Love it or hate it, pop culture has danced its way into the world of football, influencing kit designs, sponsorship opportunities and the overall matchday experience.
Now, as clubs release a home, away, third and even fourth kit, inspiration is being drawn from just about anywhere. If an artist soars through the charts for multiple weeks, chances are they’ll soon be called into a meeting room to discuss the design of their club’s next jersey.
But what do fans actually think of this movement? And do kits always have to be inspired by something?
90min have scoured the clothing racks to bring you the answers. Here are five musical-inspired football shirts, ranked.
5. Manchester City x Oasis – 2024/25
Oasis reuniting after a 15-year hiatus? Internet-breaking news. Manchester City releasing one of the worst kits we have ever seen? Utter disappointment.
The potential here was astronomical – creating a shirt that could’ve been worn by everyone who won the ticket roulette to see Oasis live next summer. Instead, it’s a sloppy design that seems to have very little links to the album.
Honestly, it looks as if it’s been left on a grandmother’s coffee table for a bit too long. Anyone want a biscuit with those tea stains?
4. Ipswich Town x Ed Sheeran – 2024/25
While Ed Sheeran’s sponsor runs across all of Ipswich Town’s latest designs, it’s the club’s third kit that was crafted with the ‘Shape of You’ singer in mind.
Is it ‘Perfect’ or would you rather look at it with your ‘Eyes Closed’? Either way, the Premier League new boys have arrived on the scene with a bright, eye-catching look. It’s definitely hard to miss.
While it’s probably unlikely that Ipswich will get much opportunity to wear their brave, pink design, it’s fun to have something different on the market.
We’re not sure if a Dulux colour chart would agree, but apparently this shade is ‘Suffolk Pink’.
3. Seattle Sounders FC x Jimi Hendrix – 2021/22
Major Soccer League side Seattle Sounders did not miss a beat with their Jimi Hendrix-inspired kit. A design honouring the musical genius whose story started in their very city.
It’s vibrant, it’s electric, it screams rock and roll. Sounders literally took an iconic Hendrix album cover and plastered it on a shirt, while also incorporating handwritten lyrics from his hit, ‘Straight Ahead’.
Sounders stole the show in the United States with this one, honouring the life of one of the greatest guitarists in history.
2. Ajax x Bob Marley – 2021/22
Ajax’s Bob Marley-inspired kit is a huge story within itself. The club released a stunning design, paying homage to the Jamaican icon with a shirt consisting of red, gold and green colours.
They wore it in their victory over PEC Zwolle in August 2021, and by September the shirt had been banned for showing illegal imagery, according to UEFA.
The Dutch club chose to remove the three little birds stitched into the back of the shirt to abide by regulations, but created a movement unlike anything else in the Eredivisie.
Before long, these shirts were sold all over the world, offering something different for football fans who wanted to share their love for the reggae artist.
It was a huge success, and a beautiful shirt.
1. Barcelona x The Rolling Stones – 2023/24
Barcelona pulled up to their El Clasico clash with Real Madrid with The Rolling Stones logo across their shirt. Iconic.
Simple, stylish and elegant, Barca’s link up with the 1960’s rock band created a timeless design that’s hard not to love. The Catalan giants know what works and, with a brand as unmissable as The Rolling Stones, it’s hard to go wrong.
Barca’s partnership with Spotify has allowed them to style some classic designs, but this one takes the trophy.
Now, if only they’d have won that El Clasico…
