minute and I am 100% here for it, long may it continue.
- Chris
Compare prices on the Stuttgart Third Shirt
76 - CD Leganes Away
CD Leganes are celebrating their 90th anniversary with this fantastic away shirt. The shirt pays homage to club’s beginnings with various details. The colours and club badge are the same as those used shortly after the club’s formation and to further add to the retro look, the shirt uses laces on the neck, reminiscent of shirts worn at the time.
I absolutely love this shirt. The laces, the grandad collar, the sleek cut of the shirt, the stripes being different colours on either side of the shirt… everything!
Great work from Joma.
- Pedro
Another shirt with a nod to days gone by is Leganes away strip, which honours their 90th anniversary.
The highlight here is the lace-up collar, a feature very scarcely seen on kits these days which some players would argue is now impractical, but undoubtedly looks beautiful here. Sponsor-free and sleeve stripes which match the colour of their adjoining stripe make for one of the most unique and inspired shirts that I have seen in recent years
- Chris
Compare prices on the CD Leganes Away Shirt
75 - Netherlands Away
If you were to dive into the archives of the Netherlands away shirts in recent history you'd be treated to a masterclass in shirt design but personally I think this tops the lot. The kit employs a gradient style on the front in a gorgeous turquoise colour that (I believe) isn't seen enough on football shirts these days, and is rounded out nicely with dark blue tints to the KNVB and Nike logos.
A majestic effort from a team that has been quite the opposite on the field in recent years.
- Chris
Nike were rightly panned for their appalling efforts at Euro 2016, where several teams had kits that might as well have come out of a teamwear catalogue. As a result many people still default to the “same old boring Nike” line.
This couldn’t be further from the truth this year.
Netherlands are one of many nations who have benefitted from unique designs, and this is one of the best. The line-based, checkerboard gradient design has a little bit of ‘88 about it, and the two-tone blue colourway works very well.
- Phil
Compare prices on the Netherlands Away Shirt
74 - Canada Home
Canada’s national flag is a proverbial goldmine when it comes to designing sports kits and Umbro have once again not disappointed here. The famous Maple-Leaf is repeated on the shirt in a V-like pattern on the front, in a glossy manner that whilst definitely noticeable is subtle at the same time.
Interestingly, this shirt also features a small soundwave of the Canadian National Anthem printed on the left hip, in a nod to the Great White North’s faithful fanbase. An all round delightful kit.
- Chris
Another quality design from Umbro who are mixing a bit of retro-chic with some fantastic unique detail. I love this Canada home shirt.
It is a fairly simple shirt with a middle chevron full of wonderfully tessellated maple leaves in a multi-shade shadow pattern. And my goodness it works well. Coupled with the retro-inspired collar, minimal white trim and a badge that screams 1970-style, it is a brilliant design that works brilliantly.
- Alec
73 - South Korea Away
Despite actually being worn at the World Cup in their game vs Sweden, this shirt for the large part seemed to have slipped under the radar. Mimicking the colours of their national flag, this shirt features a red and blue striped design down the centre of the shirt, in a way similar to that of a Tiger; the animal featured on the Taegeuk Warriors crest.
A welcome wander away from Nike’s usual template has resulted in a contemporary and innovative effort that in my opinion should be much higher on our list.
- Chris
This years world cup was really one where the brands came to make a statement and Nike did just that with this kit. Inspired by both a tiger pattern and the Taegeuk symbol from the flag, South Korea’s away kit is both simple, but perfect. A kit that is nearly impossible to fault.
- Dane
72 - Bayern Munich Away
That colour! What is it? Mint green? Whatever it is a lovely hue that is a real departure from traditional Bayern away kit colours. It particularly compliments the waffle texture of the material and is contrasted by the dark grey three stripes across the shoulder. I don’t usually like single colour badges but it works very well here.
The single button grandad colour gives it a retro tip and I love the nod to Bayern kit history with the club’s name on the back. With Bayern announcing they will only have rot-weiss home hits from now on, expect more away kits to push the boundaries in future years.
- Alec
Compare prices on the Bayern Munich Away Shirt
71 - Torino Home
It physically pains me how low this shirt is on this list. What an absolutely beautiful kit, truly one of the best in Italy this year. The wine colour alone is lovely, but the true gem of this shirt is the subtle triangular pattern, with the classic Torino bull featured in the middle of each triangle. Thank you, Torino, for this stunner.
- Apollo
Kappa have always designed beautiful shirts. The problem for me is that they always seemed to be a bit too ‘figure-hugging’... fine if you’re a top-level athlete, not so fine for those of us with a more ‘rounder’ figure. Nevertheless, there is no denying the beauty in Kappa’s shirts and this Torino shirt is no exception.
The vivid club badge sits on a beautiful, deep-red background which is complimented with white detailing on the collar, sponsors and side panels. The background itself is the star of the show, as little silhouettes of the Torino bull are subtly stamped across the shirt.
This is one of Serie A’s best shirts this season. Superb from Kappa.
- Pedro
Compare prices on the Torino Home 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 |
Thanks for reading Part 3 of our countdown.
We’re almost a third of the way through the list and there’s plenty more to come. Stay tuned for the 70 best shirts this season, and if you’ve got the kit itch compare price on the latest and greatest international football shirts right here at FOOTY.COM
