Feature photo credit: Earl Gardner

If there’s one thing supporters of the beautiful game love as much as the game itself, it’s the style. You could argue it hasn’t always been this way, but let’s be real. It has. From casual support of the 1900’s, to hooligan culture of the 80’s, to the MLS supporter in 2020; looking good has always been paramount. It’s taken many different forms over the years. It will continue to evolve in front of our very eyes until the sport ceases to exist. For that reason, I figured, “Hey, why not write about it?”

Today is the first in a new biweekly series where I’ll break down the aesthetics of the beautiful game. I’ll typically be spending a lot of time focused on jerseys. Still, the column could really touch on any stylistic point of the game. I’ll hit three points (get it?) a week, take a brief look into the game’s visual past, and then add on one minute of extra time devoted to another sports design news. Sound good? Let’s get into it.

THREE POINTS

1.) RB SALZBURG 

Brendan Aaronson is going to Red Bull Salzburg. I know it, you know it, and by now, both of our extended families know it as well. That being said, with the kid on the move, I’ve seen a lot of people throwing around the idea of grabbing a RedBull Salzburg jersey to support him. It’s not the worst idea, and I totally get the sentiment of wanting to support our brightest prospect to date. However, I’d like to make sure everyone here is an informed consumer. 

(Image Via Scrimshaw PR)

While Aaronson has been photographed wearing the 2020 home shirt, there’s a much more appealing option for us Union fans out there. Enter the 2020 Salzburg away strip. While it’s not devoid of that gaudy sponsor logo, I think Union fans will find it’s blue and gold color pallet a tad more appealing. Because after all, we know who wears red to Union games. 

(Image Via RB Salzburg)

2.) MLS ALL-STAR LEAK

2020 has been the year of cancellations, and even with MLS chugging on, it’s not an exception. The 2020 MLS all-star game fell by the wayside, and with it fell the jerseys to be worn by the league’s best. That doesn’t mean we don’t get to look at what could’ve been, however.

(Image Via Footy Headlines)

Last month, Footy Headlines revealed what would have been for the LA Based 2020 All-Star game. The jersey is based on the 25th-anniversary template by Adidas and features linear designs that could be reminiscent of Los Angeles theater marquees. MLS All-Star jerseys are nearly always controversial, and there’s no doubt these would’ve been as well if they’d been released.

3.) DÍA DE MUERTOS

Mexican football brand Charly has rolled out a series of Día de Muertos (Day of the dead) kits for five Liga MX teams just in time for the holiday. 

(Image via Footy Headlines)

Each kit features prominent imagery of the Mexican holiday, including sugar skulls, Papel Picado (decorative tissue paper cutouts), and traditional celebratory flowers. Each jersey will be worn once by the club, around the date of the holiday.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Sticking with the day of the dead theme, Liga MX club Pumas was the first club to dawn day of the dead threads two years ago in 2018. The shirt remained mostly unchanged from their regular home shirt, but featured a set of crossbones under their traditionally oversized badge.

(Image via Nike)

EXTRA TIME

A week or so ago, a new Flyers jersey leaked courtesy of Icethetics. The jersey seems to be a series of new fourth jerseys through the league that inverts classic designs. The Flyers sweater appears to be a flip of the 1983 away jersey. Love it or hate it, it’s an interesting look regardless.

(Image via Icethetics)

Loved what you saw? Hated it? Want to see a different format? Want to see different topics?

This is a brand new column, so feel free to throw any suggestions my way via the comments.