The report says Ajax’s black-and-gold away shirt includes nine outlined references to major achievements in the club’s history. It is a clear example of a modern shirt functioning as a visual archive rather than simple matchwear.
Strasbourg reportedly takes a more direct route, reworking its 1994-96 diamond design in lighter blue and adding an oval heritage crest associated with the period between 1920 and 1945. Atalanta also looks back, reviving the white away-strip identity linked with the late 1980s and early 1990s through a revised zigzag pattern.
For Genoa, the reference reaches further into the club’s origins. Its cream away shirt reportedly recalls the uniforms worn after the club was formed as a football and cricket side in 1893, before the famous red-and-blue halves appeared.
The strongest cultural references are not always nostalgic. Como’s blue polo-style home shirt is said to reflect Lake Como, while Monaco’s mint-green third kit draws on the turquoise pools of the Monegasque coast.
Elsewhere, Os Belenenses uses a mosaic-style graphic tied to Lisbon’s architecture, sailing culture and club history. SV Wehen Wiesbaden reportedly borrows floral detailing from the art nouveau buildings across the German city.
That approach gives each shirt a local meaning, even for supporters who may never study the finer details of a badge or pattern.
Several clubs are pushing beyond straightforward reissues. Lyon’s third shirt reportedly uses psychedelic waves inspired by the city’s funk scene, while Flamengo’s maritime design references its rowing origins through an oars-and-anchor crest.
The next test will come when these shirts move from launch campaigns into stadiums. Their lasting appeal will depend on whether supporters see them not only as attractive designs, but as credible pieces of club identity.