Club shirts from outside the top five leagues

Ajax, Benfica, Porto, PSV: clubs with European records

Several of these clubs have lifted Europe's most prestigious cup. The Ajax Amsterdam won it three times in a row, in 1971, 1972 and 1973, and a fourth time in 1995. Benfica ruled the continent in 1961 and 1962, FC Porto clinched victory in 1987 and then again in 2004, and PSV Eindhoven won the 1988 edition against Benfica on penalties. Their shirts carry this heritage: the wide vertical red stripe of Ajax, the red accented with an eagle in Lisbon, the blue and white of Porto's Dragons. adidas dresses Ajax and Benfica, while Puma outfits PSV.

Portuguese, Dutch, Argentine and American clubs

The other clubs are divided by country. The Portuguese Clubs include Benfica, FC Porto, and Sporting, the Dutch Clubs consist of Ajax, PSV, and Heerenveen, the Argentine Clubs are Boca Juniors and River Plate, and the American Clubs are the MLS teams. Teams from other countries, ranging from Switzerland to Ukraine through Greece and Brazil, can be found on the Other Clubs page, and junior sizes on the Children Other Clubs page. The major leagues are still accessible from Teams.

Boca Juniors, River Plate, and MLS: the football of the Americas

In Argentina, Boca Juniors, founded in 1905 in the port district of La Boca, plays in blue and gold at La Bombonera, while River Plate, born in 1901, wears a white shirt with a diagonal red stripe. Their Superclásico is among the most watched derbies in the world. Further north, the Major League Soccer held its first season in 1996, two years after the World Cup hosted in the United States. LA Galaxy holds the record for titles, and all the league teams are dressed by adidas, from Galaxy to Inter Miami.

FC Basel, Dynamo Kiev, Salzburg: other European clubs

Beyond the Netherlands and Portugal, other European clubs have their fans. FC Basel, founded in 1893, plays in red and blue and wears Macron shirts. Dynamo Kiev was the first Soviet club to win a European cup, the Cup Winners' Cup in 1975, before doing it again in 1986 against Atlético Madrid. The club from Salzburg, finalist of the UEFA Cup in 1994 against Inter, has been playing in red and white since 2005. These shirts stand out from the big clubs through bolder designs, often inspired by local history, and by a more discreet distribution that appeals to collectors.

Finding a foreign club shirt at the right time

Shirts from lesser-known clubs are less widely available than those from European giants, and some sizes can become scarce quickly. Black Friday and the holiday season are opportunities to gift an original shirt, to be found in the Teams Promotions. Winter sales bring back last summer's outfits, the French Days in spring, on the Teams page, precede summer releases, then summer sales and the return to training send old models to Clearance.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose the shirt of a lesser-known foreign club?

For originality first: a shirt from Ajax or Boca Juniors is more noticeable than one from a giant of the Premier League. Many supporters also choose a club discovered while traveling, or linked to their family roots.

Do MLS shirts fit like European shirts?

They are all made by adidas, which applies the same sizing guidelines as in Europe. To avoid surprises, just refer to the brand's chest measurement chart before choosing.

What is the difference between a home shirt and an away shirt?

The home shirt reflects the club's historical colors, like the white and red of Ajax; the away shirt, worn outside, uses a contrasting color to avoid confusion with the opponent. It is often the bolder of the two.

Does a club shirt change every year?

The home shirt of major clubs generally changes every year, while some away kits last for two years in lower leagues. An old model remains perfectly wearable, and some become collectible pieces.

Can you customise a South American club shirt?

Yes, custom name and number can be applied to all shirts, but the official typography of a distant league is not always available in Europe. Customisation in a standard font remains a clean and durable option.