Dec 26, 2012

England 2010/12 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

The Three Lions crest

This is the original pattern located at the top of the back.

Wayne Rooney and Bulgaria's Iliyan Stoyanov battle for the ball.

ENGLAND NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM 
-First official match: 30 November 1872 
-Honours: 1 FIFA World Cup (England 1966)
-Highest FIFA Ranking: 3rd (August 2012)
-Lowest FIFA Ranking: 27th (February 1996)
-Highest Elo Rating: 1st (
1872–1876, 1892–1911, 1966–1970, 1987–1988)
-Lowest Elo Rating: 13th (
1936)
-Top scorer: Bobby Charlton (1958-1970) - 49 goals
 


I bought this shirt two years ago in a Sports Direct in Brighton, England. I still don't know why it cost only £12. I love the tailored by Umbro style (I really regret the imminent Umbro's disappearance) and the classy shirts like this one. It's a shame the contract that England has signed with Nike, which I think won't benefit the Three Lions.
It's late to wish you Merry Christmas, so I'm going to wish you a happy New Year just in case.
Instead of Santa Claus, here in Spain the Three Wise Men or tres Reyes Magos bring presents on the 6th of January, and my birthday is on the 4th of January, so I'm expecting a pair of new shirts for the collection...

Dec 23, 2012

Spain 2010 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

Puyol is OVER NINE THOUSAND

Oh, poor De Jong. He looks scared :(

SPAIN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
-First official match: 28 August 1920
-Honours: 1 FIFA World Cup (South Africa 2010); 3 UEFA European Championship (Spain 1964, Austria-Switzerland 2008, Poland-Ukraine 2012).
-Highest FIFA Ranking: 1st (
July 2008–June 2009, October 2009–March 2010, July 2010–July 2011, October 2011–present)
-Lowest FIFA Ranking: 25th (March 1998)
-Highest Elo Rating: 1st (Sept 1920–May 1924, Sept–Dec 1925, June 2002, June 2008–June 2009, July 2010–present)
-Lowest Elo Rating: 20th (
June 1969, June 1981, November 1991)
-Top scorer: David Villa (2005-present) - 53 goals


It's compulsory to have this in your collection. I remember I decided to buy the shirt when Spain beat Poland 6-0 in a friendly match before 2010 World Cup. After Spain was proclaimed champion, I didn't want to put the star above the crest because I wanted to preserve the shirt as it was before and during the tournament. And I have to say that I don't really like the design and the colours of the shirt, which is really strange between the shirts of the blog.

Real Madrid 2006/07 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

FIFA Award Best Club XX Century Badge

Team of big contrasts between the players' quality

REAL MADRID CLUB DE FÚTBOL 
-Founded: 6 March 1902
-9 European Cups (Last one: 2002); 32 Spanish Leagues (Last one: 2012)
-Biggest rival: FC Barcelona

-The club is the richest football club in terms of annual revenue, generating €479.5million in 2011 and the second most valuable, worth €1.8billion.

One of the first shirts I had. You can notice this collar is the one of the kid's shirt, because it has a different shape from the original one. I've been remembering the good old days when I've seen the team photo with Van Nistelrooy, Beckham, Míchel Salgado, Raúl and Roberto Carlos. That team was very different than the one these days.

I do think Mourinho is between the three best coaches in the world. However, he isn't doing anything but harming Real Madrid, and in my opinion this season should be his last opportunity to show he can win something important.

Cardiff City FC 2005/06 Away Kit

Front view

Back view
Flag of Wales on the back.

CARDIFF CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
-Founded: 1899
-1 FA Cup (1927); 22 Welsh Cups (Last one: 1993)
-Biggest rivals: Newport County and Swansea City
-In 2012, Cardiff City were rebranded by the club's Malaysian owners, Vincent Tan and Chan Tien Ghee. This included the change of the club's home colours and crest although their nickname, the Bluebirds, remained. The majority of the fans were against the changes but it has been lightly accepted.


Sometimes I'm bored at home and I'm craving new shirts for the collection. This one is a clear example of that: I saw this cheap unworn shirt, small size. I had some money saved, so I decided to buy it. 
The recent rebranding of the club adds the shirt more interest, althought it isn't the home kit. It's one of the oldest shirts I have in the collection, but not one of the most beautiful.

Dec 20, 2012

NY Red Bulls 2011/12 Away Kit

Front view

Back view

Thierry Henry during a friendly match against Arsenal.

RB's name is associated with extreme sports (and not so extreme ones).

NEW YORK RED BULLS
-Founded: 1995 (Sold to Red Bull on March 9, 2006)
-They are the only original MLS franchise not to have won any significant trophy
-Biggest rival: DC United
-It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception. The team was originally known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars through 1997. From the 1998 season through the 2005 season, the team was known as the MetroStars. On March 9, 2006, the team was sold to Red Bull GmbH, leading to the team's current name.

Football jerseys in the MLS are part of another world. Adidas templates are launched there and months later they are brought to Europe. Every MLS team has its personalized shirt, not just a coloured template. And before I had this shirt, I didn't imagine a sponsor of that size could seem so cool. I hope that soccer keeps growing in America.

Dec 1, 2012

Real Madrid 2011/12 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

Detail of the 3D crest.

Epic moment, Ronaldo asking for relax at the Nou Camp.

REAL MADRID CLUB DE FÚTBOL 
-Founded: 6 March 1902
-9 European Cups (Last one: 2002); 32 Spanish Leagues (Last one: 2012)
-Biggest rival: FC Barcelona
-It is one of three clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight of Spanish football, along with Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona.


I think it's one of the best shirts Real Madrid has had in a few years. Real Madrid has also won its last league with this shirt, and the fans have lived moments like the victory against Barcelona.

This shirt is quite 'mainstream', but I like to put it on when I'm watching an important match on TV. Or through a streaming on the Internet hahahaha.
I hope more shirts are coming for Christmas (it's supposed to be a surprise).

Nov 23, 2012

PSG 2009/2010 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

"Here is Paris", detail of the shirt.
Come on Erdinç, you can seem more enthusiastic.

The squad for the year the shirt was worn.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FOOTBALL CLUB
-Founded: 1970
-2 French Leagues (Last one: 1994)
-Biggest rival: Olympique de Marseille
-The Kop of Boulogne is a stand in the Parc des Princes which mainly housed the Boulogne Boys, a supporters group associated with the club. It is known as the "most notorious stand in French football" due to its links with violence and far-right political groups. The KoB became synonymous in French public opinion with not only football hooliganism, but racism and fascism since the 80's and continues to be associated with violent elements within the PSG support due to a number of high profile incidents.


This was one of my first shirts, and I think it's one of the coolest PSG has had in the last years. It's the smallest shirt I have in the collection (apart from being XXXS sized, it's supposed to be very tight) so I can't really wear it. In fact I have this shirt twice,
I'm realizing I should comment something else about the shirts apart from "it's cool" or "it's beautiful". These texts lack originality.

Nov 18, 2012

Inter Milan 2011/12 Home Kit (FAKE)

Front view

Back view
Cambiasso and Zanetti wearing the shirt.

Actually Boateng plays for their biggest rival.

FOOTBALL CLUB INTERNAZIONALE MILANO
-Founded: 1908
-3 European Cups (Last one: 2010); 18 Italian Leagues (Last one: 2010)
-Biggest rivals: AC Milan and Juventus

-In 1928, Inter's name and philosophy made the ruling Fascist Party uneasy. As a result, during the same year the 20-year-old club was merged with Unione Sportiva Milanese. The new club was named Società Sportiva Ambrosiana. The flag of Milan (the red cross on white background) replaced the traditional black and blue.

Obviously I absolutely disappoint with the fake shirts trading, but it was funny to find this proof of the proficiency of some forgers. Just imagine a Barça shirt with Ronaldo at the back or a Liverpool shirt with the name of Scholes.

The shirt has also more mistakes, it hasn't got the Ambrosiana flag into the collar, and the Serie A patch and the fabric are so sham.

Phnom Penh Crown 2011/12 Away Kit

Front view

Back view

The club's strange but cool crest.

Cambodian flag is placed above the number.

Sokumpheak in the ill-fated AFC President's Cup final against Taiwan Power.

PHNOM PENH CROWN FOOTBALL CLUB
-Founded: 2001
-4 Cambodian Leagues (Last one: 2011)
-Biggest rival: ?
-
The club has commenced their residential Elite Football Academy with 22 young boys under the age of thirteen, selected after trials across the country, with the long-term view of developing youth football in Cambodia.

I found this on eBay and I instantly decided to buy it. It's like the exotic shirt of the collection, with that crest, the Cambodian flag, the name of the Cambodian player and that strange Kappa template. Now that I've investigated about the team I've discovered that it's one of the most successful teams in the country, which has loads of fans in the capital, Phnom Penh. Maybe i'll visit it in the future...
Here are some links where you can learn more about the club:
PPCFC Official Website
PPCFC on Facebook

Nov 16, 2012

Ukraine 2010/12 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

Tymoschuk is the most capped Ukranian player.

UKRAINE NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
-First official match: 29 April 1992
-Highest FIFA Ranking: 11th (February 2007)

-Lowest FIFA Ranking: 132nd (September 1993)
-Highest Elo Rating: 14th (October 2010)
-Lowest Elo Rating: 67th (March 1995)
-Top scorer: Andriy Shevchenko (1995-2012) - 48 goals

Well, I found this shirt in an outlet and I liked it enough to spend a few euros on it. I have to say that by the moment it's the most uncomfortable shirt I have in the collection. The badge it's too rough, but the design of the shirt offsets its drawbacks. It's also strange to see a short-sleeved Ukranian shirt, because of the cold and that stuff.

Nov 1, 2012

Pumas UNAM 2010/11 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

The UNAM emblem, which celebrates 100 years since its foundation.

Verón in a game against América, using his Super Saiyan techniques.

CLUB UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AC (PUMAS DE LA UNAM)
-Founded: 28 August 1954
-3 CONCACAF Champions League (Last one: 1989); 7 Mexican Football Leagues (Last one: Clausura 2011)
-Biggest rival: Club América
-Their home ground is the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, which was the settting for the Olympic Games. It has a capacity for 62,700 fans and is within the University, allowing it to be very close to its main supporters, the students.

I bought this shirt in México City. I didn't have any preference between the Mexican teams, so I bought the most beatiful shirt, which was this one. Nowadays Pumas aren't at their best moment, butI think they will return to better days.

Oct 7, 2012

Liverpool FC 2011/12 Home Kit

Front view

Back view

Andy Carroll scored just 11 goals during his 56 matches for Liverpool

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB
-Founded: 15 March 1892
-5 European Cups (Last one: 2005); 18 English Leagues (Last one: 1990)
-Biggest rival: Everton FC
-
The club's supporters have been involved in two major tragedies. The first was the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985 in which charging Liverpool fans caused a wall to collapse, killing 39 Juventus supporters. In the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives in a crush against perimeter fencing.

I love the triangle pattern which covers the shirt. The sleeves and the cuffs are incredibly wide and long (I suppose that's the trend these days) and the gold lines are very cool. Wouldn't it be better with the Carlsberg logo on it?

AFC Ajax 2008/09 Away Kit

Front view

Back view

Luis Suárez playing for Ajax against Feyenoord.

AMSTERDAMSCHE FOOTBALL CLUB AJAX
-Founded: 18 March 1900
-4 European Cups (Last one: 1995); 31 Dutch Leagues (Last one: 2012)
-Biggest rival: Feyenoord Rotterdam
-Since 2007 no player can wear the number 14 shirt, after the club decided to retire the shirt out of respect for Cruyff
. Cruyff himself laughed off the tribute.

This was one of the first shirts in the collection. My parents brought it from Amsterdam. It's quite simple (it uses Adidas 'Trofeo' template) but it's one of my favourites, although it is from the season when ABN-Amro finished sponsoring Ajax, which was a big loss.