5 Months Ago, Kroos Said, "Polo Collars Are a Big Shit" - Now the New 23-24 Madrid Third Kit Again Has a Button Collar
Aug 11, 2023, by Chris
Update: In March 2023, Toni Kroos revealed that he very much dislikes polo collar football shirts because of the comfort distractions of a bigger collar. Now the new Adidas Real Madrid 23-24 third kit has been released, and it again has a collar with a button.
For the launch picture, Toni Kroos did not button up the collar but left it open - we strongly expect him to do in matches. The collar of the 23-24 season is not quite as big as the home kit collar of the 22-23 season, so Kroos probably will have a smaller problem with it.
Adidas 23-24 Third Kits - 3 Buttoned-Colors, 2 Crew Neck Collars
When designing and finalizing the Real Madrid 2023-2024 third kit, Adidas were not aware of Kroos' anti-collar message. It seems possible that the Three Stripes would have opted for a different collar model, as done for the Bayern Munich and Manchester United 23-24 third kits.
March 2023: Kroos: "Kits With Polo Collars Are a Big Shit"
Toni Kroos, the famous German midfielder of Real Madrid, this week revealed his dislike for football shirts with collars in the latest episode of his podcast "Einfach mal Luppen". Big thanks to our friends form Real Total for the story and pictures.
Real Madrid's Toni Kroos Expresses Dislike for Collared Football Shirts
The 33-year-old German international complained about the discomfort and unattractiveness of such shirts, referring to them as "a big s*."
While Kroos did not specify any particular jersey of Real Madrid, he did express his displeasure with the current season's shirt, which features a collar. He believes that polo shirts are not suitable for football shirts and that the two buttons on the collar make it look like a shirt instead of a jersey.
Kroos' favorite jersey from his time at Real Madrid was the white-gold one from the 2019-20 season.
This is not the first time Kroos has shared his thoughts on football shirts. In November 2021, he revealed that his favorite jersey from his time at Real Madrid was the white-gold one from the 2019-20 season.
Collared shirts have been a part of Real Madrid's kit in previous seasons, including the 2018-19 and 2014-15 seasons, where Kroos played without a collar but with buttons.
Frankfurt's former player Hinteregger cut off the collar
Real Madrid's kit supplier and Toni Kroos' personal sponsor, Adidas, did not comment on Kroos's criticism.
Indeed, Frankfurt's extraordinary ex-footballer Hinteregger cut off the polo collar of the Nike Eintracht Frankfurt shirt in the 2020-2021 season. Nike then created a custom collar-free kit for the former Austrian international.
For the 2023-2024 season, Real Madrid will get NO polo collar
For the 2023-2024 season, Real Madrid will get NO polo collar.
Are you a fan of Polo collared kits? Let us know in the comments below.
No More Nike: Adidas Croatia 2026-2027 Home Kit Leaked - 7 New Images
The first Adidas Croatia kit is set to be launched soon and will debut in the first 26-27 international matches next month.
Said El Mala Extends Köln Contract Until 2031 & Takes No. 10 Shirt
1. FC Köln have officially confirmed that star winger Said El Mala has committed his long-term future to the club, signing a contract extension through to 2031. Alongside the new long-term deal, the young attacker has also been awarded the club's prestigious number 10 shirt.
The announcement effectively ends months of transfer speculation surrounding the youngster, who had attracted significant interest from top German clubs including Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. Köln held firm on their valuation and convinced the player to spearhead the club's project going forward.
Having previously worn the number 13 jersey during his breakout Bundesliga campaign, El Mala now officially inherits the number 10 kit.
Atlético Madrid 26-27 Third Kit Leaked - Official Images
Official images of the new Atlético Madrid 2026-27 third kit have been leaked by @KamilBerberler, offering a detailed and complete look at the upcoming strip crafted by Nike.
The Nike Atlético Madrid 26-27 third jersey is predominantly light grey, officially designated as 'Light Pumice', and accented with horizontal red and navy stripes across the chest, body, and sleeves. The shirt features a sophisticated navy polo collar with subtle red detailing, as well as a retro-styled Atlético de Madrid crest proudly placed on the left chest. The front of the jersey also carries the Riyadh Air sponsor logo.
Completing the kit are matching light grey shorts and white socks. The Atlético Madrid 2026-27 third kit is scheduled for an official launch later this month.
Leeds United 26-27 Third Kit Released
Leeds United and adidas have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 campaign. Inspired directly by the city of Leeds, the new design completes the club's uniform collection alongside their already released home and away strips.
The adidas Leeds United 26-27 third shirt is built on a dark grey and black base, detailed with an intricate tonal geometric graphic referencing local urban architecture and iconic city landmarks. Complementing the dark aesthetic, light grey detailing is used for the adidas Three Stripes across the shoulders, the performance logo, and a monochrome woven Leeds United crest, while the Red Bull sponsor logo sits prominently across the chest.
The new Leeds United 26-27 third jersey officially goes on sale on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 8am BST through the club's official retail channels and online store.
Botev Plovdiv 26-27 Away Kit Released
Following the home kit 3 months ago, Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv have officially released their new away kit for the upcoming 2026-27 season, made by Macron.
The design features a fresh sky blue base combined with subtle pinstripes across the shirt. The polo collar, sleeve cuffs and side seams are all in navy blue, matched with the brand logos and shirt number. The club crest uses an interesting monochrome colorway of navy and white, adding depths to the overall look.
What do you think of the new 26-27 Botev Plovdiv away kit by Macron? Let us know in the comments.
CS Sedan Ardennes 26-27 Home Kit Released
French club CS Sedan Ardennes has officially unveiled its new home kit for the 2026-27 season, manufactured by Kappa. Following the earlier launch of their off-white away strip, the new home shirt embraces a strong retro aesthetic steeped in the club's traditional colors and identity.
The Kappa CS Sedan Ardennes 26-27 home jersey features the club's classic green base detailed with tonal vertical pinstripes. A prominent white polo collar with red edge trim gives the shirt an elegant throwback feel, complemented by matching red and white sleeve cuffs and Kappa's signature logos along the sleeves. The club crest sits on the chest alongside the white Kappa branding and local sponsor E.Leclerc Sedan.
Presented inside the historic Château fort de Sedan, the jersey celebrates the team's Ardennes heritage under the motto "Fort depuis 1919." The new 26-27 home kit is now available to purchase through the club's official online store.
US Catanzaro 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian Serie B club US Catanzaro 1929 and technical supplier EYE Sport have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 2026-27 season.
The EYE Sport US Catanzaro 26-27 away shirt is predominantly bright yellow, featuring an intricate marble-like abstract swirling graphic in off-white across the front and back. Contrasting red accents appear on the V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, and side trim. The club crest is placed on the left chest, accompanied by red EYE Sport branding and the large Coop sponsor logo across the torso.
The new away uniform completes the club's lineup for the 26-27 campaign alongside the previously revealed red home shirt and the special third kit inspired by artist Mimmo Rotella.
Oldham Athletic 26-27 Third Kit Released - 60th Anniversary Throwback
Oldham Athletic and Puma have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Celebrating a notable anniversary in Latics history, the shirt marks exactly 60 years to the day since Oldham first took to the pitch in tangerine on August 20, 1966.
The Puma Oldham Athletic 26-27 third jersey is predominantly tangerine orange, complemented by clean blue and white detailing. The design features a buttoned henley collar with white and blue trim, matching two-tone ribbed sleeve cuffs, and white side panels. A blue owl crest sits on the chest alongside a white Puma Cat logo and the white Bunkabin sponsor.
Blue shorts and tangerine socks complete the look of the new Oldham Athletic 26-27 third strip. Constructed using Puma dryCELL moisture-wicking technology and RE:FIBRE recycled materials, the kit is now available through the club's official channels.