Whatever it is that makes a retro shirt so appealing, SL Benfica and adidas have tapped straight into it, bringing a piece of their shared history back to life with a special retro jersey inspired by the club’s iconic 1980/81 season.

A good retro shirt really epitomises the term “timeless”. Benfica’s new offering from Adidas hits on multiple levels, giving it an added level of gravitas that I can’t help but admire. Sure, we’ve seen the Trefoil logo getting rolled out across most teams, but this time it really carries some extra meaning. See, the original shirt marked the first time Benfica pulled on an adidas jersey featuring the now legendary Trefoil logo, signalling the beginning of a partnership that would go on to become an important part of the club’s visual identity. It also arrived during a memorable chapter in Benfica’s history, coinciding with their triumph in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, giving the design an added layer of prestige and meaning.

The return of this beautifully classic silhouette is a welcome reminder of how powerful simplicity can be. The clean aesthetic, timeless adidas branding and unmistakable Benfica identity combine to create a shirt that feels every bit as relevant today as it did more than four decades ago.

And it also delivered on where it matters most. The retro design made its return to the pitch this week, worn by Benfica’s first team during their 1-0 home league victory over Alverca on Monday night. Seeing the shirt back in action served as a fitting tribute to one of the club’s most memorable eras, reconnecting supporters old and new with a landmark moment in Benfica’s story.

Adding further weight to the launch, the club has brought together several members of that celebrated 1980/81 squad, including Shéu, Humberto Coelho and Carlos Manuel, for a special activation at Estádio da Luz. The gathering celebrates not only the return of an iconic shirt, but also the players and memories that helped cement its place in Benfica folklore.

For me, this is exactly what a heritage release should be. It’s authentic, meaningful and rooted in genuine history. And when that history involves both Benfica and adidas, two names whose stories have been intertwined for decades, the result feels less like a nostalgia exercise and more like a celebration of a partnership that helped shape a chapter of football history.

The Benfica anniversary jersey is available now at slbenfica.pt