If you love classic football jerseys, then you've come to the right place.
With the recent news that Inter Milan are ending a 26 year partnership with Pirelli, now feels like the right time to pay homage to some of football's best shirt-sponsor allegiances. Ranging from iconic Premier League sponsors in 'Carlsberg' and 'Sharp' to longstanding partners like PSV and Phillips seen on many jerseys in the past.
We have compiled 15 examples of football shirt sponsorship deals that pulled the entire jersey together and just looked right.
1. ABN Amro - Ajax
When Ajax conquered Europe in 1995, they did it with a brilliant looking vertical sponsorship from a Dutch bank.
2. JVC - Arsenal
Arsenal's successes of the late '80s and mid '90s ensured that JVC products occupied the houses of Arsenal fans everywhere. Simple, inoffensive, Ian Wright.
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3. Dreamcast - Arsenal
Arsenal are the only team to feature twice on this list, and it's because of a beautiful yet brief relationship with a failing games console at the turn of the millennium.
4. Quilmes - Boca Juniors
An Argentinian beer on the iconic blue and yellow of Boca. Riquleme flashbacks.
5. Nintendo - Fiorentina
Just brilliant. Gabriel Batistuta was banging them in left, right, and centre with the gorgeous 90s Nintendo logo on his chest. Honorable mention for the 7up jerseys that preceded this one.
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6. Pirelli - Inter Milan
A match made in heaven. A sponsorship that lasted 26 years, 2021/2022 will see Inter sport new sponsor 'Socios'.
7. Sony - Juventus
Normally breaking a club's stripes on the shirt doesn't go down well, but Sony made it work.
8. Packard Bell - Leeds United
Leeds were incredibly fun to watch with Packard Bell on their shirts and the likes of Ian Harte and Gary Kelly rampaging down the flanks.
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9. Carlsberg - Liverpool
Probably the most iconic jersey sponsorship of them all
10. Sharp - Manchester United
United became a force again with Sharp on the front, bonus points to anyone who had a jersey with "Sharpe 5" on the back as well.
11. Newcastle Brown Ale - Newcastle United
The Toon Army almost celebrated a Premier League win with this delicious beer on their kit.
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12. Parmalat - Parma
Pretty sure it's a local dairy farm, but it quickly became synonymous with the great Parma sides of the '90s, Zola et al.
13. Phillips - PSV Eindhoven
It's still weird not seeing these words on a PSV shirt.
14. Teka - Real Madrid
Oh yes. A young Raul, Figo making the switch, Steve McManaman.
15. Woodies DIY - Shamrock Rovers
There's no better buy in DIY and there's no more suitable sponsor for a League of Ireland side.
Images via classicfootballshirts.co.uk
A version of this story was originally published in 2017
