Anniversary Kits are the new fourth shirts

On the distant November 5, 2017, Juventus played against Benevento wearing a special shirt to celebrate the club's 120th anniversary. It was a black-and-white striped shirt inspired by the designs worn by the Turin team in the 1950s. A similar choice was replicated by Milan in the current season to celebrate their 125th anniversary. Just like with Juventus, in this case too, as an exception, the shirts did not feature the players' names on the back. Two truly special Anniversary Kits, made with great care, that were immediately recognized as such for their design, which was decidedly in contrast with today's shirts – one could even think that they were exclusively made in the long-sleeve version.

In recent years, however, we are seeing more and more clubs jumping into the creation of Anniversary Kits, as if it has now become standard practice, a real race to present special kits. After the Home, Away, and Third shirts, and even before a potential Fourth kit, here come the Anniversary Kits, which today have practically replaced the fourth shirts – only in special cases do Anniversary Kits become the fifth shirts presented in a single season. Clubs, in fact, take advantage of every occasion, not only birth anniversaries but also celebrations of major trophies or other significant events. At the same time, however, they risk losing part of their meaning: if the creation of a shirt for an anniversary becomes too frequent, the rarity and exclusivity of these kits are also diminished, and they lose their aura.

Let’s revisit some of the anniversary kits seen in the 2024/25 season.

Aston Villa 150th Anniversary

In January 2025, Aston Villa and adidas unveiled a special kit to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary. The design is inspired by Villa’s early shirts, featuring an elegant black color reminiscent of the one worn during their first major trophy, the Birmingham Senior Cup of 1880. The shirt reintroduces the crest with the rampant lion, taken from the club’s 1878 emblem, paying tribute to the history of the first UK club to feature a crest on their kit. This shirt reinforces the club's identity and honors the legacy of figures like William McGregor, founder of the Football League and former Villa director.

AC Milan 125th Anniversary

In December 2024, PUMA and AC Milan unveiled a special shirt to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary, blending historical elements with modern design. The shirt features the iconic red and black stripes, with the width of the stripes and other details chosen by Milan fans through an online voting process. A notable feature is the retro crest, taken from the club’s 1878 emblem. This shirt honors the legacy of figures like Herbert Kilpin, the club’s founder.

Lazio 125th Anniversary

In January 2025, Lazio and Mizuno unveiled a special shirt to celebrate the club's 125th anniversary: the shirt features Lazio's signature sky-blue color, with a refined and minimalist design that pays tribute to the club’s history. A subtle embossed pattern with the club's eagle symbol decorates the fabric, while gold detailing on the crest and collar adds a touch of elegance, representing Lazio's legacy and triumphs. Lazio had also released an Anniversary Kit last season, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1973/74 season.

Real Madrid 120th Anniversary

In March 2022, Real Madrid launched a special shirt to celebrate the club’s 120th anniversary, in collaboration with Y-3, the adidas sub-label led by Yohji Yamamoto, marking twenty years of partnership between the Japanese designer and adidas. The shirt, accompanied by an entire collection of items including a coach jacket, goalkeeper gloves, pre-match shirt, and even a special Predator with Yohji Yamamoto’s signature, is an example of how Anniversary Kits can be highly successful projects, considering that in this case, they were celebrating a dual anniversary.

Palmeiras 110th Anniversary

In August 2024, PUMA and Palmeiras unveiled a special shirt to celebrate the club’s 110th anniversary, honoring their rich legacy and successes in Brazilian football. The shirt features a classic green design, inspired by the club’s traditional colors, with golden accents symbolizing Palmeiras' numerous national and international triumphs. An embossed pattern depicting historical club crests celebrates Palmeiras' evolution from Palestra Italia to one of South America's most successful football institutions. The special feature of this kit is that, while it was announced as an Anniversary Kit, it became the club’s Home Kit. 110 is a rather unusual number for an anniversary, but as mentioned earlier, every occasion is a good reason for an Anniversary Kit.