LaLiga announces vintage jerseys teams will don for nostalgic matchday

LaLiga is preparing to host a distinctive retro celebration next month, where most clubs in Spain’s top division will don special throwback kits designed specifically for the event.

Supporters will need to wait until the matchday from April 10-13 to see the retro uniforms on the field, but LaLiga had 17 of its 20 teams showcase the nostalgia-inspired shirts this week at a special event during Madrid Fashion Week.

The designs are not meant to be exact replicas of the original shirts from previous years, but rather new creations that draw significant inspiration from the styles and trends that have characterized Spanish football over time.

Here is an initial glimpse at the various retro jerseys that were presented on the runway, with clubs like Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Villarreal, and Barcelona (to some extent) participating in the festivities.

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Alavés

Alavés’ jersey pays homage to the shirt they wore during the memorable UEFA Cup final of 2000-01, when the Spanish team lost 5-4 in extra time to Liverpool due to a golden goal (remember those?). A quarter-century later, the club has revisited their distinctive navy blue and yellow-banded design from that fateful evening with a shirt that bears more than a slight resemblance to Boca Juniors.

Athletic Club

The Bilbao club has chosen to draw from its classic kits of the early 1970s. The 2026 redesign is similarly straightforward, and the white logos enhance the appealing “heritage” look. Unfortunately, they had to keep that conspicuous sponsor visible.

Atlético Madrid

Atlético has taken a step back to 2022 to revisit the retro third kit they released for their 120th anniversary, featuring their original club colors of blue and white. The same half-and-half design has been reused, with former Rojiblancos midfielder Mario Suárez showcasing it on the runway.

Barcelona

It appears Barça submitted their design for consideration at the last moment, presenting last season’s home kit in a somewhat underwhelming fashion. While they did achieve a domestic treble wearing it, it hardly qualifies as “retro.” Nevertheless, it is a more commendable effort than their LaLiga counterparts Getafe, Rayo Vallecano, and fierce rivals Real Madrid, who will not be providing any throwback kit for this special round of matches.

Celta Vigo

This kit redefines the “retro” concept: the “A Reconquista” jersey features a red-and-white harlequin pattern that pays homage to the city’s flag, designed to honor the popular uprising against Napoleon’s forces in 1809. The jersey will actually be worn when Celta faces Alavés on Sunday and will be showcased again for the retro matchday.

Elche

Elche has opted for a predictable choice, reviving their white and green kit from 1991-92, in which they finished fifth in the Segunda División. Unfortunately, the modern reissue lacks both the unique V-neck collar and the distinctive central sponsor of its predecessor.

Espanyol

Espanyol has produced one of the standout designs with their tribute to the early 1990s. Similar to their third shirt from 1992-93, the contemporary version features a vibrant yellow design with a clover pattern stamped onto the fabric, adding an era-appropriate texture. The impressive oversized “Dani” sponsor logo completes the look nicely.

Girona

It seems that not much effort has gone into Girona’s retro kit. The club is set to wear a fairly standard red-and-white-striped shirt that resembles something from last season.

Levante

Cream with tonal logos and a prominent diagonal black sash across the front, Levante’s retro kit nods to the monochrome stripes worn by the club shortly after its establishment in 1907. The result is a truly exceptional football shirt that somehow appears both modern and a century old.

Mallorca

The only LaLiga retro kit that is unabashedly influenced by the early 2000s, Mallorca’s design is saturated with post-millennium aesthetics. Nike has carefully replicated that “Total 90” style to commemorate a strong team that featured players like Samuel Eto’o, Albert Riera, and Walter Pandiani.

Osasuna

Seemingly a very basic red jersey that could represent any Osasuna home shirt from the last 35 years, the retro kit is reportedly a tribute to the legendary team of the late 1970s and early ’80s that secured their place in the Spanish top flight after a 17-year hiatus. One might think that would deserve a more elaborate celebration.

Real Betis

Betis certainly has experience with retro-themed kits, having released numerous beautifully designed, classic-style jerseys in recent years. This particular design aims to incorporate four decades of history with classic bar stripes from the 1960s and 70s, a large folding collar from the 1980s, and the embroidered club crest used in the 1990s. It is visually appealing, if not groundbreaking.

Real Oviedo

Oviedo has opted to replicate the anniversary kit they released in 2017 to celebrate the club’s 91st anniversary, which featured a return to blue and black stripes. The trefoil emblem is a nice touch, as is the unconventional asymmetric sponsor logo that is positioned vertically in the lower corner of the torso.

Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad has produced an outstanding design, returning to the kits they wore during the final seasons at the historic Atotxa stadium, the club’s spiritual home for nearly 80 years. The polo collar, ribbing, and pattern on the trim bands evoke the years 1991-93.

Sevilla

Another retro kit featuring the popular trefoil branding, Sevilla has stripped away all excess from their shirt and reverted to their original home colors of white and chalky red, along with the circular “SFC” club crest they wore on their chest during the first two decades of the 20th century.

Valencia

Inspired by the bright orange third kit worn by Los Che between 1990 and ’92, the modern version retains the flashy “camo” style but loses some of the charm of the abstract brushstroke pattern that adorned the original.

Villarreal

Arguably the finest of the group, Villarreal has toned down their now-familiar bright yellow jersey to align with the more subdued tones they occasionally wore during the early 2000s—the period when they began to establish themselves as European contenders. It instantly brings to mind Juan Román Riquelme, which is always a positive association.