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A History of Celtic Football Shirts

Celtic's famous green and white hooped football shirt is one of the most distinctive identities in world football.

The hoops have become inseparable from Celtic's image and have been worn by generations of legendary players at Celtic Park and across European competition.

Although manufacturers have experimented with hoop widths, collars, sleeve treatments, fabrics and trim, the traditional green and white design has remained at the heart of the club's identity.

Brands including Umbro, Nike, New Balance and adidas have all produced Celtic kits, while sponsors such as CR Smith, NTL, Carling, Magners and Dafabet have become closely associated with different eras.

The Most Iconic Retro Celtic Shirts

Celtic's extraordinary history has produced a huge number of memorable football shirts, but certain designs stand out because of the trophies, players and occasions associated with them.

Celtic 1967 European Cup Shirt

The shirt associated with Celtic's 1967 European Cup triumph is unquestionably one of the most important kits in British football history.

Managed by Jock Stein, Celtic defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon to become the first British club to win the European Cup.

The team became known as the Lisbon Lions and included legendary players such as Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox, Bertie Auld, Tommy Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers.

The traditional long-sleeved green and white hooped shirt worn during this period has become an enduring symbol of Celtic's greatest achievement.

For supporters and collectors, shirts inspired by the Lisbon Lions era represent far more than football kit design — they are connected with one of the defining moments in the club's history.

The Lisbon Lions and Celtic Shirts

The Lisbon Lions remain central to Celtic's identity and are one of the major reasons shirts from the 1960s hold such historical importance.

Every member of Celtic's European Cup-winning side was born within a relatively small distance of Celtic Park, adding another remarkable dimension to the achievement.

The simplicity of the kits from this period, without the large commercial sponsors and elaborate templates of later decades, gives them a timeless appearance.

Celtic Umbro Shirts

For generations of supporters, Umbro Celtic shirts are among the most nostalgic kits produced for the club.

The British manufacturer enjoyed a long association with Celtic and created numerous home, away and goalkeeper designs across several decades.

Umbro's famous double-diamond logo became a familiar sight alongside the green and white hoops and featured during periods containing some of the club's most popular players.

Original Umbro Celtic shirts are particularly attractive to collectors because of their traditional construction and unmistakably retro appearance.

Celtic 1980s Shirts

The 1980s produced a fantastic selection of Celtic football shirts and remain particularly popular with vintage kit collectors.

Football shirt design was gradually becoming more commercial during the decade, with manufacturers introducing more prominent branding and sponsors becoming an established part of the shirt.

Celtic enjoyed considerable domestic success during the period, with players including Paul McStay, Danny McGrain, Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie, Tommy Burns and Roy Aitken becoming closely associated with the Hoops.

The combination of Umbro styling, traditional hoops and classic players makes genuine Celtic shirts from the 1980s increasingly desirable.

Celtic CR Smith Shirts

CR Smith is one of the shirt sponsors most strongly associated with retro Celtic shirts.

The sponsor featured on Celtic kits around the late 1980s and early 1990s and became a familiar part of the club's visual identity during the period.

For supporters who followed Celtic during this era, the CR Smith logo can immediately evoke memories of particular seasons, players and matches.

Original Celtic CR Smith shirts are now highly nostalgic and are among the designs collectors frequently associate with classic Celtic kit culture.

Celtic 1987-88 Centenary Shirts

The 1987-88 season was particularly significant as Celtic celebrated the club's centenary.

Celtic marked the occasion in style by completing a domestic league and Scottish Cup double.

Players including Paul McStay, Frank McAvennie, Chris Morris, Mick McCarthy and captain Roy Aitken became closely associated with the successful centenary campaign.

Shirts from this period hold obvious significance for collectors because of the combination of historical importance, silverware and distinctive late-1980s styling.

Celtic 1990s Shirts

The 1990s produced some of Celtic's most distinctive football shirts.

Like clubs throughout Europe, Celtic embraced the era's adventurous approach to kit design, with larger collars, patterned fabrics, unusual away colours and increasingly prominent manufacturer branding.

Players including Paul McStay, John Collins, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Paolo Di Canio, Jorge Cadete, Henrik Larsson and Jackie McNamara became associated with shirts from the decade.

As demand for genuine 1990s football shirts has increased, Celtic kits from this period have become particularly popular among collectors.

Celtic 1997-98 Shirt

The Celtic 1997-98 shirt holds an especially important place in the club's modern history.

Celtic won the Scottish league title and prevented Rangers from securing a tenth consecutive championship.

The season also marked the beginning of Henrik Larsson's extraordinary Celtic career.

Because of its connection with such a significant campaign, the shirt remains one of the most memorable Celtic designs of the late 1990s.

Henrik Larsson Celtic Shirts

Few players are more closely associated with modern Celtic than Henrik Larsson.

The Swedish striker became one of the club's greatest ever goalscorers and a hero to supporters during his seven seasons in Glasgow.

Larsson wore several memorable Celtic shirts, spanning the late 1990s and early 2000s, and helped the club win numerous domestic trophies.

Original Celtic shirts featuring period-correct Larsson 7 printing can be especially desirable among collectors.

Celtic NTL Shirts

The NTL-sponsored Celtic kits around the turn of the millennium have developed strong nostalgia among supporters.

These shirts were worn during a period featuring some of Celtic's most popular modern players and the beginning of a hugely successful era under Martin O'Neill.

Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Stiliyan Petrov, Paul Lambert and Johan Mjällby are among the players closely associated with Celtic shirts from this period.

Original Celtic NTL shirts are increasingly popular as late-1990s and early-2000s football kits become more collectible.

Celtic 2000-01 Treble Shirt

The 2000-01 season was one of the great campaigns in Celtic's modern history.

Under Martin O'Neill, Celtic won the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup to complete a domestic treble.

Henrik Larsson enjoyed a remarkable season in front of goal, while players including Chris Sutton, Stiliyan Petrov, Lubomir Moravcik and Paul Lambert also played major roles.

Shirts associated with this campaign remain especially popular because of the success and memorable players connected with them.

Celtic 2003 UEFA Cup Final Shirt

Celtic's run to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final produced another iconic chapter in the club's European history.

Thousands of Celtic supporters travelled to Seville as Martin O'Neill's side faced Porto in the final.

Although Celtic were eventually defeated after extra time, the European run included memorable victories and helped strengthen the legendary status of that generation.

Shirts from the Seville season are now particularly nostalgic and are strongly associated with Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Stiliyan Petrov.

Celtic Carling Shirts

Carling became another particularly recognisable sponsor on Celtic shirts during the 2000s.

The sponsor appeared during a successful period in which the club continued to challenge for domestic trophies and compete regularly in European football.

For supporters who grew up watching Celtic during the decade, original Celtic Carling shirts are now developing genuine retro appeal.

Celtic Home Shirts

The traditional Celtic home shirt features horizontal green and white hoops.

Few clubs have such a consistent and instantly recognisable football shirt identity.

Manufacturers have altered the width and shade of the hoops, introduced different collars and occasionally experimented with sleeve designs, but the fundamental appearance has remained remarkably consistent.

That continuity makes Celtic shirts particularly interesting to collectors because small design changes can immediately distinguish one era from another.

Celtic Away Shirts

Celtic away shirts have historically given manufacturers considerably more creative freedom.

Yellow, black, green and several other colours have been used, while some seasons have featured particularly bold patterns or combinations.

Many retro Celtic away shirts have developed cult status among supporters because they differ so dramatically from the famous home hoops.

Away shirts may also be harder to find than home kits, especially when they received relatively limited match use.

Celtic Third Shirts

Third kits have become increasingly common in modern football and have added another category for Celtic shirt collectors.

These shirts often allow manufacturers to experiment with colours, graphics and historical references that would be difficult to incorporate into the traditional home strip.

Because some third shirts are only worn a small number of times, older examples can become increasingly difficult to source.

Nike Celtic Shirts

Nike produced Celtic kits during an important period in the club's modern history.

The American manufacturer created a mixture of traditional hooped home shirts and more experimental away designs, with the Nike Swoosh becoming a familiar sight at Celtic Park.

Players including Shunsuke Nakamura, Artur Boruc, Scott Brown, Georgios Samaras and Aiden McGeady became closely associated with Nike Celtic kits.

As football shirts from the 2000s continue to grow in popularity, original Nike Celtic shirts are increasingly becoming sought-after modern retro designs.

New Balance Celtic Shirts

New Balance became Celtic's kit manufacturer during the second half of the 2010s and produced several memorable designs.

The partnership coincided with a hugely successful domestic period, including Brendan Rodgers' Invincibles season in 2016-17.

Shirts from this era are associated with players including Scott Brown, Moussa Dembélé, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and James Forrest.

Although relatively recent, New Balance Celtic shirts already hold considerable nostalgia for supporters who remember the club's domestic dominance during the period.

adidas Celtic Shirts

adidas brought its famous three stripes to Celtic football shirts in 2020.

The partnership has produced a mixture of traditional home kits and more adventurous away and third shirts, often incorporating references to Celtic's history and identity.

The unmistakable adidas branding combined with Celtic's green and white hoops has created another distinctive chapter in the club's kit history.

Classic Celtic Shirt Sponsors

Shirt sponsors can become almost as nostalgic as the manufacturers themselves, and Celtic have featured several highly recognisable names.

CR Smith is strongly associated with shirts from the late 1980s and early 1990s, while NTL and Carling became familiar sights around the turn of the millennium and throughout the 2000s.

Magners and Dafabet are associated with more recent generations of Celtic kits.

For collectors, the combination of sponsor, manufacturer, club crest and shirt design often makes it possible to recognise a particular era instantly.

Legendary Players and Their Celtic Shirts

Celtic's history is filled with legendary players who have become inseparable from particular generations of the club's shirts.

The Lisbon Lions era featured Billy McNeill, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox, Tommy Gemmell and Bertie Auld.

Later generations included Danny McGrain, Kenny Dalglish, Paul McStay and Tommy Burns.

The late 1990s and early 2000s were dominated by Henrik Larsson, alongside players such as Lubomir Moravcik, Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Stiliyan Petrov.

More recent eras have featured long-serving players such as Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and James Forrest.

Original Celtic shirts featuring period-correct player printing can be particularly collectible when connected with a legendary player or important season.

Why Collect Retro Celtic Shirts?

Original vintage Celtic football shirts offer supporters a physical connection with different periods in the club's extraordinary history.

Each shirt reflects the manufacturers, sponsors, players and football fashion of its era.

Older Celtic shirts may feature traditional collars, embroidered badges, vintage manufacturer labels and historic sponsors that immediately evoke memories of a particular team or season.

As authentic examples become harder to find, certain shirts can become increasingly desirable among collectors.

Age, rarity, size, condition, manufacturer, sponsor and original player printing can all influence collectability.

How to Identify an Original Celtic Shirt

When purchasing an older Celtic shirt, several details can help when assessing authenticity.

Manufacturer labels, stitching, club badges, sponsor application and the overall construction of the garment should all be examined.

More recent football shirts may also contain product codes that can be compared against known genuine examples from the relevant season.

Vintage football shirts can naturally develop signs of age such as bobbling, pulls, fading or cracking to sponsors. These characteristics should be assessed in the context of the shirt's age rather than automatically being considered faults.

How to Style a Retro Celtic Shirt

Celtic's famous green and white hoops are instantly recognisable and have become increasingly popular beyond the football terraces as retro sportswear has returned to fashion.

Umbro shirts from the 1980s and 1990s and oversized designs from the early 2000s work particularly well with the current vintage football aesthetic.

A retro Celtic shirt can be paired with jeans, shorts or trainers for a simple casual look, while looser-fitting shirts work particularly well as part of a relaxed 1990s-inspired outfit.

Buy Retro Celtic Football Shirts Online

Explore our latest selection of retro Celtic shirts, classic Celtic kits and vintage Hoops football clothing available from TheKitman.co.uk.

Our stock changes regularly as original Celtic shirts from different seasons become available, including home, away and third kits covering a range of manufacturers and eras.

Many vintage football shirts are individual items, so once a particular design or size has sold it may not immediately become available again.

Check back regularly to discover newly added Celtic shirts alongside other classic football kits from Scotland, England and around the world.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retro Celtic Shirts

What is the most iconic Celtic football shirt?

The green and white hooped shirt associated with Celtic's 1967 European Cup-winning Lisbon Lions is arguably the most iconic in the club's history. Shirts from the Henrik Larsson era are also hugely popular with modern collectors.

What are the most collectible Celtic shirts?

Popular collectible designs include shirts connected with the Lisbon Lions, vintage Umbro Celtic kits, CR Smith-sponsored shirts from the late 1980s and early 1990s, and NTL or Carling shirts from the Henrik Larsson era.

Who has manufactured Celtic football shirts?

Celtic kits have been produced by several major sportswear manufacturers, including Umbro, Nike, New Balance and adidas.

Why are Celtic CR Smith shirts popular?

CR Smith shirts are strongly associated with Celtic during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The combination of the classic sponsor, traditional hoops and retro Umbro styling makes them particularly nostalgic for collectors.

Are Henrik Larsson Celtic shirts collectible?

Yes. Henrik Larsson is one of Celtic's greatest modern players, and original shirts featuring period-correct Larsson 7 printing can be particularly desirable, especially when connected with important seasons or European campaigns.

Are old Celtic shirts valuable?

Some can be. Value depends on factors including age, rarity, condition, size, manufacturer, sponsor and player printing. Rare away shirts and designs connected with important seasons can attract particularly strong collector interest.

What should I look for when buying a vintage Celtic shirt?

Check the manufacturer labels, stitching, club crest, sponsor and overall construction of the garment. On more recent shirts, product codes can also help confirm authenticity. Some age-related wear is normal on genuinely vintage football shirts.