See the previous entries in this series:
It has perhaps taken us longer than we expected to chart the kits of the 1990-91 Serie A season, but here is the final instalment of what we feel is the best collection of strips in a single season.
Parma
Like Cagliari and Lazio, Parma had a longish association with Umbro, though we don’t recall seeing this sleeve style in many other quarters.
It was worn for three straight seasons – albeit with collar and cuff variations – and this was the middle one before all-white was promoted to first-choice for 1991-92. It was worn in 1990-91 away to Lecce, with the yellow shorts and socks making for an odd overall look. The blue change strip worked well, however.
Newly promoted, Parma finished sixth to set in train a period of success in the 1990s.
Pisa
Pisa, who were relegated, were the third side in the top division this season to sport black and blue stripes. However, while Atalanta came upon the look as a result of a merger, Pisa’s choice was in homage to the more famous Inter, in honour of the Milan club’s 1910 title win.
Made by the little-known Gems, the home featured a strange repeating symbol on the wider blue side panels, while they differed from the other two nerazzurri in having blue socks.
The all-white away had a geometric pattern which wasn’t awful. The home shorts and socks were worn away to Sampdoria. The sponsor Giocheria – ‘place of play’ – is a chain of toyshops, as far as we can make out.
Roma
We have something of a soft spot for Roma, so it’s hardly surprising that classy Ennerre kits such as these meet our approval. Interestingly, they had two white change kits kits – one following the style of the home and the other taking its cues from Napoli’s cup strip.
An early prototype of the away had the colours arranged as on Atalanta’s, the ‘homage’ to the style adidas gave to West Germany. Roma finished ninth but won the Coppa Italia to deny Sampdoria a double.
Sampdoria
The 1990-91 season is obviously fondly remembered in Genoa, as Sampdoria won their first and still only Scudetto. Japanese kit-maker Asics got lucky as this was the company’s first season with the contract, having taken over from Kappa. Samp’s kits have always been favourites of ours – we’d recommend this book if you’re of a similar leaning – and these ticked the boxes – essentially, they were the Kappa kits with different logos.
While Serie A didn’t have hard and fast shorts- and socks-clashing rules, Samp often wore all-blue on the road and opted for blue socks at home to Milan. Perhaps surprisingly, this was the first time that the away strip had the same horizontal stripes as the home – previously, they had been arranged vertically or in a sash (see this article for a comprehensive look at older offerings).
Torino
Like Fiorentina, fifth-placed Torino had an ABM kit and, apart from the clashing red on their logo and that of sponsors Indesit, it’s hard to fault it.
Plain perhaps, but the classic simplicity of so many kits is one of the reasons why we rate this season so highly.
Great stuff. I’ve written about it myself, here: https://embracethemargin.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/the-sartorial-elegance-of-serie-a.html
And regarding the Torino shirt: https://embracethemargin.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-sartorial-elegance-of-serie-torino.html
Thoughts on the Roma shirt here: https://embracethemargin.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-sartorial-elegance-of-serie-as-roma.html
… and finally, Sampdoria: https://embracethemargin.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-sartorial-elegance-of-serie-uc-sampdoria.html