What’s your combo?
There are times when the footballing gods conspire to give fans of the beautiful game the most beautiful of things, a gifted footballer that quickly gains the status of cult-hero while wearing an absolutely beautiful kit.
The rules to this list are simple. The jersey has to be gorgeous and the player wearing it must be an absolute hero.
Here’s a few of our favourites and a word on why they’re so memorable.
Zvonimir Boban- AC Milan 1992-93
On him: The playmaker was so cool that he was a darling of football hipsters before the term football hipsters was even invented.
Kit chat: Effortlessly linked with the greatness of AC Milan during that era.
Eric Cantona – Manchester United
On him: Alex Ferguson has frequently said that his arrival at Old Trafford was the catalyst that ushered in Man Utd’s period of dominance. The aura of confidence and swagger followed Cantona everywhere he played.
Kit chat: Laced neck, nostalgic era and a throwback sponsor. What’s not to love?
Socrates – Brazil 1986
On him: That name alone made him the coolest man alive and his doctorate in medicine and political awareness ultimately earned him the nickname “Doctor Socrates”. Any man whose childhood heroes include Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and John Lennon will always make this list. We really want to believe that UCD rumour also.
Kit chat: It’s nearly impossible to make an ugly Brazil jersey but it’s the headband that really pulls this look off.
Xabi Alonso – Spain 2012
On him: Well, he’s our mancrush and we’re happy to admit that.
Kit chat: Choosing our favourite Spain jersey is like asking us what our favourite chocolate bar is because they’re all gorgeous…apart from the hideous one they wore in World Cup 2014.
Swoon.
Michel Platini – France ’84
On him: Right now, we all know that he’s a big cheating bastard but back then he was untouchable and inspired France to glory.
Kit chat: For my money, this is the most beautiful football kit that has ever been made.
Francesco Totti – Roma 2015-16
On him: Il Re di Roma is the ultimate one-club man and he has worn some gorgeous jerseys during his career at Roma but this one is our favourite.
Kit chat: It’s sexier than the sexiest sex that was ever sexed.
Marco Van Basten – Ajax ’88
On him: One of the most technically gifted strikers of his generation until injury sadly cut short a career that promised so much.
Kit chat: Those Ajax colours have always been striking and we could have easily opted for an era when Cryuff wore them also.
Matthias Sammer – Borussia Dortmund ’97
On him: A ball playing centre-back that was equally comfortable in possession as he was winning tackles.
Kit chat: It’s the juxtaposition of the bright and dark colours along with the fact that it captured a period in time when one of the great shocks of the Champions League era occurred. He was also an absolute beast during Germany’s successful Euro ’96 campaign.
Juan Roman Riquelme – Boca Juniors ’13
On him: A maverick Number 10 that was an absolute joy to watch at times. If a manager figured out how to build a system around him then he could win you a match on his own.
Kit chat: If you’re going to be wearing the #10 jersey at Boca then you’re always going to look good.
Lothar Matthaus – West Germany 1990
On him: There are large parts of the 90’s when the talismanic German captain didn’t give a flying f**k what anyone thought about him and during the other periods he was probably too busy picking a fight in an empty dressing room to notice.
Kit chat: He may lack Rudi Voller’s pornstar moustache but there’s no denying that this is a sexy, sexy strip.
Javier Zanetti – Argentina ’98
On him: Like his AC Milan rival Paolo Maldini, the Argentinian fullback just oozes class and consistency.
Kit chat: The jersey that Argentina wore when knocking England out of France ’98 is gorgeous and we really love the colours running down the sides.
The jersey is made better by the memory of seeing one of the slickest free-kick routines in recent World Cup memory.
Alexi Lalas – USA ’94
On him: The name, the beard, the hair, the jersey, the soccerball. Just incredible.
The jersey: ‘MURICA!
Maradona – Argentina ’86
On him: God. Devil. Maradona.
Kit chat: We were extremely tempted to go for Mario Kempes’ slick ’78 effort but he’s not Diego.
Ruud Gullit – Holland ’88
On him: Great player that loves sitting on a shed.
Kit chat: The inspiration for this list and according to our esteemed editor Paddy McKenna, this is the slickest footballer/jersey combo of all-time.
Slickest ever footballer/jersey combo? Gullit/Holland '88. #retrofootballjersey https://t.co/3eeRQX6ZJJ pic.twitter.com/8vQLGl66fl
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) February 6, 2016
Paul McGrath – Ireland ’92
On him: Hero.
Kit chat: Remember this beaut?
So there’s our list of 15 slick footballers and even slicker jerseys. There’s thousands more that we left out so let us know what your own personal favourite combo of player/jersey is.
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