8 of the Very Best Re-Issue Football Kits
The very best re-issue football kits should tick at least one — ideally all three — of these boxes: A) A genuinely desirable shirt. B) One that is very, very hard to get hold of. C) A faithful recreation of the original design. With that framework in mind, we’ve picked out eight of the finest reissues in football shirt history. Shirts that don’t just look the part — they carry the weight of the moments that made them legendary.
1. Napoli 87/88 Home – The Maradona Masterpiece
Monty Burns himself would wince at the price of an original 1987/88 Maradona Napoli shirt — we’re talking thousands. The season saw Maradona and his Napoli side achieve one of sport’s greatest ever achievements, clinching Serie A for the first time in the club’s history. The Ennerre reissue is an outrageously accurate reproduction: every stitch lovingly recreated, every detail honoured. A true collector’s piece.
→ Shop Napoli Retro Shirts at Prokitworld
2. Arsenal Bruised Banana Away – The One That Sold Out Instantly
The pièce de résistance of Arsenal’s nostalgia push. The bruised banana reissue sold out almost instantly — and it’s not hard to see why. The iconic pattern is recreated to the specs of the original and looks fantastic. Originals now fetch well over £300, making any faithful reissue an absolute steal for Gunners fans and shirt collectors alike.
→ Shop Arsenal Retro Shirts at Prokitworld
3. Arsenal 90/92 Home – The Spitting Image
While the away shirt flew off the shelves, the 90/92 home shirt is still widely available — which is a shame for Adidas but your gain entirely. The reissue is practically a spitting image of the original, right down to the internal stitching. With originals fetching close to £200, the reissue price looks like an absolute steal.
→ Shop Arsenal Classic Shirts at Prokitworld
4. Mexico 1998 World Cup – The Aztec Calendar Classic
ABA Sports made their mark on the world of football in a massive way at France ‘98. Their Aztec calendar-inspired design was the pick of the bunch in a World Cup full of iconic kits. It didn’t hurt that Mexico had some of the most memorable characters — from Blanco’s bunny hops to the outrageous Campos in goal. Originals fetch north of £350. The reissue? A fraction of that, and just as special.
→ Shop the Mexico 1998 Retro Shirt at Prokitworld
5. Boca Juniors 95/96 Home – Maradona’s Return
For many, the word ‘Olan’ conjures one image: a beaming Maradona, complete with blocky blonde streak, leading Boca out on his return to La Bombonera. The Olan reissue of the iconic 95/96 home shirt — complete with Quilmes beer sponsor — holds a special place in the hearts of Boca fans worldwide. A very smart reissue of a genuinely beautiful shirt.
→ Shop Maradona Shirts at Prokitworld
6. AC Milan 83/84 Home – The Franco Baresi Tribute
Back to Ennerre, who are quickly becoming the kings of the reissue. The 1983/84 AC Milan shirt was produced in part to celebrate the career of stalwart defender Franco Baresi, featuring his iconic #6 on the back. No expense spared in creating a reproduction true to the original — and the original itself is, in our humble opinion, among the finest the Rossoneri have ever donned.
→ Shop AC Milan Classic Shirts at Prokitworld
7. Barcelona 1998/99 Home – The Anniversary Update
In a world populated by terrible muscle-fit polyester nightmares based loosely on classic designs, any notion of change in the world of reissues is a terrifying prospect. But Nike and Barcelona came together in 2019 to make a genuinely good update for the 20th anniversary of their memorable 1998/99 kit. Based on the latest Vapor template, it’s a modern and sleek design that still honours the original. One of the better anniversary reissues in recent memory.
→ Shop Barcelona Retro Shirts at Prokitworld
8. Carlos Montoya GK 1995/96 – The Rarest of Them All
At the top of this piece we talked about the importance of rarity in a reissue — and things don’t get much rarer than this. Mono Montoya’s ‘big rig’ design is one of the most celebrated goalkeeper kits in South American history, featuring a caricature of Montoya himself at the wheel. Virtually impossible to get your hands on in original form, the Olan reissue is one of the great collector’s pieces in football shirt culture.
→ Shop All Special Edition Shirts at Prokitworld
The Bottom Line
The best reissues aren’t just shirts — they’re time machines. They carry the weight of legendary seasons, iconic players, and moments that defined football culture. Whether you’re a serious collector or simply want to wear something with genuine history behind it, a great reissue is always worth the investment.
