Ranking Real Madrid's 10 Best Home Kits of All Time
By Max Siteman
“When you put on this shirt, you know that you’ve arrived at the very top. There is no greater honour.” - Sergio Ramos
While you're right, Serge, there are definitely levels to this game.
Just to clear everything up for the defender, here are the top ten home shirts in Real Madrid's history.
10. Kelme 1994/95
First up is a kit from an era that had Michel Laudrup in a Madrid shirt, wins were worth two points in La Liga and the original Lion King was due to come out in October.
And you know what? The shirt looks like it. The sleeves are clad with paw prints going around the shirt - the hallmark of Spanish clothing manufacturer Kelme, while also featuring the classic big collar and Teka (they do kitchenware and white goods by the way) logo.
Kelme made some cult classics for Real Madrid from 1994 to 1998 but they’ve since been muscled out of the football, now mainly producing for netball and basketball sides.
Overall, this 1994/95 effort is kitsch, it’s nineties and pretty great.
9. Hummel 1989/90
Teams around La Liga would quiver with fear when Hugo Sanchez would pull on this clean-cut and sharp number back in the late eigthies.
The greatest Mexican player ever casually notched 34 league goals this season and while it’s not scientifically proven, the shirt has to be a contributing factor in his clinical form.
Smartly set with a purple trim that brings out the iconic Merengues’ logo, Danish brand Hummel really knocked it out the park with this one.
While it might not quite be on the level of Hummel’s 1986 Denmark shirt, it’s still a stone-cold classic.
8. Adidas 2010/11
Our first modern number on the list came during Cristiano Ronaldo’s second season at Santiago Bernabeu. We’re very grateful that adidas realised that those weird extended collars of 2009/10 weren’t working.
It’s a season best remembered for Cristiano’s brilliant header against that iconic Barcelona side in the Copa Del Rey final. A moment made inordinately better by the simpler white shirt, that removed some of the more busy touches to the previous season’s effort.
7. Adidas 2013/14
La Decima achieved.
The success achieved elevates this shirt but other than it being a historically significant kit, it also features some subtle design touches.
The faded lines that run across the body give the shirt depth and along with the orange detailing makes it interesting.
6. Kelme 1998/99
Who’s the first player you think of when you see this shirt?
For me, it’s Clarence Seedorf. His goal against Atlético Madrid, where he absolutely pulverised a shot from all of 45 yards, is of the ‘barely believable’ variety.
Kelme’s second and final entry to our list is a delightful blend of the unconventional while not pushing the boat too far.
The purple trim makes this shirt difficult to forget and an absolute hipster fave.
5. Adidas 2011/12
Another season littered with success as Los Merengues were able to break the shackles of Barcelona’s dominance by snapping up the league.
Lucky that they did so in such style - the gold trim and collar combo really add value after quite a few seasons of sub-par editions.
Ronaldo doing his 'calma' celebration at Camp Nou, it's what you want to see.
4. Adidas 2012/13
The blue trim of the 2012/13’s shirt is a bold inclusion but doesn't look out of place at all. It’s a modern interpretation that might have turned some off in the brainstorms, but the final version looks more than agreeable.
The key to a great Real Madrid home shirt is making sure that the iconic white is the principle feature.
That’s exactly what happened here with some deft touches like the smart v-neck collar.
3. Adidas 2015/16
A return to simplicity is also a good look for Los Merengues - the white shirt is iconic for a reason, there’s no need to overcomplicate it.
When adidas brought out this number, it was a relief to see that the colouration wasn’t as garish as before.
Combinations of purple, black and gold trim made for a number of ugly home shirts during the noughties.
The smart silver patterns on the shoulders is a smart way to appease the sponsors and the lack of a collar really makes this shirt.
Not a bad look to win the first of three consecutive Champions League titles.
2. Adidas Centenary 2001/02
The Galacticos brought together the best (and priciest) footballers of their generations into one team. If you’re spending all that dollar, you need a shirt to match.
By god, they delivered. The removal of the sponsorship logo takes this number to the next level.
The shirt even had its iconic moment in Glasgow for the Champions League Final as Los Merengues suited up in eleven of these against Bayer Leverkusen.
1. 1954/55
Before the fifties, let’s just say that Real Madrid were a sleeping giant.
Cue an influx of the world’s greatest talent in Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, Los Merengues would be put on the map.
Five consecutive European cups established the great winning tradition that’s now world renowned.
The honour that players feel when pulling on the iconic white of Real all begins with this shirt.
Now, if you can find me a place where you can purchase one, please get in touch. Also, lend me the extortionate amount that it’ll cost...