Football kits can be a source of great pride and nostalgia for fans, but not every shirt has stood the test of time. Some Premier League kits have become infamous for their dreadful designs. Here’s a rundown of the worst offenders:
5. Middlesbrough 1996/97 Away
The Middlesbrough away kit from the 1996/97 season is an absolute classic in the realm of terrible football shirts. First off, the club crest was bizarrely placed on the sleeve, which is a design choice few would find appealing. To make matters worse, the kit featured a pattern reminiscent of old-fashioned tablecloths, giving it an outdated and unappealing look. This season was also a rollercoaster for Boro, who reached both the League Cup and FA Cup finals but were relegated from the Premier League. The kit, much like their season, did not impress.
4. Liverpool 2013/14 Away
Liverpool’s 2013/14 away kit is remembered not just for its poor aesthetics but also for the tragic match against Crystal Palace, known as ‘Crystanbul.’ The kit, made by Warrior, was part of a string of unfortunate designs produced during their three-year stint with the Reds. This particular shirt, with its garish design and unflattering cut, did nothing to improve the team’s luck on a memorable night that saw them lose a crucial lead in their Premier League title bid.
3. Nottingham Forest 1995/97 Away
Nottingham Forest’s away shirt from the 1995/97 period is a prime example of how vintage designs can sometimes go wrong. The shirt’s peculiar ‘dripping ink’ effect on the shoulders was an attempt at something different but ended up looking more like a design mishap. Coupled with an excessively large open collar, this Umbro creation was another blunder of the 1990s, which did little to endear the kit to Forest fans.
2. Liverpool 2012/13 Away
Warrior’s second entry on this list, the Liverpool 2012/13 away kit, continued their tradition of missteps in kit design. The grey shirt featured an unfortunate ruffle around the collar that was widely criticized. This kit forced star players like Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho to wear what many consider one of the most unflattering football shirts in recent history. Despite its subtlety compared to other Warrior designs, the grey ruff was a significant blight on Liverpool’s away kits.
1. Coventry 1993/94 Away
Coventry City’s away kit for the inaugural Premier League season of 1993/94 takes the top spot for the worst kit ever. The design, which has been compared to raw meat due to its striking, uneven pattern, was as horrifying as it sounds. This kit was the epitome of poor design choices and is remembered as a major fashion faux pas in football history. Despite finishing 15th in the league, Coventry’s shirt made a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons.
These kits are a reminder that, while football shirts can become iconic symbols of a club’s history, they can also fall victim to some truly questionable design decisions.
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