Choosing favourite football kits is a tricky business and can cause as much debate as a ‘best XI’ discussion. Favourite kit choices are highly personal. A strip can stand out due to a special player, a special performance or a special moment. Sometimes, it’s just a case of brilliant design!
Before I reveal my top five, I’d like to include a few ‘honourable mentions’. Firstly, Inter Milan’s snakeskin-pattern 2021/22 home jersey was unlucky not to make my cut. Secondly, Cremonese’s grey and red stripes combo has always been a source of intrigue since I first saw them in action in the Football Italia era. Lastly, despite Kappa not featuring in my top five, I am a big fan of many of their designs over the years.
So, before I change my mind (when writing this sentence Verona’s Scudetto-winning strip from 1985 has just popped into my head) let’s begin the countdown…
5. Torino (Home) 1990-93
At the beginning of the 1990s, my early days of watching Italian football, Torino were one of the teams I found to be most intriguing. I could put this down to a few things: the club’s performances in Europe (UK ties against Aberdeen and Arsenal spring to mind); the super cool Gianluigi Lentini (who became the world’s most expensive footballer when he left Torino for AC Milan in 1992); but, most of all, it has to be Torino’s iconic maroon strips. With regards Torino jerseys, special mention should be made to Lotto’s Beretta-sponsored 1993/94 home kit (the away jersey from the same season was another delight – a white top with maroon ‘spray paint affect’ splashes across it) but its predecessor, manufactured by ABM, takes top spot for me. This was a kit simple in its beauty. A smart V-neck design which, complemented by white shorts and black socks, made for a winning combination.
Who wore it well? It’s got to be Gianluigi Lentini. In the post-Italia 90 years, when the world’s best players set up camp in Serie A, Lentini was a true superstar. His mercurial dribbling skills dazzled opponents and he was part of the Torino side that reached the UEFA Cup final in 1992 (losing to Ajax on away goals).
4. Inter Milan (Away) 1988-90
When compiling my top five jerseys, I noticed how big an influence the shirt sponsor can be, and that I have a real soft spot for away kits. Inter Milan’s Uhlsport designed white, black and blue away top, which they wore from 1988-90, hits the right notes for me. I don’t know enough about typefaces and fonts to tell you what style Misura (a biscuit manufacturer) chose to market its brand, but I know I like it!
German manufacturers Uhlsport, more famous for their goalkeeper gloves, were on top form in the late 80s – Inter’s home jersey from the same era was another winner. Not only did the Nerazzuri look good, they achieved success on the park too, winning the Scudetto in season 1988/89.
Who wore it well? German midfielder Lothar Matthäus was Inter’s key man during this era, however, it’s his compatriot, defender Andreas Brehme who first springs to mind when I think of this kit.
3. Napoli (Home) 1987-88
1980s NR (Nicola Raccuglia) designs are a joy to behold. Napoli’s 1987/88 strip is particularly special for me as, at age three, it was the first full football kit I owned. My Aunt, Rose Reilly, was playing professional football in Italy at this time and brought my two brothers and I Napoli kits – complete with ‘Maradona number 10s’ on the back – home to Scotland in the summer of 1988. The strip also marks the first time I’d been influenced by brand marketing, as I always remember trying to spot Buitoni pasta on supermarket shelves. Another kit that is beautiful in its simplicity.
Who wore it well? Do we even need to ask?
2. Sampdoria (Away) 1990-92
Any one of dozens of Sampdoria jerseys – home or away – could have made it into my top five. However, I have picked the 91/92 away top because Samp (or Samp-a-doria as I called them back then) were wearing this in the 1992 European Cup final against Barcelona – one of my early memories of Italian club football. Being a ‘school night’, I didn’t watch the full match, and I recall being disappointed the following morning when my dad informed me that the cool team with the cool strip and the cool name, and, of course, the funny bald man playing for them, had lost.
I’m sure any ‘favourite jersey article’ on this website will have mentioned Samp’s iconic strip design. The club’s stylish badge, featuring the head of a pipe-smoking sailor, adds another classy touch to any Sampdoria strip.
Who wore it well? We’re spoiled for choice here. Either one of the ‘Goal Twins’ – Roberto Mancini or Gianluca Vialli – would be a fitting choice, but I’ve got to go for the aforementioned ‘funny bald man’, winger Attilio Lombardo.
1. Roma (Home) 1987-1990
As is the case with Samp, there are countless Roma strips vying for a place on my list. In my opinion, the Giallorossi colour combination is perfect for a football jersey. In the end, the 1987-1990 home strip stands out due to NR’s simple, but classy, design. The iconic Barilla sponsor is one of my favourites in the history of Italian football and where do you begin with the Lupetto badge?
Roma have had a lot of great outfits in recent years – 2020/21’s white polo-shirt away jersey to name but one – and the introduction of third kits in the 1990s has increased options. But, for me, NR’s design still tops the charts.
Who wore it well? I was too young to remember this strip at the time, however, from my love of watching old football videos on YouTube, the jersey is synonymous with the ever-busy Bruno Conti buzzing around midfield.
What a great read! Thank you so much for your thoughtful and articulate analysis. It has been most helpful. The exercises, I appreciate you and I am very grateful for your work. Loved the quotes at the end too. by best football jerseys