Bayern München Are Increasingly Dropping Championship Stars on Their Kits
1 hour ago, by Chris
- Significance of Bayern's Championship Stars: FC Bayern München is the only Bundesliga club allowed to display five championship stars above its crest, signifying their unparalleled domestic dominance according to DFL guidelines that award stars based on the number of titles won since 1963.
- Evolving Approach to Star Placement: While championship stars were an obligatory feature on all Bayern kits for over 15 years, Adidas and the club have recently adopted a more flexible strategy, increasingly omitting them from certain jersey designs.
- Reasons for Selective Star Omission: This shift, which began in the 21-22 season, is driven by factors such as manufacturing costs, the desire for distinct aesthetics, historical tributes, or sleek designs, resulting in stars often being absent from away and third kits, while the home jersey consistently features the full five-star insignia.
FC Bayern München's iconic championship stars have been a feature of the German powerhorse's kits since the early 2000s. Under official DFL guidelines, clubs in the Bundesliga are awarded stars based on titles won since the league's inception in 1963: one star for three titles, two for five, three for ten, four for twenty, and five for thirty. As the undisputed dominant force in Germany, Bayern stands alone as the only club in Bundesliga history permitted to display five golden stars above its crest.
Only the Bayern München 26-27 home kit features stars
While the five stars represent supreme domestic dominance, the way Adidas and Bayern apply them across their jersey line-ups has evolved considerably over recent years. For more than 15 years, stars were an obligatory fixture on every single kit, regardless of colorway. However, Adidas and Bayern München are today applying a much more flexible approach regarding star placement.
Evolution of Bayern's Championship Stars
The shift began in the 21-22 season when Bayern secured their 30th Bundesliga title. Due to manufacturing lead times, Adidas only added the newly earned fifth star to the 21-22 home kit in time for launch. Instead of also (and expensively) applying stars on the away and third kits, the club chose to remove the stars entirely from those shirts. While all three kits briefly reunited with the complete five-star set for the 22-23 campaign, that transitional season opened the door to a permanent philosophical change.
Since then, Adidas and Bayern have consistently omitted stars whenever a kit calls for a distinct aesthetic or historical tribute. The 23-24 third kit reintroduced a vintage club badge without stars, a pattern repeated on the 24-25 and 25-26 third shirts alongside the classic Adidas Trefoil. Non-retro alternate designs, such as the 24-25 away shirt, also abandoned stars to maintain a sleek, uninterrupted look on expressive, graphic-heavy patterns.
This deliberate strategy continues fully in the 26-27 season. The Bayern 26-27 away kit combines the Trefoil with the pre-2002 'FC Bayern München e.V.' retro crest, leaving the area above the badge clean, while the 26-27 third kit uses a starless, streamlined crest integrated into a milestone tribute pattern.
The traditional home jersey remains the sacred canvas for the full five-star insignia.
Should the club put the stars on every kit? Comment below.
Blackpool 26-27 Third Kit Released - 125 Years of Bloomfield Road
English League One club Blackpool FC and Puma have officially unveiled their special third kit for the 2026-27 season. The limited-edition jersey doubles as a commemorative anniversary release celebrating 125 years of the club calling Bloomfield Road their permanent home since 1901.
The Blackpool 26-27 third shirt features an off-white base covered in an intricate archival collage graphic. The print incorporates historical references from throughout the ground's history, including vintage crests, old match tickets, and nods to iconic stadium stands such as Spion Kop and the West Paddock. A prominent horizontal band in the club's signature tangerine stretches across the chest, framing the Fylde Coast Homes sponsor, complemented by a tangerine crew neck collar, matching Puma cat logos, and a retro club crest.
Only 1,901 individually numbered shirts will be produced, paying tribute to the stadium's founding year. The Blackpool 2026-27 third kit goes on sale online and at the club shop on August 29, 2026, ahead of their league encounter against Peterborough United.
US Sambenedettese 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian Serie C club US Sambenedettese and technical sponsor Erreà have officially launched their new third kit for the 2026-27 season. Designed by Erreà Creative Lab, the shirt completes the club's set for the new campaign alongside the previously released home and away jerseys.
The Sambenedettese 26-27 third jersey introduces a stylish petrol green base, paired with vibrant red logos and detailing alongside navy blue accents. It features a classic polo collar with a dual-color red and navy V-insert at the neck, matched by striped sleeve cuffs.
Deeply rooted in local culture, the design pays homage to San Benedetto del Tronto by incorporating verses by celebrated local poet Bice Piacentini into the shirt. A monochromatic red club crest and matching sponsor applications round off the refined look.
CD Toledo 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish club CD Toledo and technical sponsor Joma have officially launched the new away kit for the 2026-27 season. Unveiled under the motto "Toledo brilla. Con luz propia" (Toledo shines with its own light), the design brings a sharp and elegant look for the Tercera Federación outfit.
The Joma CD Toledo 2026-27 away jersey features a black base detailed with thin vertical gold pinstripes running down the front and sleeves. A subtle geometric jacquard pattern is incorporated into the fabric, while the club crest, Joma logo, and front sponsor branding from Cerveza LA SAGRA all appear in a clean, matching monochrome gold.
Black shorts and socks with gold accents complete the new Joma CD Toledo 2026-27 away strip.
Sandhausen 26-27 Away Kit Released
The new SV Sandhausen 26-27 away kit has been unveiled. Made by Italian brand Macron, the new strip introduces a clean and stealthy look for the German side.
The Macron SV Sandhausen 2026-27 away shirt is predominantly black, accented with dark grey trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The design keeps things classic and understated, paired with crisp white sponsor logos and a monochrome SV Sandhausen crest on the chest.
Black shorts and socks complete the new Macron SV Sandhausen 26-27 away strip.
