Netherlands national team

The shirt worn by the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 1988 became one of football’s most recognisable designs. Its bold geometric pattern, created by adidas, looked almost futuristic against the traditional orange of the Dutch national team.

But the shirt became iconic for what happened inside it. Worn by Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman, it became the uniform of the greatest Dutch generation to win a major international trophy.

After losing their opening match to the Soviet Union, the Netherlands went on to beat West Germany 2–1 in the semi-final, setting up a rematch with the Soviets in the final. Gullit opened the scoring in Munich before Van Basten produced one of football’s most famous goals, a spectacular volley from an almost impossible angle.

The Netherlands won 2–0 and lifted their first major international trophy!

The shirt was used for only that tournament, making it inseparable from a very specific moment: Gullit, Van Basten, Euro 1988 and one of the most iconic goals in football history.

What once looked strange and unconventional is now regarded as a landmark of football shirt design, proof that an experimental design can become timeless when history happens inside it.