First Since Kompany: Kalvin Phillips to Wear Number 4 for Manchester City
New Manchester City signing Kalvin Phillips will wear the number 4 shirt, becoming the first player to don it since City legend Vincent Kompany left the club in 2019.
Phillips to Wear Number 4 for Manchester City
The England international was unveiled today, and unlike his new team mate Erling Haaland, we was able to show off his squad number immediately. He had quite a few options to choose from, with the numbers 4, 12, 15, 19, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 all vacant, as well as the number 9, but that one is surely reserved for Haaland.
Phillips' shirt number at Leeds was 23, a number that City retired after the death of former player Marc Vivien Foe in 2003. He has also worn number 4 for England, and as a combative defensive midfielder it suits his position.
There is also the weight of expectation that comes with wearing the shirt associated with a club icon of Kompany's stature. The Belgian captained City to their first ever Premier League crown, adding in three more over the course of his 11 year stay, in addition to two FA Cups, four League Cups and a couple of Charity Shields. A physically imposing defender, he was a real leader and one of the longest-serving players of City's modern era.
Manchester City have signed defenders like Nathan Aké, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo since Kompany's departure, but the club seemed reluctant to give out the number 4 jersey, possibly preferring to wait a while out of respect for their former captain, and also to avoid putting too much pressure on these players to step into the void left by Kompany. The players themselves may have preferred to avoid facing comparisons to the Belgian.
The time has obviously deemed right for someone to take up the mantle, and Phillips was considered a priority signing for Pep Guardiola. Do you think the Englishman can fill Kompany's boots Let us know in the comments.
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2004/06 France Zidane #10 Home Shirt (M) Adidas
2002 FC Tokyo Away Shirt (S) Adidas
2019/20 AC Milan *BNWT* Puma Iconic T-Shirt (Multiple Sizes)
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2004/05 AC Milan Shevchenko #7 Home Shirt (M) Adidas
2002/03 Aston Villa Merson #10 Home Shirt (XXL) Diadora
2008/09 Chelsea Lampard #8 Home Shirt (XL) Adidas
2022/23 Manchester United Ronaldo #7 *BNWT* Third Shirt (4XL) Adidas
2003/04 Juventus Trezeguet #17 *BNWT* Away Shirt (XL) Nike
1979 ICONIC BOOT – TOTE BAG
Adidas 26-27 Elite Teams Originals Tees Leaked/Released
Adidas is expanding its casual lifestyle offerings for the 2026-2027 season with a special "Originals Tee" collection dedicated to the brand's elite clubs.
The new Adidas 26-27 elite teams Originals tees share a unified, nostalgic graphic design across all the featured clubs. The front of each shirt displays a large, retro-styled illustration of a classic black-and-white football breaking through a goal net, accompanied by the vintage, lower-case Adidas text at the top.
To personalize the items for each specific fanbase, the template incorporates the respective club's crest on the lower-left side of the football graphic, alongside a colored Adidas Trefoil logo on the right. The collection utilizes various base colors, including red, white, light grey, and dark charcoal, depending on the team's palette.
Currently, the Bayern Munich edition of the tee is already officially available for purchase. The versions for the rest of the elite clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, are expected to be launched very soon.
No More Nike - Adidas Croatia 2026-27 Anthem Jackets Leaked
As the long-standing era with Nike officially comes to a close, Adidas is bringing some classic and stylish designs to the Croatian national team for the 2026-2027 season.
The new Adidas Croatia 26-27 home anthem jacket features a very clean and traditional aesthetic. It boasts a bright red base, complemented by crisp white Three Stripes running down the sleeves.
The new Adidas Croatia 26-27 away anthem jackets feature the Trefoil logo. There are two distinct colorways leaked for the away jackets:
- Option 1: A deep blue base contrasted by vibrant red Three Stripes on the shoulders and sleeves, finished with a crisp white Trefoil logo.
- Option 2: A red base with white Three Stripes, distinguished by contrasting dark navy blue detailing on the ribbed collar and cuffs, alongside a white Trefoil logo.
Exclusive: Manchester United 26-27 Third Kit Pays Homage to Salford Lads Club
The Manchester United 2026-2027 third kit is is a homage to the local Salford area, specifically drawing inspiration from the iconic Salford Lads Club.
The kit is inspired by the two Lancashire roses prominently featured on the club's entrance signage, a visual made famous by its inclusion in The Smiths' 1986 album, The Queen is Dead. It incorporates hand-drawn roses and features a unique back neck sign-off, celebrating both the local fan base and the youth community deeply associated with the historic Salford landmark.
