Counting down the five worst Chelsea shirts of the Premier League era
Chelsea’s decision to turn to Enzo Maresca last year as their replacement for Mauricio Pochettino has worked out well so far. He has guided them back into the Champions League after they finished inside the top four. The ex-Manchester City and Leicester City man also won the Europa Conference League last season so has made a positive impression.
The Blues have the chance to sign some more players before the end of the transfer window on Monday 1st September. They can also let some individuals leave Stamford Bridge before the deadline as well to help free up space and funds if needed. In the meantime, here is a look at their worst kits ranked during the Premier League era...
5. 2024-25 Home Kit
Chelsea’s 2024/25 ‘Melting Pot Blue’ shirt was produced by Nike, who remain their suppliers today. It featured a vibrant blue with a swirling melting pot motif, a holographic bade and orange accents. It was also sponsorless which was a refreshing change, in fairness.
It had an overly abstract pattern and split their fan base. While polarising, some appreciated its boldness and sponsorless aesthetic. It was a more futuristic design and they thought outside the box with it. They managed to win the Europa Conference League and get back into the Champions League last term.
4. 2007-08 Away Kit
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Adidas created a bright neon yellow kit with a blue trim back in 2007/08. It was worn during a season where Chelsea finished 2nd in the table. The luminous yellow was overly harsh and felt out of place for a team known for wearing blue.
The simplicity and lack of clashing patterns make it less offensive than it could have otherwise been, but it wasn’t their finest look. It may now be seen as nostalgic but at the time it was a bit out there. Perhaps in years to come it will be seen as a more retro piece of apparel.
3. 2010-11 Third Kit
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It was Adidas’ turn again to design a new look for Chelsea in 2010/11 and they went for a bold green and black kit. It was Eden Hazard’s first year in London. They most notably wore it away at Marseille in Europe.
It split opinion due to the green colour having nothing to do with the club’s identity and tradition. It strayed away from their usual blue scheme and wasn’t too pretty on the eye. It’s garish palette make it a jersey to forget for the fan base. They finished runners-up in the league that year and weren’t able to get their hands on the trophy in the end which was a shame.
2. 1994-96 Away Kit
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Rewinding back to 1994-1996 and Chelsea were with Umbro. They made a shirt with a grey base with orange and dark blue accents. It was born by stars such as Ruud Gullit and Gianfranco Zola. However, it had a bizarre look about it.
The jarring colour clash of grey, orange and dark blue turned out to be an eye sore. It had a collar and was sponsored by Coors Beer. It just didn’t suit the club though and had no relevance to them whatsoever. It was also too baggy and would have been hard to wear on hot days/nights.
1. 2018/19 Third Kit
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Nike utilised an unconventional colour scheme for the third kit in 2018/19 featuring a a light blue described as ‘Ocean Bliss’ as the base colour which was a departure from Chelsea’s traditional darker blue home kits or more vibrant alternate kits. The pale, faded denim-like hue was lacklustre and unappealing and didn’t embody the club’s bold identity.
The colour was compared to a less vibrant version of the 2005/06 Umbro away kit, which wouldn’t have resonated well with a lot of supporters. The jersey sported a unique graphic print on the front, intended to represent an aerial view of Stamford Bridge and the surrounding West London area. While innovative, the abstract pattern was cluttered and confusing and failed to deliver the clean, iconic look fans often prefer. The orange socks were also very random and out of place.
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