History and Legacy of the Iconic Juventus 1997-98 Away Jersey

The History of the Iconic Juventus 1997-98 Away Kit

The 1997-98 season was a memorable one for Italian football giants Juventus. Managed by the legendary Marcello Lippi and captained by Ciro Ferrara, the team clinched their 25th Serie A title that year. They also reached the Champions League final, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid. While Juventus enjoyed success on the pitch, one of the other highlights of that campaign was their stylish black and white away kit.

Zinedine Zidane in the Juventus 1997-98 Away Jersey

The Juventus 1997-98 away shirt is considered one of the most iconic jerseys in the club's illustrious history. This was the kit worn by Zinedine Zidane during his epic five-year spell with the Bianconeri. Zidane joined Juventus in 1996 for a world record fee and became an instant fan favorite. He helped the club win two Serie A titles, two Italian Super Cups, the Intercontinental Cup and reach three Champions League finals.

That season, Zidane dazzled audiences with his sublime skills while donning the unique pinstriped Juventus away kit. Featuring thick black and white vertical stripes, it perfectly represented Juventus' distinctive black and white colors. The French maestro scored seven goals while leading Juve to European glory in that stylish striped jersey.

The Bold New Design

The Juventus 1997-98 away strip marked a dramatic departure from the club's previous jersey designs. While Juventus had worn black and white vertical stripes before, they were usually a lot thinner. Kappa and Juventus came up with a bold new look for the away kit that season -thick stripes that made a real statement.

These thick black stripes contrasted beautifully with the broad white stripes on the jersey. This innovative twist on Juve's iconic colors proved to be an instant hit with the fans. The 1997-98 team wore the cutting-edge kit with aplomb, letting the daring new style do the talking as they dominated on the pitch.

Manufactured by Kappa

The Juventus 1997-98 away kit was manufactured by Italian sportswear company Kappa. They produced all of the Bianconeri's kits between 1993 and 1999. Kappa designed a series of stylish and memorable shirts during their partnership with Juventus.

The thick black striped away jersey they created for the 1997-98 campaign is arguably the most iconic of them all. Kappa introduced hi-tech ergonomic features into their kits at the time. However, the beauty of this Juventus away shirt lay in its elegant simplicity and bold new take on the club's classic stripes.

Winning Silverware in Style

Juventus celebrated several major achievements while wearing the 1997-98 away kit. They clinched their third straight Serie A title that season with Zidane, Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero starring in attack. Juve also defeated River Plate 1-0 to lift the Intercontinental Cup in November 1997.

Most memorably, Juventus reached the 1997-98 Champions League final in the legendary pinstripe shirt. They knocked out reigning champions Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, inspired by Zidane's magic. However, Zizou was unable to make an impact in the final as Juve lost 1-0 to Real Madrid.

Legacy of the 1997-98 Away Jersey

The Juventus 1997-98 away kit is still fondly remembered today by Bianconeri fans around the world. It was worn during one of the club's most successful seasons. The bold black pinstripes against the white background looked stunning and made the players stand out on the pitch.

Zidane, Inzaghi, Del Piero and the rest of Lippi's legends played magnificent football in that jersey. The timeless black and white stripes are synonymous with Juventus' sporting royalty. This iconic away kit perfectly encapsulated the club's image and traditions while introducing an avant-garde new twist.

Influence on Subsequent Kit Designs

The groundbreaking Juventus 1997-98 away strip paved the way for other creative kit designs in future seasons. It demonstrated that moving away from the traditional thin pinstripes could still yield a stylish jersey faithful to Juve's colors.

1998-99 Home Jersey

The following season, Juventus retained the bold thick black stripes for their 1998-99 home shirt. Once again manufactured by Kappa, this kit featured broad black stripes against a plain white background. After the success of the 1997-98 away kit, Juve were happy to incorporate the thicker stripes into their main jersey as well.

2018-19 Away Jersey

In 2018-19, over two decades after that famous 1997-98 away strip, Juventus again embraced thick black stripes for their alternative kit. The Adidas-designed jersey featured large black pinstripes over a clean white background. This modern away shirt drew inspiration from the Zidane era and revived the iconic 90s design.

2020-21 Away Jersey

Juventus brought back the thick black stripes once more for their 2020-21 away kit. This bold Adidas jersey replicated the essence of the 1997-98 original. The result was a sleek black and white away strip that served as an updated homage to one of the club's most legendary shirts.

The Legacy Lives On

The Juventus 1997-98 away kit has cemented its place among the greatest jerseys in Italian football history. Its daring thick stripes and stylish black and white color scheme broke new ground for Juve's uniforms. Supported by stars like Zidane, this iconic shirt became synonymous with Juventus' successes in the late 1990s.

It remains influential today, as evidenced by the subsequent away kits paying tribute to its famous pinstripe design. The timeless black and white stripes and Over two decades later, the legendary Juventus 1997-98 away jersey continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Juve fans around the world.

FAQs

Who designed the iconic 1997-98 Juventus away kit?

The 1997-98 Juventus away jersey was designed by Italian sportswear company Kappa, who were the club's kit manufacturer from 1993 to 1999.

What was unique about the stripes on the 1997-98 away kit?

The 1997-98 away shirt featured thick black pinstripes against a white background, which was a bold new look compared to Juve's traditional thinner pinstripes.

Which star players wore the 1997-98 away kit?

Zinedine Zidane, Filippo Inzaghi, and Alessandro Del Piero were among the star players who wore the iconic 1997-98 away kit.

Did Juventus win any trophies in the 1997-98 away kit?

Yes, Juventus won the Serie A title, the Intercontinental Cup, and reached the Champions League final while wearing the 1997-98 away strip.

Why is the 1997-98 kit considered so iconic for Juventus?

The bold black pinstripes against the white background created a timeless and stylish look. Juve also achieved great success in Europe while wearing this jersey.