Inspired by AIK: Classy Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United Retro Kit Concepts Revealed
Mar 22, 2020, by Pat
Swedish club AIK and Nike earlier this month released what could easily be the best of many special-edition jerseys since the two parties joined operations a few years ago. Dubbed the 'Behrens Kit' after club founder Isidor Behrens, it's a modern reinterpretation of the club's first-ever kit.
Inspired by this classy look, we've created a quadruple of concepts for some of Europe's biggest clubs: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester United, each inspired by every club's first-ever design.
FC Barcelona
Inspired by the shirt worn immediately after the club's foundation in 1899, our concept introduces an elaborate half-and-half look. At this point in time Barcelona still used the city coat of arms instead of a dedicated club logo.
Real Madrid
Our Real Madrid concept is as clean as it gets. It's all-white with a tonal Adidas logo on the right chest and the 1902 club crest sitting on the other side.
Liverpool
Before adopting their trademark all-red shirt in 1896, Liverpool had worn sky blue and white halves for four seasons: this inspired more recent designs such as the 1995-96 away by Adidas or the 2017-18 away by New Balance. In terms of template, this shirt is practically identical to Barcelona's.
In anticipation of Liverpool's imminent switch to Nike, we went with the Swoosh instead of New Balance's logo.
Manchester United
We decided to use the first-ever kit worn under the Manchester United name instead of the well-known half-and-half design from the Newton Heath days. Therefore, our concept is completely red with a tonal Adidas logo on the right chest.
Just as Barcelona, Manchester United also used the City of Manchester coat of arms.
What do you think about these four concept kit designs? Would you like to see your club to release something like this? Drop us a line below.
Lovely: RC Strasbourg 26-27 Third Kit Features Bespoke Patterned Sponsors
RC Strasbourg and adidas have added an exceptional custom touch to the French side's 26-27 third shirt. Released as part of the club's 120th anniversary celebrations with a retro black-and-deep-blue striped look inspired by the 1946-47 season, the jersey features a subtle repeating pattern of Strasbourg's vintage diamond RCS crest embedded directly within the black infill of both the main Winamax chest sponsor and the secondary és logo.
Hummel US Granville 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released - No More Puma
French club US Granville has officially revealed its new home and away kits for the 2026-27 campaign, marking the start of a new partnership with Hummel. The Danish brand takes over from Puma as the official technical supplier for the side.
The Hummel US Granville 26-27 home shirt is predominantly white, featuring an eye-catching graphic pattern of wavy blue vertical pinstripes running across the front body. Royal blue accents appear on the crew neck collar, side panels, and sleeve cuffs, complemented by Hummel's trademark chevrons on the shoulders and a centrally placed club crest.
Sharing the same visual template, the US Granville 2026-27 away jersey reverses the color scheme with a royal blue base and light blue wave line graphics. The away shirt is completed with clean white Hummel chevrons and monochrome sponsor detailing across the chest.
Adidas Boca Juniors 26-27 Away Kit Goes on Sale Ahead of Official Launch
The new Adidas Boca Juniors 26-27 away kit has begun appearing across international retailers ahead of its official club launch. Several online stores in Mexico and Europe have already made the shirt available for purchase, providing a complete and detailed look at the Argentine giants' latest alternate design.
The Adidas Boca Juniors 26-27 away shirt draws direct inspiration from the club's memorable 06-07 away kit. It features a crisp white base complemented by dark navy vertical pinstripes. A solid white horizontal band breaks up the stripes across the chest to house the Betsson sponsor logo, while matching navy finishes detail the collar and sleeve cuffs.
Completing the retro feel, Adidas opts for its iconic Trefoil logo on the right chest alongside a classic embroidered CABJ crest. An anchor graphic is placed on the upper back neck, finishing off a timeless look that is expected to be released alongside a matching Originals collection in the coming weeks.
Vancouver Whitecaps Release 80s-Inspired Goalkeeper Retro Polo
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have released an in-house retro goalkeeper polo as part of their 80s-themed Archive Collection, celebrating the legacy of the historic Vancouver 86ers. Modeled by goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, the long-sleeve piece embraces pure vintage styling with a deep navy base covered in an all-over geometric triangle pattern in blue, pink, and white. The retro design is completed with a classic black fold-over collar, matching black sleeve cuffs, and a centered Vancouver Whitecaps crest on the chest.
The jersey is not available online but only at the club's physical store.
Zamalek 26-27 Home Kit Released
Egyptian giants Zamalek SC have officially unveiled their new home kit for the 26-27 season, made by Nike. The latest design offers a fresh take on the club's iconic visual identity while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.
The Nike Zamalek 26-27 home jersey is predominantly white and showcases a modern reinterpretation of the club's famous double red chest bands, finished with a dynamic pixelated graphic effect. Zamalek's shield crest sits centrally over the bands, accompanied by gold stars and a red Nike Swoosh on the right chest, while red and black side panels run down the flanks.
Marketed under the slogan "The Iron Shirt," the kit features a minimalist round crew-neck collar and includes a subtle archer emblem on the upper back. The 26-27 home shirt is now available through official club retail outlets ahead of the new campaign.
Real Avilés Industrial 26-27 Home Kit Released
Spanish Primera Federación side Real Avilés Industrial CF has officially unveiled its new home kit for the 26-27 season. The launch marks the beginning of the club's new multi-year technical partnership with Italian brand Macron, which runs through 2030.
The Real Avilés Industrial 2026-27 home shirt stays true to the club's identity with a white base and blue vertical stripes, modernized with subtle geometric tonal shading inside the stripes. Maroon trim on the round crew neck and sleeve cuffs adds contrast, matched by the red and maroon application of the front sponsor, player names, and numbers. Navy shorts and socks complete the kit.
The new Real Avilés Industrial 26-27 home jersey will be available for purchase starting September 9, 2026, coinciding with the grand opening of the club's new official store in the center of Avilés. The away kit is scheduled to go on sale slightly earlier, on September 2.
SPAL 26-27 Home Kit Released
Italian brand Erreà and historic Italian club SPAL have officially unveiled the new home kit for the 26-27 season. The latest jersey draws heavy inspiration from the rich architectural heritage of Ferrara, combining tradition with bespoke local storytelling.
The SPAL 26-27 home shirt features the club's traditional white and sky blue vertical stripes, updated with a dominant white presence and subtle graphic details. Embedded within the stripes are patterns representing the hanging arches and column details seen on Ferrara's historic Estense palaces and the iconic Ferrara Cathedral. Fine gold pinstripes run along the blue stripes, adding a refined touch.
A classic polo collar with a blue insert complements the jersey's vintage aesthetic.
Servette FC 26-27 Trefoil Away Kit Released
Servette FC and Adidas have officially unveiled the club's new 26-27 away kit, created under the Adidas Originals banner.
The Adidas Servette 26-27 away shirt is predominantly navy blue, accented by refined gold applications throughout. Gold is used for the iconic Trefoil logo, the retro circular SFC crest, the MSC main sponsor, and the classic Three Stripes on the shoulders. A delicate garnet trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs pays homage to the club's traditional home colors.
Southend United 26-27 Third Kit Released
Southend United and Italian manufacturer Erreà have officially launched the club's new third kit for the 26-27 campaign. Introduced under the campaign tagline "Culture Never Washes Away," the striking new jersey delivers a bold and energetic visual direction created in collaboration with Erreà's Creative Lab.
The Erreà Southend United 26-27 third shirt combines a vivid pink base with sharp, angular purple graphics running across the front. It is framed by a classic purple fold-over collar, purple cuffs, and thin yellow piping along the raglan shoulder seams. For a modern and minimalist touch, the traditional club crest is replaced by a simplified yellow shrimp emblem on the left chest, accompanied by yellow Erreà branding and white c2c sponsor lettering.
Purple shorts accented with pink trim and matching purple socks complete the full Southend 26-27 third strip, which is set to make its on-pitch debut in the match against Solihull Moors.