While there was much to admire about AS Monaco’s change kit approach during their time with adidas, there were times when they were forced to come up with emergency kits.
Most seasons, all-white and all-red options were available to les Monégasques but, obviously, against opponents who wore large amounts of red and white, an alternative had to be found, such as against Feyenoord in 1991-92.
In subsequent campaigns, a blue adidas Equipment shirt with red and white trim was used, while in 1996-97, a different style was used against Hamburg (similar to a shirt worn by the France U21 side).
There was no blue outset at the start of the following season, with a silver fourth shirt appearing in the league. However, a Champions League quarter-final draw with Manchester United presented another conundrum.
That 1997-98 season saw United introduce a new kit specifically for European competition, featuring white socks. It meant that, obviously, Monaco couldn’t wear red shirts and the white shirt with red shorts and socks wasn’t considered satisfactory to Uefa, as would silver with red shorts and socks.
So it was that, after a 0-0 draw in Monte Carlo, Monaco turned out in a blue kit trimmed in yellow at Old Trafford on March 18, in the same design as that used by the France national team at the time.
One oddity was that, in pretty much every other instance of this shorts style being used, the stripes travelled downward back-to-front, but here it was the opposite case.
That mattered little to Monaco though, David Trezeguet scoring a memorable goal as they earned a 1-1 draw to advance to the semi-finals.
