Germany’s new pink kit has become the fastest-selling away shirt in the national team’s history.
The kit was released back in March and, the German FA (DFB) has confirmed to The Athletic, has broken the record for the most away shirts sold in history from when it went on release until the start of the European Championship. Men Tee Shirts
The pink strips success has come despite being controversial upon its release.
“In contrast to the more traditional elements of the home shirt, the new away kit is meant to represent the new generation of German football fans, as well as the diversity of the country,” the DFB said back in March. “The diamond pattern on the shirt is also meant to represent an eagle wing. The look is rounded off by purple shorts and socks.”
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Traditionally, Germany’s change strip — with its home kit always white and black — has been red and black, or otherwise green. This edition is, in contrast, a vibrant pink, much to the dismay of some.
Chief among the complaints was that the new kit had no elements of the national flag. Nor, in a vaguer criticism, was it considered “German” enough. It was disparagingly mocked online, with some referring to it as a “Barbie” kit, and as a shirt not befitting a team of Germany’s stature.
Manufacturer Adidas was prepared for the backlash.
Many of the criticisms that were subsequently made were included in the video announcing the shirt’s release, which proved wildly popular online. The kit has proven particularly popular with younger fans.
Not that the shirt has only been endorsed by the young. Many of the current players, including the veteran Thomas Muller and Bayer Leverkusen’s 21-year-old Florian Wirtz, appeared in the promotional video.
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As did Rudi Voller, the current director of the national team but also one of the most popular players of all time having won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990.
“I find the away jersey very cool!” Wirtz said in the official release. “It’s something different and really extraordinary. We are looking forward to a European Championship at home and want to perform well in both jerseys.”
Bayern Munich’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, was also supportive of the kit.
“All this criticism is nonsense,” he said back in March. “The players can play bare-chested with a kit painted on. The most important thing is what happens on the pitch. I couldn’t care less about what they’re wearing.”
The success of the pink kit is a rare one. The DFB and the German public have had a variety of issues since the 2014 World Cup, with the national team becoming increasingly unpopular during a cycle of controversy and failure, which reached its lowest point between the back-to-back group stage eliminations at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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