Manchester City have unveiled their new third kit for the upcoming season, but the reaction from fans has been overwhelmingly negative. The shirt, produced by Puma, features a dark navy base with numerous Manchester City badges printed in a light grey that are barely visible from a distance. The white 'Etihad Airways' sponsor sits in the centre, but there is no stitched badge; instead, 'Manchester City' is typed across the front.
This design is part of a template used by Puma for several clubs this year, including AC Milan, Marseille and PSV, where badges are replaced by text. However, City fans have been particularly vocal in their dislike, with many taking to social media to express their frustration. The club's decision to abandon a traditional embroidered badge has been a key point of contention.
While the Manchester City shirt has caused a stir, it is far from the most controversial kit in football history. Other notable examples include Cameroon's sleeveless shirt at the 2002 World Cup, which FIFA banned, forcing the team to add black sleeves. Barcelona's 2015 horizontal stripes, a departure from their iconic vertical design, also drew widespread criticism from supporters.
Perhaps the most infamous kit belongs to the Colorado Caribous, a US team that lasted only one season in 1978. Their Western-style shirt featured a leather hem and tasselled fringe, widely regarded as one of the ugliest designs ever. Cardiff City also sparked outrage when they switched from their traditional blue to red in 2012, leading to a 'Keep Cardiff Blue' campaign before eventually reverting.
Norwich City's 1992-93 kit, with its yellow and green pattern resembling bird droppings, remains a notorious example of poor design. Despite the backlash, Manchester City's new third shirt has united fans in their disdain, though it may yet become a collector's item for its sheer audacity.
