England and Nike have revealed the team’s new kits ahead of Euro 2024.
And we have to say – they are some of the best we have seen for the national team in quite a while.
The new home jersey is sharp and smart, while its away counterpart is somehow fresh and nostalgic at the same time. Purple as the primary colour with gold details is a bold choice, but they pulled it off magnificently.
The kits “celebrate heroes of the past with a modern twist”, according to Nike, who dropped their entire range of new international jerseys this week.
For the badge. ????????????
— England (@England) March 18, 2024
These could go down as of the best England kits ever, especially if the Three Lions go all the way at the Euros.
But how do they compare to the greatest kits of the past? In no particular order, we have picked out what we think are the top tops from down the decades.
The best England kits of all time:
1990-92 Third
This kit has reached iconic status even though England didn’t wear it during their journey to the World Cup semi-finals at Italia 90. In fact, they only wore it once in a friendly against Turkey, but it did feature in the music video for New Order’s World In Motion, the team’s theme song for the tournament.
The shimmering, diamond-inspired design is exceptionally nineties coded, while the sky blue colour was an inspired choice.
England 1990 Third by Umbro ???????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/3XjCQZv8ui
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) September 5, 2023
2002-04 Away
Umbro designs became more clean cut the further they got away from 1990, but their 2002 effort for England’s away top was no less slick. Perhaps the team’s best-looking red jersey (outside of Italia 90), the St George’s cross on the sleeve and collar is a nice touch, while it also gets bonus points for being reversible.
20 years ago today at The Sapporo Dome in Japan ????????
David Beckham’s penalty won the game for England ???????????????????????????? ???? ???? ???? at the 2002 World Cup Finals in group F
Who remembers where they were ? And where they saw the game? pic.twitter.com/M25NiNqSa6— Mick Clifford (@icwhs) June 7, 2022
This was also the top in which David Beckham banished the ghost of France ’98 by slotting home a penalty in the 1-0 win over Argentina at the 2002 World Cup.
The best football kits released in Europe this season
1995-96 away
It’s difficult for England fans to look at this jersey and not feel conflicting emotions of nostalgia and sadness. It featured at Euro 96, where the country learned to love the team again as Terry Venables’ side reached the last four.
But the Three Lions’ only ever grey shirt is seared into the memory banks after Paul Gascoigne agonisingly missed a gilt-edge chance to beat Germany and Gareth Southgate failed to score in the subsequent penalty shootout.
Still, it’s a bloody good kit, one we’re unlikely to see replicated.
#OnThisDay 1996
England lost to Germany on penalties at Euro ‘96. If only Gazza’s studs were slightly longer…Great to watch that England team during the tournament ????????????????????????????⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Kbv0lNLr0x
— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) June 26, 2023
BLACK FRIDAY | England
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???? Shop ???????????????????????????? here – https://t.co/j06THQglFv pic.twitter.com/XVj5rxbgl1
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) November 24, 2022
The most iconic football jerseys of the 90s
1990-92 Home
A stone cold classic. Between the blue third kit, the red away version and this one, there has scarcely been a better collection of jerseys from one country at an international tournament than England’s trio of spectacular tops.
Umbro really outdid themselves at the time – the collar, the details, the 3D numbering are all perfect – and this is a template they have returned to more than once for retro remakes.
Retro england '90 italia WC home kit delivered by the wife n boy #Buzzin pic.twitter.com/u0CwQY6gZN
— George Brammer (@GeorgeBrammer) May 20, 2016
1980-84 Home
Not only is this one of the best designed England kits of all time, it brought the Three Lions into the modern era of football jerseys. Up until this point the team had only worn very basic white tops, so the introduction of the blue and red lines across the chest was a fundamental change that not everyone liked at the time.
But the Admiral design has gone to gain cult like status. Nike paid homage with their 2018 pre match shirts, which many felt should have been the official home jersey.
Home & Away ????????????????????????????
England x Admiral // 1982
Englands greatest ever shirts? pic.twitter.com/MWgtpVMLCu
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) July 10, 2021
Do you agree with our picks? What are your favourite England kits? Let us know in the comments below!
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