We at The Gentleman Ultra are fascinated by football shirts, especially Italian football shirts. Many of the greatest jerseys ever made originated from Serie A.
Next in our series is site writer James Oddy, who was given the task of whittling down his top five.
5. Juventus 1996-1997 Home
The Juve/Sony/Kappa collaboration remains one of the greatest in the history of football shirts. Juve were at their most powerful during this era. When many think of Juve in the 1990s, this is the era many recall.
James: There’s a lot to love about this shirt. The Sony mini disc sponsor screams mid-90s. The (old, superior) Juve badge is slotted in on the collar. The striking, intimidating, and traditional black and white stripes contrast with the gaudy gold of the two stars. It was also worn for some truly awesome displays, foremost being the famous 6-1 win over Milan at San Siro. Juve picked up a scudetto as the likes of Christian Vieri, Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane heralded a new hungry new generation of stars for Serie A. An understated and timeless classic.
Modelled by: Alex Del Piero, Alen Boksic, Zinedine Zidane, Christian Vieri
Juventus in 1996/97: Serie A, winners. Champions League, runners-up. Coppa Italia, quarter finals. UEFA Super Cup, winners. Intercontinental Cup, winners.
4. Roma 2001-2002 European shirt
The peak of Fabio Capello’s Roma reign, when the side won the Scudetto in 2000-01. This shirt brings back memories of peak Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and the last moments of greatness from Gabriel Batistuta.
James: Although Roma arguably underperformed in that season’s champions league, they at least looked the part whilst doing so. The Scudetto shield makes any shirt look better, and the traditional burgundy and orange of the club badge works wonderfully as a ‘half and half’ style shirt. As with the Juve shirt, it had some players really started to hit their prime sporting it. Totti, Walter Samuel and Antonio Cassano produced some thrilling if inconsistent football in this number. Sometimes a shirt just looks great, even if it’s not associated with greatness on the pitch.
Modelled by: Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano, Emerson, Gabriel Batistuta
Roma in 2001/02: Serie A, 2nd. Coppa Italia, quarter finals. Champions League, second group stage. Italian Super Cup, winners.
3. Fiorentina 1998-99 Home
Fiorentina. Nintendo. Fila. Can anything be more 1990s? This shirt is continually cited as one of the greatest in the history of the game, and the season in which La Viola came closest to winning the Scudetto. They were winter champions going into the start of 1999, but fell away after Batistuta’s injury and Edmundo going off to the rio carnival. They never recovered. Still, the shirt will always remain.
James: A cliched pick, but sometimes you just can’t argue with the classics. This has everything. The design is striking without being ridiculous. The Nintendo sponsor adds to the shirt rather than subtracting from it. It was worn by some truly excellent, nostalgia inducing players such as Rui Costa, Edmundo and of course, Batigol. And Fiorentina really did play some great football whilst wearing it. It even has an air of melancholy attached to it, because it’ll always be associated with the collapse of what seemed a deserved title win. Think peak Serie A and you think of this shirt.
Modelled by: Gabriel Batistuta, Rui Costa, Edmundo, Moreno Torricelli
Fiorentina in 1998/99: Serie A, 3rd. Coppa Italia, runners-up. UEFA Cup, disqualified in second round
2. Bologna 1997-98 Home
This season is all about Roby Baggio and the start of his redemption story after his release from Milan in the summer of 1997. He joined Bologna after a deal to Parma broke down and, determined to play at the 1998 World Cup, produced his best season (in terms of stats) of his entire career.
James: I really make no excuses for picking this almost entirely because Roberto Baggio played some of his best football whilst wearing it. It was a season which caused me to have an enduring soft spot for the Emilia-Romagna club and the understated red and blue design really helped to create an aura of a classy, historic club. Beating both Milan clubs was amongst a number of high-quality displayed Baggio and the rest of the team put in that season.
Modelled by: Roberto Baggio, Kennet Andersson, Igor Kolyvanov, Michele Paramatti
Bologna in 1997/98: Serie A, 8th. Coppa Italia, round of 16.
- Napoli 1987-88 Home
The Napoli/NR era of shirts remain one of the most highly-sought after in the football collecting universe, with original shirts from the age selling for eye-watering sums. And it’s easy to see why.
It also helps that a certain Argentine genius was at the peak of his powers in the blue of Napoli. It was just unfortunate that they couldn’t win a trophy in the iconic shirt.
James: The greatest sports shirt ever made. Its not even close. The shirt itself is masterful, a sky-blue offset wonderfully by the league and cup shields which adorn it. The Buitoni sponsor font is iconic, and the Napoli badge being on the sleeve is just the finishing touch. Add to that the fact that it had Maradona in his pomp and the drama of the league title being thrown away mixed in with such stunning aesthetics and it’s the ultimate symbol of Clacio. Style, controversy and passion are to be found within those threads.
Modelled by: Diego Maradona, Fernando De Napoli, Careca, Ciro Ferrara
Napoli in 1987/88: Serie A, 2nd. Coppa Italia, quarter finals. Champions League, last 32.