Best 1980s Football Shirts Ranked: Top 10

The 1980s gave football shirts their first real graphics: shadow patterns, pinstripes, polo collars and the spread of big chest sponsors at club level. This is our ranking of the best 1980s football shirts, ten designs judged on the idea behind them, on the match or season they belong to, and on how they wear as a remake today. We stock replica remakes of all ten, and the full 1980s retro shirt range has more than 250 others.

How did we rank the best 1980s football shirts?

Three tests, in this order. Design: does the shirt have an idea that only fits that team? Story: is it tied to a tournament, a title or a single famous game? Wear: does the remake still look right away from a stadium? A plain shirt can rank high if the story is big enough, but a strong pattern with a strong story wins. We are an independent retailer of replica supporter shirts, not affiliated with any club, league or manufacturer. This list follows our best 1990s football shirts ranking and the 2000s ranking.

Which are the ten best 1980s football shirts?

Shop 1980s Retro Football Shirts Jerseys

Retro Denmark 1988 Home Jersey$ 45,99Retro Denmark 1988 Away Jersey$ 45,99Retro Manchester United 1988/90 Away Jersey$ 45,99

1. Netherlands 1988 home – adidas

Orange, covered in a sublimated pattern of pale triangles that meet down the middle like a row of arrows. Adidas used the same template for other teams, but nobody wore it better. The Netherlands won Euro 88 in it, beating the Soviet Union 2-0 in the final in Munich on 25 June 1988, with Ruud Gullit heading the first and Marco van Basten volleying the second from a tight angle. Our Netherlands 1988 kit story has the full tournament, and the remake is the Netherlands 1988 home retro jersey.

2. Denmark 1986 home – Hummel

Split down the middle: one half solid red, the other red and white pinstripes, with chevron tape on the sleeves. It looked like nothing else at Mexico 86. The “Danish Dynamite” side won all three group games, including 6-1 against Uruguay and 2-0 against West Germany, then lost 5-1 to Spain in the last 16. Read our Denmark 1986 kit article or pick up the Denmark 1986 home retro jersey.

3. Argentina 1986 home – Le Coq Sportif

Sky blue and white stripes, a plain round neck and the AFA crest. Argentina wore this shirt in the final at the Azteca on 29 June 1986, when Jorge Burruchaga scored late to beat West Germany 3-2. The quarter-final against England was played in a blue away shirt with its own odd story, which our Argentina 1986 shirt story tells. Choose the Argentina 1986 home retro jersey or browse Argentina retro shirts.

4. Napoli 1987/88 home – Ennerre

Sky blue with a white polo collar, Buitoni across the chest, and the Scudetto shield and Coppa Italia cockade from the double won the season before. Diego Maradona wore it in a season Napoli led for long spells before Milan overtook them. Our Napoli 1987/88 kit article explains the badges, Maradona’s 1987/88 shirt covers the player, and the remake is the Napoli 1987/88 home retro jersey.

5. Flamengo 1981 home – adidas

Wide red and black hoops with a red V-neck and red cuffs. This is the shirt of Flamengo’s best season: the Copa Libertadores, the Campeonato Carioca and then a 3-0 win over Liverpool in Tokyo on 13 December 1981, with Zico named man of the match. See our Flamengo 1981 kit story and the Flamengo 1981 home retro jersey.

6. AC Milan 1988/89 home – Kappa

Red and black stripes, a small collar and Mediolanum in white letters. Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan wore it through their 1988/89 European Cup run, then beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 at Camp Nou on 24 May 1989 in an all-white change kit. Gullit and Van Basten scored two each, a year after winning Euro 88 together in orange. The AC Milan 1988/89 home retro jersey sits with our AC Milan retro shirts.

7. Mexico 1986 home – adidas

Plain green with an off-white polo collar, white stripes on the shoulders and an oversized federation crest. The host nation reached the quarter-finals, losing to West Germany on penalties after a 0-0 draw, and Manuel Negrete scored his scissor-kick volley against Bulgaria in this shirt. Our Mexico 1986 kit guide covers the detail, and the remake is the Mexico 1986 World Cup home retro jersey.

8. Italy 1982 home – Le Coq Sportif

Azzurri blue, plain, with the tricolour shield on the chest. The simplest shirt here, and one of the biggest stories. Paolo Rossi scored a hat-trick against Brazil, finished top scorer with six goals, and opened the scoring in the 3-1 final win over West Germany at the Bernabéu on 11 July 1982. Marco Tardelli scored the second 12 minutes later, and his run of celebration became famous. Get the Italy 1982 home retro jersey.

9. England 1982 home – Admiral

White, with a band of red and navy across the shoulders and chest. Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds against France in Bilbao, and England won 3-1. They left the tournament unbeaten after 0-0 draws with West Germany and Spain in the second group stage. The England 1982 home retro jersey is our remake, with more England retro shirts on the hub.

10. Celtic 1987/88 home – Umbro

Green and white hoops with a tonal diamond pattern, CR Smith on the chest and the centenary crest. Celtic marked 100 years by winning the league and the Scottish Cup, with Frank McAvennie scoring twice late on to beat Dundee United 2-1 in the final. Pick up the Celtic 1987/88 home retro jersey or the long sleeve version.

The best 1980s football shirts compared

Which 1980s shirts just missed the top ten?

Liverpool’s red shirts of the decade, found on our Liverpool retro hub, came close. So did the Netherlands’ 1988 away and the West Germany 1988-90 home, which we ranked first in the 1990s list because it is best known for Italia 90.

How should 1980s retro shirts fit?

Shirts of the period were cut shorter and closer than today’s, though fit varies between remakes, so check the size chart on each product page. Our guides explain how a retro remake differs from a vintage shirt and how to tell what year a football shirt is.

Where can I find more 1980s retro shirts?

The 1980s retro category goes well past these ten, and the wider retro jersey collection covers every decade. Our retro football kits list mixes all eras.

Related: England Jerseys · Argentina Jerseys · Netherlands Jerseys