30+ Most Iconic Captain Armbands In Football | Ajax, Barcelona & Many More
May 11, 2019, by Chris
Football is dominated by strict rules and ever-changing jersey designs since not only a few years (i.e. FC Barcelona, Juventus & others with their 'revolutionary' kits). However, there is one area where teams are staying true to their history and their roots - captain armbands. We take a look at the most iconic captain armbands in soccer. Thanks to NSS Mag for the idea and the examples of captain armbands.
It has to be noted that bespoke captain armbands are somehow is a process of rarefaction: the Premier League and the UEFA and FIFA competitions dictate teams to have standard captain armbands since a few years already, and the Serie A has also started to force all teams to wear the same captain armband. Some exceptions are made for extraordinary cases like the one of Fiorentina which obtained a special exemption for wearing a personalized band in honor of Davide Astori.
#1 - FC Barcelona Captain Armband
Possibly the best-known club captain armband in the world, Barcelona's captains are wearing the Catalan flag. In UEFA competitions, they use two captain armbands as the competition forces all teams to wear a standard captain armband.
#2 - Ajax Captain Armband
Ajax's armband features the powerful Amsterdam flag in black, red and white. In 2015-16, Adidas even included the captain armband on the inner sleeve cuffs of Ajax's home and away uniforms.
#3 - St. Pauli Captain Armband
Hamburg's club St. Pauli is one of the cult teams in Europe. The team's armband is black with the Jolly Roger dyed white, the sign of recognition of all the Pirates, the Kiezkicker's supporters. The theme was adopted in in the 80s after the movement of the club's headquarter in the x-rated zone of the city.
#4 - Germany Captain Armband
Boasting the colors of the country flag, the captain armband of the German national team has been the same for decades. Sometimes it feature the German lettering "Spielführer", which means "captain".
#5 - Athletic Bilbao Captain Armband
There is likely no other team on the planet that has such a string link to its territory as Basque club Athletic Bilbao. They have an unwritten rule whereby the club will only sign players who were born in the Basque Country, or who learned their football skills at a Basque club. Markel Susaeta's armband is coloured white, green and red and reflects the Basque Country's flag pattern.
#6 Bonus - Buffon, Baggio & More
Many players in the world of football are known for wearing bespoke unique captain armbands, including Buffon, Baggio, Asamoah Gyan and many more.
Do you know any other teams have notable captain am bands? Comment below.
Waldhof Mannheim 26-27 Away & Third Kits Released
The new SV Waldhof Mannheim 07 away and third kits for the 26-27 season have been officially revealed. Produced by German brand uhlsport, the new alternative jerseys introduce rather dull looks.
The Mannheim 26-27 away kit is white with horizontal pinstripes, while the third is gray with the team's blue and black colors on the collar and sleeve cuffs.
FK Železničar Pančevo 26-27 Home Kit Released
Serbian SuperLiga side FK Železničar Pančevo have unveiled their new home kit for 2026-27 season, made by Italian brand Capelli.
The design uses a revolutionary color combination of navy and turquoise, instead of the familiar white. The base features subtle vertical stripes, along with thin trims on collar and sleeve cuffs and the brand's signature rectangles on the sleeves.
What do you think of FK Železničar Pančevo 26-27 home kit? Leave your thoughts in the comment below.
NEC Nijmegen 26-27 Third Kit Released
The new NEC Nijmegen 26-27 third kit has been released. Made by Robey, the new NEC Nijmegen 26-27 third shirt will be worn during the upcoming Eredivisie season.
Altrincham 26-27 Home Kit Released
Altrincham FC have officially unveiled their new Puma home kit for the 26-27 season, following the release of their away strip earlier this month.
The new Puma Altrincham 26-27 home shirt features the club's traditional red and white colors. It was launched under the promotional theme #WhereYouBelong.
Newcastle United to Update Club Crest for 27-28 Season
Newcastle United have provided an official update on their plans to introduce a new club crest, confirming the change will take effect starting from the 27-28 season.
Originally announcing a review of their visual identity in 2025, the Magpies have now outlined the next steps, giving fans a central role in deciding the final look of the logo. This will mark the first alteration to Newcastle's crest since 1988.
The club will host workshops with supporter groups in early August, which will be followed by a formal poll showcasing the crest options to eligible fans.
Newcastle United have emphasized that the upcoming update will be an evolution rather than a complete overhaul, focusing on refining the existing historic elements. The primary reason for the change is the complexity of the current badge, which struggles with legibility and consistent reproduction across modern digital platforms and merchandise.
Nike Kylian Mbappé 2026 World Cup 'Golden Boot' Mercurial Superfly 11 Boots Revealed
Nike has revealed a special edition Mercurial Superfly 11 to celebrate Kylian Mbappé's Golden Boot win at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mbappé had a spectacular tournament, scoring 10 goals and providing 4 assists while wearing the standard edition of the Superfly 11.
The exclusive boots feature a striking gold design combined with turquoise to commemorate his historic achievement. With his performance in 2026, Mbappé became the first player in history to win back-to-back World Cup Golden Boot awards, following his success at the 2022 tournament.
The special Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Kylian Mbappé 'Golden Boot' boots are "coming soon."
MVV Maastricht 26-27 Home Kit Released
Dutch Eerste Divisie club MVV Maastricht have officially launched their new 26-27 home shirt, produced by Dutch brand Robey. The new Robey MVV Maastricht 26-27 home shirt introduces a bespoke design in the club's classic colors.