Nike look to the natural connection between sneakers and football for inspiration for the full collection of 2020/21 third shirts for their Champions League teams, weaving together admired club identities with storied sneaker designs in the kits, each a bespoke creation.
Nike have made their Champions League kits something of an event release recently, with last season’s retro-inspired offerings being well received across the board. And where those shirts took something from each club’s history, this season the Swoosh follow it up with a dip into their own archives, looking at the legacy of the Air Max line, with the merger of club identity and Air Max history resulting in one of the most distinctive sets of shirts in recent memory.
“The Air Max coupled with football jersey culture is the ultimate hybrid of streetwear and sports,” says Nike Scott Munson VP, Nike Football Apparel. “We were mindful of paying full respect to the clubs and their identities, but we quickly discovered that this is a very happy marriage. The kits are stylish, highly original and will look great on the pitch and the street.”
Barcelona’s 2020/21 third shirt boasts the vibrant colours of the city and its famous beach. The combination of pink and sea green will likely evoke memories of much-loved past Barca kits, while pink and green are also common hues in the Air Max palette, having appeared on numerous iterations of the sneaker over the years and now on the new FC Barcelona-inspired Air Max 90.
Chelsea’s new third shirt has a distinct ’90s vibe, with colours and design reminiscent of the jerseys of that era. The original Nike Air Max 180 was also prominent on the streets of London around that time, and this shirt design effortlessly marries the two together. The combination of ultramarine, ember glow and white references vintage Chelsea away kits and the classic colourway of the OG 180.
Yellow Tottenham Hotspur shirts have a special place in the club's history, and here the yellow meets a Nike legend: the Nike Air Max 95. The front of Spurs’ new shirt features a gradient design, with thick yellow bars growing subtly darker as they flow down the front, a perfect marriage of Nike Air Max heritage and Tottenham DNA.
Atlético Madrid’s new third shirt comes in a vivid neon green with a swirling marble-effect graphic. The pattern has dual inspiration: the wavy lines are a nod to the soles of the Nike Air Max 90, while the marbling effect is a tribute to Madrid’s famous Fountain of Neptune — where supporters gather to celebrate the team’s victories.
Inter Milan's new third shirt draws inspiration from one of the most iconic Air Max styles — the Air Max 97 “Silver Bullet.” Inter will wear horizontal black and silver stripes for a design that instantly brings back memories of OG Ronaldo. Certainly no bad thing.
AS Roma’s 2020/21 third shirt celebrates the club’s history of black shirts and embraces the safari print — a firm favourite of Air Max connoisseurs. The design features a black base, with vivid orange sections and panels boasting Nike’s trademark safari print. And this shirt also brings down the curtain on the Nike x Roma partnership. Lap it up while you can.
The fiery red and orange hues of the Nike Air Max Plus in Sunset colourway align perfectly with Galatasaray’s traditional colors and symbolize the attitude of a club famous throughout the world for the unrivaled passion of its fanbase.
And finally, RB Leipzig’s 2020/21 third shirt features a bespoke all-over swirling graphic created by heavily distorting an image of the club crest. Various shades of blue merge with white to form a unique aesthetic inspired by a popular colourway of the Nike Air Max 98.
Liverpool fans wondering where your shirt is? Be patient, all will be revealed in due time...
The Nike UCL third shirts will be available later in September at prodirectsoccer.com
