The 25 Most Iconic Kits in the History of Football

Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the first time that Liverpool FC opted to switch to an all-red kit, which would go on to become synonymous with the club which has lifted Europe's biggest trophy five times and the domestic league title a further dozen times since then.

Rather more sponsor-clad and emblazoned in the modern era than it was back then, the all red of Liverpool is nonetheless an iconic part of football's viewing today.

Here are 25 similar kits, memorised and timeless due to the achievements and the style of the teams who wore them.

Liverpool FC, 1965

We'll begin with the kit of the day—Liverpool started using their all-red outfit in 1964 and ended up winning the FA Cup for the first time ever later that season.

The story goes that Ron Yeats, the team captain, was told by Bill Shankly to put on red shorts—the club previously wore white—and decided he looked so intimidating that the team would switch from that point on.

The rest is history.

River Plate, 1986

One of Argentina's biggest two clubs, River Plate's famous kit is white with a diagonal red stripe.

While it has remained more or less the same over time, their Libertadores-winning variation in 1986 is about as iconic as it comes and memorable for all the right reasons.

Brazil, 1970

Brazil have one of the world's most iconic kits, both in colour and style.

While the blue World Cup final kit from '58 is plenty iconic, it is the home yellow shirt which holds most memories and associations for the South American nation. From those, the 1970 version with the green trim and blue shorts is the absolute classic.

Netherlands, 1988

Like many national teams, Netherlands have a distinctive kit; theirs is orange, which makes the terraces look vibrant and their players more filled with flair than they actually might be.

One of the slightly less vivid, but no less exotic, versions of their kit was worn in the successful Euro 88 campaign, where it was graced to perfection by Marco van Basten's magnificent volley.

West Germany, 1974

Germany's modern kit is impressive—certainly it looked the part when they won the World Cup this year—but the outfit worn by West Germany in 1974 as they lifted the same trophy remains a stand-out.

Clean white and contrasting black was a startling effect worn on a side that was ruthless, aggressive, technically excellent and, above all, successful.

Argentina, 1986

Sticking with the international scene for now, Argentina's blue has had plenty of memorable variations, but the Diego Maradona and Argentina kit is this one from 1986.

Diego and Co. wore it in Mexico 86 en route to lifting the World Cup, while Maradona scored both his goal of the century and the Hand of God goal in it.

Italy, 2006

Whereas with most international kits we've opted for are older ones, this from Italy is a more modern offering but with a classical influence.

Italy's dark blue, single-colour effort worn in the 2006 World Cup was sleek and impressive and steeped in history now after they lifted the title on penalties.

Manchester United, 1999

Manchester United's 1999 season ended in treble-winning form, and their red-and-white kit is the most memorable of all theirs worn during the successful period over the last 20 years.

The sight of Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrating in it will live long in the memory for United fans, as will the collared shirt as a result.

Barcelona, 1992

Barcelona's dark red-and-blue alternating stripes are one of the most notable and instantly recognisable kit combinations around, regardless of era or design.

The 1992 kit featured that classic stripe design in a successful setting and one of the finest Barcelona teams ever, containing the likes of Hristo Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and Pep Guardiola.

Real Madrid, 1960

Real Madrid could almost have an entire slideshow to themselves of iconic kits down the years, but along with the more recent efforts, back in the 1960s their all-white kits represented nothing less than utter dominance.

This kit from 1960 was in the midst of their all-conquering European Cup-winning team, as clean and clinical-looking as the team was on the pitch.

Benfica, 1962

From shortly after that Real team, Benfica's greatest point in history came.

They won the European Cup twice in quick succession with their red kit with wide collar, white shorts—and plenty of goals from Eusebio while wearing it.

Ajax, 1972

Ajax's classic white shirt with red block is one of the most iconic shirts in worldwide football, no matter the era or competition.

This variation is from 1972 when Ajax went the distance in the European Cup, also winning the Eredivisie and, later in the year, the Intercontinental Cup.

AC Milan, 1994

AC Milan are one of the lucky few: They have more than one iconic kit. The first, of course, is their traditional home kit of black-and-white alternate red stripes.

The second and the one we opt for is their white shirt, the away kit which they have habitually worn to great success in European finals. Here is their 1994 version from a 4-0 thumping of Barcelona in the European Cup final, very much an iconic shirt.

Juventus, 1986

Sticking with Italian sides, Juventus have an iconic striped kit of their own.

The black and white of the Turin team is one of the most famous around, with this effort from '86 showing the classic outfit in all its glory—bold lines, big collar, no frills. It's perfect Juventus.

Mexico Goalkeeper Kit, 1994

Iconic kits come in many variations, and this is one of the more memorable ones which are not necessarily associated with success: Jorge Campos' Mexico goalkeeper kit from the 1994 World Cup.

We've included plenty of his colourful efforts for you here in the video, but the top in question is the "upward arrows" version, yellow through the centre and purple, green and pink surrounding. It's iconic for some and simply burned into the memory for others.

Boca Juniors, 2000

We've had River, now the other big Argentine side, Boca Juniors.

Boca lifted the Clausura title domestically and also the Copa Libertadores in continental competition in 2000, a smart and modern variation on their yellow-and-blue kit.

Bayern Munich, 2013

The most modern kit on our entire list, Bayern Munich's treble-winning effort in 2013 will live long in the memory due to their array of quality players, the fact they won everything going in style and, of course, the fact that football of this age is shown in such unending quantities.

An all-dark red kit with gold trim was particularly apt considering the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trophies lofted that year.

England, 1966

Another "away" kit now and the change strip for England, with white shorts and the big, clear badge on the red shirt.

It was the kit worn in the 1966 World Cup final when they lofted their only trophy of that tournament, spawning iconic images to go alongside the memorable kit itself.

Colombia, 1990

Colombia's World Cup in 1990 had many memorable parts to it: Carlos Valderrama's hair, Rene Higuita's antics in goal...and their two kits.

The blue change strip was fine indeed, but the home yellow kit is, of course, the one most associated with the South Americans, who livened up the tournament and impressed with their style of play and attempts to reach the latter stages.

Senegal, 2002

The World Cup again and Senegal now with their dark green kit—worn as they became the first African side to reach the quarter-finals of the world's greatest tournament.

They haven't hit such heights again since, though Ghana's white kit from 2010 equals this one in iconic looks and tournament success.

Aston Villa, 1982

Our final English side now and Aston Villa, who wore this away kit in the 1982 European Cup final—their only such title to date.

The change strip is a smart white look with a pinstripe red trim—Villa would love to see anything like the kind of the success nowadays that they had with this version.

Spain, 2010

Another one of the modern kits and a hugely successful one, the Spain kit which won three successive major tournaments: Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012.

This version is the World Cup kit: the more classic-looking Spain shirt, red shirt with gold trim and blue shorts. A great kit, a magnificent team and the ultimate achievement.

Marseille, 1993

In the early 1990s Marseille had a spell as one of the best teams around, winning the European Cup in 1993 with a team featuring the likes of Alen Boksic, Rudi Voller and Abedi Ayew in attack and Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps on defensive duty.

Their kit was mainly white, with deep blue diagonal stripes from the shoulder area—instantly recognisable and associated with this magnificent period in their history.

Fiorentina, 1996

La Viola have one of the most recognisable kits anywhere; not steeped in success but certainly with plenty of top names who have graced the shirt.

Their purple kit was perhaps at its height—and the quality of players wearing it—in the early and mid-'90s, with Gabriel Batistuta chief amongst their talents as they won the Coppa Italia in 1996.

Celtic, 1967

Celtic are our final choice in our list of iconic kits and the only horizontal stripes kit included.

The green-and-white hoops remain an identifiable part of the club's modern-day look, but here in 1967 they were at their most famous as the Lions of Lisbon, winning the European Cup.

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