Ranked: Top 10 iconic Umbro football shirts of all time | OneFootball

Umbro is one of the cornerstones of kit manufacturers in the UK — having made shirts for the England national team, as well as some of the biggest domestic clubs in the country and Europe.

While companies like Nike and Adidas have since taken centre stage, there are still plenty of classic Umbro designs from the archives to admire.

But which ones are the most iconic? In this article, we have rolled back the years to take a look at some of Umbro’s most recognised strips.

10. England away kit (1966)

No matter what happens, 1966 will always have a special place in the hearts of English football fans.

More than 50 years ago, the Three Lions won their only World Cup to date, beating West Germany 4-2 at Wembley thanks to a hat-trick from Geoff Hurst.

Legendary doesn’t quite cover it, and the shirt Alf Ramsey’s side wore on that special day is a symbol of the game in England.

The design is very much in keeping with the times — in fact, there isn’t one. But the red material with the badge taking pride of place is all that is needed and supporters will always remember the historic final of ’66 with this jersey.

9. New York Cosmos home kit (1975/77)

For a short period in the 1970s, all eyes were on the North American Soccer League (NASL). Not usually a footballing hotbed, a plethora of footballing superstars were convinced to ply their trade in the USA, and Pelé was very much the jewel in the league’s crown.

Carlos Alberto, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff also appeared for the Cosmos. They were effectively the first attempt at putting together an All-Star football XI. Therefore, the New York outfit’s jersey from Pelé’s time at the club has become iconic, the green and white working perfectly alongside the futuristic club emblem.

During this time, the Cosmos won the NASL title in 1977 after beating the Seattle Sounders 2-1 in the final.

8. Scotland home kit (1978)

Going into the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, Scotland were seen as dark horses for the title. The Tartan Army possessed a squad full of quality, with Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Joe Jordan among those expected to shine, and they pulled off a famous victory against eventual finalists the Netherlands in their opening match.

Unfortunately, in typical Scottish fashion, they faded and were knocked out in the group stages. However, Archie Gemmill’s incredible solo goal against the Oranje remains one of the greatest moments in the country’s footballing history, and the top he wore is highly sought-after as such.

7. England home kit (1990)

We tried to keep to one shirt per team, but it was impossible not to include this England shirt from the 1990 World Cup.

While 1966 was a crowning glory, Gazza’s tears and one night in Turin made plenty of fans fall back in love with football after a difficult period for the English game.

The design is uncomplicated — white with a blue folded collar and the Umbro logo running around the sleeve cuffs. That, though, is unimportant, as with so many unforgettable shirts, it is what it is associated with that confirms its status.

6. Manchester United home kit (1991/93)

Manchester United had not won a league title for 25 years when the Premier League kicked off in earnest in August 1992.

While Alex Ferguson had delivered an FA Cup, League Cup, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup in his six years as manager up until that point, he was still missing the ultimate prize.

The revamped competition, though, marked the beginning of a new era for the Red Devils, and they won the league by ten points in 1993. The home shirt from that campaign, therefore, has understandably gone down in history.

Striking red, Sharp as shirt sponsor and a laced-up, folded collar — what’s not to like?

5. Brazil home kit (1994)

There have been better Brazil teams to win a World Cup, but even a modest Seleção team compared to their own greatest sides was not enough to stop them from conquering the globe in 1994.

It was a tournament of two penalties. First, Diana Ross’ embarrassing attempt during the opening ceremony and Italy star Roberto Baggio’s equally pathetic effort in the final penalty shootout.

Brazil would soon embark on a lucrative partnership with Nike, but it was Umbro who put together this brilliant number, which includes the badge worked into the material.

The 1994 World Cup was Brazil’s fourth world title at the time.

4. Tottenham Hotspur home kit (1993/95)

Jürgen Klinsmann was hardly welcomed with open arms by the English media upon his move to Tottenham Hotspur in 1994. He had a reputation as a master of the dark arts — namely diving — and had been part of the Germany side that beat England in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup.

At Spurs, though, he would soon become a legend, scoring 29 goals in 50 games during the 1994/95 campaign. The home shirt from that season has since become a fan favourite, mainly as it is difficult not to picture Klinsmann celebrating in it.

3. Ajax home kit (1994/95)

Ajax’s colours have long been established — red in the middle and white down either side. Therefore, there is only so much you can do as a manufacturer, yet Umbro’s creation for the 1994/95 season feels close to the gold standard.

The red-and-white folded collar, the club badge in the middle of the shirt and the sponsor running vertically rather than horizontally are all great touches.

It also helps that De Godenzonen lifted the Champions League trophy that year after defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final.

2. Manchester City home kit (1995/97)

In the 1990s, Manchester City were far from the juggernaut they are today. Instead, they were something of a yo-yo club, as they moved between the Premier League and Division 1.

For some, that badge of honour is a justification for the heavy investment since 2008 and their recent success.

As with many great shirts, one player becomes directly associated with it. City didn’t have a lot of stars at the time, but skilful forward Georgi Kinkladze was one of them — the Georgian jinking and weaving in a shirt that featured the club crest woven into the material.

Although the Citizens were relegated during the 1995/96 campaign, the shirt is a reminder of where City have come from and that serves as a poignant reminder in the club’s history.

1. Chelsea home kit (1995/97)

While the Premier League is now seen as an attractive destination, that was not always the case.

Shortly after the division’s launch, English football was still working hard to rid itself of the hooligan reputation it had picked up, and other leagues such as Serie A were more lucrative.

Their home shirt used between 1995 and 1997 was befitting of the star talent at their disposal, featuring a folded, button-up blue and yellow collar and the club crest worked into the material.

The Blues won the FA Cup in 1997 — which was their first major trophy in 26 years — adding to the already high appeal of this shirt.