One of the great joys of being a goalkeeper is the chance to wear a distinctive jersey that gives your teammates a unique splash of colour. From fluid designs to bold patterns, we’ve handpicked a range of beautiful jerseys that have been worn by the team’s gatekeepers.
32. Spain 2010-2011 goalkeeper jersey
Iker Casillas, the legendary goalkeeper of Spanish football, is the third goalkeeper ever to lead his team to the World Cup. He was recognised not only for his outstanding performances, but also for his impressive style of dress.
When Spain beat the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, Casillas wore a simple yet elegant shirt with green and black numbers and the signature Adidas sleeve stripes in the colours of the Spanish flag – the shirt that accompanied him as he lifted the World Cup trophy in a moment that will live on in the history of football. It was a moment in football history.
31. Everton 2011-2012 goalkeeper jersey
Tim Howard, where is he? Under the cover of this camouflage goalkeeper shirt from Everton’s 2011/12 season, he seemed to be invisible in the middle of the pitch, making it difficult to spot him. Although the shirt didn’t really confuse opposition strikers, it did give Everton a solid defence that season – only 40 league goals were conceded in the whole season. Undoubtedly, this shirt is one of the most innovative and talked about designs of the modern Premier League era.
30. Leeds United 1992-93 goalkeeper jersey
Today, Admiral’s iconic shield logo is not often seen on top-flight football shirts, but the long-established British manufacturer created a range of highly stylish shirts for a number of big-name clubs in the second half of the 20th century.
In the 1992/93 season, the first year of the Premier League, Leeds United goalkeeper John Lukic wore this quintessentially ‘90s-style shirt as he sought to defend their title in England.
29. Dundee 2024-25 goalkeeper jersey
Dundee Football Club’s goalkeeper jersey for the 2024/25 season has caught the eye with its distinctive joker style – particularly the striking pink and white colour scheme – but the team’s hardcore fans absolutely love this one.
Crafted by renowned Italian sports brand Macron, the jersey features the same graphic design on the top as well as the light blue matching garments, adding a modern and stylish line to Dundee’s Scottish flavour.
28. Netherlands 1988-89 goalkeeper jersey
This jersey, worn by the Netherlands at Euro 1988, is undoubtedly one of the most legendary kits in football history, and their goalkeeper’s jersey is equally impressive.
Goalkeeper Hans van Broekelen looks particularly heroic in that iconic blue diagonal striped jersey, thanks to the classic Adidas design.
27. Bayern Munich 1997-98 goalkeeper jersey
Bayern Munich’s legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, affectionately known as ‘Vol-kahn-o’, rocked the green fields in the 1997/98 season with a geo-textured shirt.
The jersey was customised for Kahn and, unlike Adidas’ usual template designs, it accompanied him on his journey to the German Cup and became his iconic kit.
26. Juventus 2002-03 goalkeeper jersey
Before Juventus were known for their black and white striped shirts, they used to wear pink and black.
In the 2002/03 season, their goalkeeper’s shirt – worn by legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – paid homage to this tradition.
25. Paraguay Copa America 1997 goalkeeper jersey
Paraguay’s legendary goalkeeper, José Luis Chilavert, has been hailed as one of the most iconic goalkeepers in the history of football, thanks to his extraordinary goal-scoring ability and unique personality. His incredible goal-scoring record has graced many exciting matches over the years.
At the 1997 Copa America, Chilavert, nicknamed ‘The Bulldog’, wore a jersey that was not only fashionable and avant-garde, but also full of the unique style of the era.
24. Australia 1997-1998 goalkeeper jersey
Australia’s 1997-1998 goalkeeper’s jersey showed off their usual wild style with its colourful constellation motif and a football design flying into the cosmos.
Former Aston Villa and Manchester United star Mark Bosnich wore the shirt and became a symbol of the era. In the play-offs, the Australian Socceroos put in a memorable performance despite narrowly losing out to Iran on away goals and falling short of qualifying for their first World Cup in 24 years.
23. Wales 2004-05 goalkeeper jersey
The incomparable Neville Sasser is a force to be reckoned with, no matter what colour he wears. This shirt in a mix of bright pink, yellow, green and blue certainly brings out the best in ‘Big Neville’.
Towards the end of his illustrious career with the Welsh national team, the legendary Everton goalkeeper shone in a fashion forward way. This shirt is one of the many magnificent and great Umbro players of the 90s.
22. Argentina 1986-87 goalkeeper jersey
Le Coq Sportif created a series of intelligent shirt designs for Argentina’s glorious 1986 World Cup triumph, including the one worn by goalkeeper Neri Pampido, who was wearing No. 18 at the time – due to the team’s ingenious method of assigning players alphabetical numbers according to their surnames. The grey colour of the shirt shows off the grey.
Grey shows that there is no need to be boring on this shirt, a delightful pattern and two-tone design that proves that even the most traditional colours can be revitalised by clever design.
21. Germany 2002-03 goalkeeper jersey
Maroon, black and orange – a colour combination that at first sounds incongruous – but when you see Germany’s captain Oliver Kahn wearing a jersey in all three colours at the 2002 World Cup, you’ll be amazed at how harmoniously they complement each other.
Wearing this simple yet aesthetically pleasing jersey, Kahn captained Germany to their first World Cup final since reunification.
20. Sampdoria 2007-2011 goalkeeper jersey
Equally as famous as Croatia’s checkerboard kits, Sampdoria FC have become one of the most recognisable names in world football with their unique shirt design.
In the first decade of the 21st century, the Italian football giants have not only continued their iconic stripe pattern on the goalkeeper’s shirt, but have done so consistently for four years, which we greatly appreciate. This blend of tradition and innovation has undoubtedly made the Sampdoria shirt a classic in the minds of their fans.
19. Croatia 1998-99 goalkeeper jersey
Who doesn’t love Croatia’s iconic checkerboard jersey? That unique design has long been a bright and unforgettable sight in international football.
In 1998, Croatia debut on the stage of the World Cup, goalkeeper Drazen Radic dress also led the fashion trend. The yellow and blue jersey he wore, as well as navy and blue versions, all highlight the style and personality of Croatian football.
18. Liverpool 1989-1991 goalkeeper jersey
Liverpool’s home shirts from the 1989/90 and 1990/91 seasons are undoubtedly absolute classics in football history. This is thanks to the exquisite patterns woven into its fabric and its iconic sponsor, Italian domestic appliance manufacturer Candy, which together give the shirt a timeless appeal.
Legendary goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar’s shirt is equally memorable: although the design is in keeping with that of his team-mates, his shirt is in the traditional green colour of goalkeepers, a detail that makes it even more unique amongst the classics.
17. England 1992-93 goalkeeper jersey
The years immediately following the heartache of Italia ’90 weren’t great for England: the Three Lions endured a miserable Euro 92 campaign then failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
However, in the midst of this string of setbacks, they at least took solace in their goalkeeping kit: the blue jersey, with its wavy numerical design and even elbow pads that echoed the Umbro logo, certainly added a touch of colour to the team.
16. France 2011 goalkeeper jersey
In 2011, France introduced an away shirt in white and blue, a design that was certainly bold, but perhaps with a touch of rugby flavour for the game of football.
However, the pattern has been used to excellent effect on the goalkeeper’s shirt. Whether it’s the black and grey version shown here, or the red and maroon combination, the French goalkeepers always look stylish and eye-catching in these shirts.
15. Columbia 1990 goalkeeper jersey
For René Iquita, a goalkeeper who was a ‘madman’ with a unique style, this jersey was a slightly wild and artistic piece of kit. The jersey worn by Colombia at the 1990 World Cup was not just a piece of sporting equipment, it was a work of art.
14. Manchester united 1998-2000 goalkeeper jersey
Peter Schmeichel wore this green shirt in the 1998/99 season to help Manchester United Football Club win the historic treble, making it a classic symbol of the Premier League era.
The shirt exudes a delightful vintage feel with its understated 90’s glamour and has a feature that is hard to find on today’s football shirts: the zip! This detail not only highlights the design language of the era, but also makes the shirt unique in football history.
13. Blackburn Rovers 1993-94 goalkeeper jersey
Looking at the expression on Tim Flowers’ face in the photo, it’s clear that the Blackburn’s star goalkeeper is excited and proud to be seen in this jersey.
The Asics design also evokes nostalgia for Tetris and Tooty Frooties. These shirts are a testament to the glory days of Blackburn Rovers when they finished second in the Premier League behind Manchester United that year, and then won the title the following season.
12. Arsenal 1994-95 goalkeeper jersey
A simple but powerful combination of black and grey, Arsenal’s goalkeeper’s shirt of choice for the 1994/95 season exudes a remarkable star quality with its unique style.
David Seaman, the Gunners‘ number one keeper, led the team to the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup under manager Stuart Houston.
11. Yokohama F. Marinos 1996 goalkeeper jersey
We can only imagine how distracted the opposing strikers were when they faced Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi in the 1996 season against the Yokohama Mariners: we could hardly take our eyes off the goalkeeper, whose presence was undoubtedly the centre of attention on the pitch. The legend of Japanese football was immortalised on the pitch with his style and skill in this stylish shirt designed by local manufacturer Mizuno.
10. Norwich 2024-25 goalkeeper jersey
Norwich have unabashedly embraced the retro 90’s trend and their goalkeeper shirt for the 2024/25 season is a brilliant representation of the style, with this colourful design undoubtedly the most striking of the bunch.
Crafted by Joma in Spain, the green and yellow of the club crest on the shirt is transformed into black and white tones on this jersey, creating a contrasting colour palette that adds a touch of unique glamour to the shirt.
9. Brazil 1990-91 goalkeeper jersey
For years, Brazil’s goalkeepers were particularly striking: they wore tops with the nation’s name emblazoned across the front in large letters.
It all came to an end in the early 90s, but Claudio Taffarel wore the rock-retro look for the last time at the 1990 World Cup – a collared jersey from South American supplier Topper.
8. Bristol city 2023-24 goalkeeper jersey
Bristol City have won plaudits in recent years for their impressive range of goalkeeper shirts, and we’re particularly impressed with this colourful feather print design.
The jersey has been crafted by Irish sportswear company O’Neills, who have used their superb craftsmanship and keen eye for fashion to create a shirt that is not only stylish but also tropical. Bristol City have used this shirt for two seasons and it has certainly become an iconic part of the team.
7. Wycombe Wanderers 2017-18 goalkeeper jersey
The brainchild of goalkeeping coach Barry Richardson, Wycombe’s key goalkeeping tops for the 2017/18 season are kaleidoscopic masterpieces.
It didn’t quit have the (supposed) intended effect of putting off the other team’s attackers – Wanderers number one Scott Brown conceded 15 goals in his first five games wearing it – but the Buckinghamshire outfit did win promotion from League Two that term
6. Italy 1982-1983 goalkeeper jersey
With a grey base with a blue collar and cuffs, perfectly coordinated with the shades of the Blues’ outfield jerseys, Italy’s goalkeeper’s jersey from the 1982 World Cup has stood the test of time with its simple yet stunningly classic design.
The shirt was worn by their legendary captain Dino Zoff, who at the time was already forty years old and became the oldest ever winner of that World Cup in Spain, an achievement that is still celebrated today.
5. Newcastle United 1996-1997 goalkeeper jersey
We rank this as the greatest goalkeeper jersey in the history of the Premier League – come on, check it out!
Adidas made these city-specific jerseys for many clubs, and Scottish giants Rangers got one too. But Newcastle, with the help of the Tyneside skyline, are the best in our opinion.
4. Soviet Union 1966 goalkeeper jersey
Lev Yashin is still considered by many to be the best goalie of all time. Still considered by many to be the best goalkeeper of all time, Yashin was known as the ‘Black Panther’ or the ‘Black Spider’.
In fact, it’s a very dark blue colour, and Yashin created his own identity whether he was playing for Dynamo Moscow or the Soviet Union national team.
3. Mexico 1994 goalkeeper jersey
Mexican great Jorge Campos was a very eccentric goalkeeper who reflected his personality in his fancy self-designed jersey.
Campos made 129 appearances for his national team, playing in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. It was at that first World Cup that he showcased this fitted and lustrous design.
2. Japan 1998 goalkeeper jersey
Does Noh Kawaguchi realise how lucky he is as a player? The jerseys he had the honour of wearing for club and country are undoubtedly masterpieces in the field of shirt design.
At the 1998 World Cup in France, he wore a jersey that seemed like pure flaming emojis – although emojis weren’t officially invented until the following year, and were actually created by Japanese artist Yutaka Kurita!
1. Denmark 1992-1993 goalkeeper jersey
This classic jersey of the Danish goalkeeper features a solid black base with fabulous iridescent detailing and is considered by many to be the finest design ever produced.
Peter Schmeichel’s last-minute heroics at Euro 1992 helped Denmark write one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of football, but I also think that Schmeichel’s perfect performance that season makes this jersey even more unforgettable.
