Football is about more than just skill, goals, and unforgettable moments. It’s also about style—whether that’s the flair of a winger weaving through defenders or, sometimes, the fashion disasters that emerge on the pitch. While many Premier League teams have delivered iconic, timeless kits, there have been more than a few that left fans scratching their heads in confusion and horror.
From outrageous patterns to colors that should never have seen the light of day, some Premier League kits are so bad they’ve become infamous in their own right. Whether it’s poor design choices, questionable color schemes, or just bizarre ideas altogether, here’s a look back at some of the worst Premier League kits in history.
1. Manchester United – 1995-97 “Sharp Viewcam” Kit
Often cited as one of the most disastrous football kits ever designed, the 1995-97 Manchester United “Sharp Viewcam” shirt looked like something from an experimental art exhibition rather than a world-renowned football club.
The kit featured an unusual pattern with red and black swirls, alongside a garish, oversized sponsor logo of “Sharp Viewcam” in bright white letters. It was just too much—too busy, too loud, and too distracting. The design didn’t do justice to the legacy of a club like Manchester United, and fans quickly distanced themselves from it.
2. Liverpool – 1996-97 Yellow Away Kit
Liverpool’s 1996-97 yellow away kit was an absolute fashion disaster. Designed with a mix of neon yellow and black, the kit’s standout feature was a striking “faded” effect from the shoulders down, which resembled a kind of paint splatter effect—only not in a cool way.
The real problem, though, was the neon yellow color. In a world where football kits were often designed to evoke power, tradition, and pride, this looked more like something you’d find in a highlighter pack. To make matters worse, it clashed horribly with the red tones that Liverpool fans had come to associate with their iconic home kits.
3. Tottenham Hotspur – 1990 Away Kit
Tottenham’s 1990 away kit was a rare fashion misstep for the club, which is known for its more classic and understated kits. This one featured bright green and black stripes in a completely chaotic pattern. It looked more like something you’d expect from a leisurewear brand than a professional football club.
The strange “acid green” shade and mismatched colors made it almost impossible to look at without wincing. It didn’t fit with the club’s image or aesthetic at all, and fans quickly wrote it off as one of their worst-ever kits. Even a team as stylish as Spurs couldn’t pull off this disaster.
4. Arsenal – 1991-92 Away Kit
Arsenal’s 1991-92 away kit is a testament to how not to design a football shirt. The jersey was primarily purple and yellow, with a bold, geometric pattern that made it look like it was taken from the pages of a fashion magazine—written in the 1990s, of course.
Although the idea of combining purple and yellow is not inherently bad, this particular combination felt jarring and out of place. The pattern itself was also loud and busy, lacking the sleekness and subtlety that Arsenal’s iconic red-and-white kits represented. Fans still remember the kit for all the wrong reasons.
5. Southampton – 1994-96 Home Kit
Southampton’s 1994-96 home kit didn’t just miss the mark—it completely missed the target. The kit was a strange mix of red and white with black and green accents that resembled a barber shop pole pattern. The thin black and green stripes did not complement the traditional red and white, making the entire design a strange mishmash.
It felt like the designers tried too hard to create something edgy but ended up with a shirt that didn’t make any sense. The colors didn’t work together, and the overall look made it one of the least beloved kits in the club’s history.
6. Chelsea – 1994-96 “Holo-Chelsea” Kit
Chelsea’s 1994-96 away kit is infamous for one thing and one thing only: the use of holographic patterns. The kit was made with a base color of blue, but on closer inspection, it became clear that the kit was peppered with holographic swirls that seemed to change color depending on the angle.
While it was an interesting concept at the time, it looked more suited to a rave than a football pitch. It was a step too far in the realm of futuristic fashion, and the kit quickly became a laughing stock. Fans who love Chelsea’s more traditional blue shirts will forever cringe when they remember this holographic nightmare.
7. Sheffield United – 1992-94 Away Kit
Sheffield United’s 1992-94 away kit was a pure fashion crime. The design was a garish mix of clashing colors and strange patterns that made it look like a badly designed wallpaper. The neon yellow and green combination was eye-popping in the worst possible way, and it’s hard to understand why it was ever deemed acceptable.
The shirt was almost impossible to wear without feeling embarrassed, and many fans of the club still look back at this kit and wonder what on earth the designers were thinking.
8. Wimbledon – 1994-95 “Icy Blue” Away Kit
Wimbledon’s 1994-95 away kit was an attempt at something different—but it went horribly wrong. The shirt featured an icy blue base with a frosted-looking pattern, making it appear as though it belonged in a winter-themed fashion show rather than a football field.
The color wasn’t just unusual—it was outright uncomfortable to look at. It clashed with the club’s traditional yellow, and the frosty design made it hard to take seriously. It’s a kit that many wish they could forget, but unfortunately, it’s forever etched into the annals of bad football kit design.
9. Manchester City – 1992-94 Away Kit
Another Manchester City disaster came in the form of their 1992-94 away kit, which was a clashing mix of neon yellow and blue, with bizarre geometric patterns running across the shirt. Not only did it look like something designed for a video game, but the unflattering color scheme also made it look cheap and overly busy.
The neon yellow wasn’t just unappealing to the eye—it completely overshadowed the club’s more traditional kit designs, making it one of the most unpopular shirts in City’s history.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale in Football Fashion
While some of the kits mentioned above are remembered for their sheer audacity and uniqueness, most are remembered for their failures in design. They serve as a reminder that in football, the kit should always reflect the history and pride of the club, not just a wild attempt to be different.
In the end, we’ll always have a soft spot for these fashion disasters—they provide us with plenty of entertainment and perhaps even a bit of nostalgia for a time when football kits were anything but predictable.
Which kit do you think deserves the title of “worst ever”? Let us know in the comments!
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