Manufacturer: Kappa
Shirt Sponsor: Sony
Years: 1995–1996
Worn By: Ciro Ferrara, Filippo Inzaghi, Angelo Di Livio, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Didier Deschamps, Gianluca Vialli & Alessandro Del Piero.
Turin based Sports Company Kappa came up with this eye catching design for their home town team Juventus, which would become the club’s away kit during the famous 1995-96 campaign. The key element of the shirt was the bright Azzurri blue, which was complemented with the addition of a huge gold star placed on both shoulders. This colourful and bold away kit would become one of the most iconic of the decade, complete with the famous ‘Sony’ logo emblazoned across the front of the shirt in a crisp white. The iconic Kappa logo was stitched onto to the left breast of the shirt and was matched by blue shorts and socks.
Marcelo Lippi had a wonderful pool of talent to choose from at the start of the season, from the legendary Angelo Peruzzi in goal, to the dogged midfield duo of Antonio Conte and Angelo Di Livio. Going forward, one of Juve’s all-time greats, Alessandro Del Piero, led the line with club captain Gianluca Vialli.
The Bianconeri got their season off to a perfect start as they triumphed in the Supercoppa Italiana, seeing off Nevio Scala’s Parma. Despite the promising start to the season, Lippi’s side would have to make do with second in Serie A, finishing 13 points behind Fabio Capello’s Milan.
However, it was in Europe that the Vecchia Signora enjoyed her crowing moment. On 22 May 1996, Juventus took on Ajax in the Champions League final held in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Ajax were sporting their famous red and white jerseys while the Old Lady wore her unfamiliar blue and yellow strip. The Champion’s League logo stood out on the bold flash of gold on each player’s sleeve and as they strolled out onto the pitch in the capital, Juve’s finalists certainly looked the part.
Fabrizio Ravanelli continued his fine season by putting the Italians in the lead on 12 minutes before Jari Litmanen squared things up for Ajax before half time. The team from Turin would eventually see out extra time, and ended up 4-2 winners after penalties. There is no doubt that this wonderful shirt won the hearts of a few neutrals that day as Marcelo Lippi’s side lifted the Champions League for the second time in their history.
Follow Giovanni Dougall on Twitter: @giovannid86
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