Best England kits - England kits through the years

Tangible success has escaped England since 1966, but the Three Lions so often look good during their failures.

It's pretty hard to go wrong when designing an England strip, although some have certainly gone awry.

When assessing the 'greatness' of a football shirt, the on-field success of the nation is inextricably linked. A slickly designed strip will be swiftly forgotten should a premature group-stage exit ensue, and, on the other hand, a more diviside shirt on initial appearance may be thrust into English folklore should it be worn during a memorable tournament campaign.

90min's list of the ten best England shirts attempts to steer away from on-field bias and merely take into account the beauty of the kit itself. So, without further ado, here's our top ten.

10. 2001-03 Home

The list kicks off with a design atypical of England home kits over the years.

The Umbro era brought about some of the country's finest-ever shirts, and this strip certainly stands among them.

A singular vertical red stripe pierced the Three Lions crest to create a St. George's Cross, and although the navy contrasted sharply with the dominant white, this strip looked even tidier when alternate white shorts were worn.

9. 2022-23 Away

We're perhaps quick to slander modern-day designs and suggest they simply don't compare to their slick and more subtle predecessors.

In truth, England haven't worn too many kits in recent times which should be regarded as one of their all-time best, but this is one of them.

The Nike away strip from 2022-23 evokes some 90s spirit with its fresh red dominance and baby blue presence.

8. 1997-99 Home

See, look how good an all-white strip looks.

This oversized-looking shirt is a hipster's paradise when tournament football comes around, with the bold number on the front of the shirt an obvious standout feature.

The collar's mammoth, as are the sleeves, and you can bet it's as comfy as it looks.

7. 2009-10 Home

Veering towards the end of the Umbro era, this was generally a dark period of English football as the so-called 'Golden Generation' started to wear down.

This clean all-white strip may trigger PTSD from Fabio Capello's reign and a dismal 2010 World Cup, but that shouldn't take away from its wonderfully simple majesty.

6. 1995-96 Away

A kit that surely would've divided many at the time established itself in English football folklore as a result of England's Euro 96 campaign on home soil.

You just don't see kits of this greyish colour often (perhaps for good reason), but this just worked.

5. 1990-92 Third

Its lack of usage means it ranks lowly on the iconic scale, but in terms of beauty, very few can surpass England's third kit from the start of the 90s.

Boasting a stunning aquatic aesthetic and diamond pattern, this strip remains prominent in beer gardens up and down the country.

A cult classic drenched in nostalgia.

4. 1996 Home

Euro 96 may have ended in penalty shootout heartbreak, but that summer will forever be etched in the minds of English football fans.

The tournament's football wasn't particularly exhilarating, but England produced one of their all-time great performances against the Dutch on their way to a semi-final berth. It felt like football was finally coming home.

It didn't, but that's beside the point. How nice was this baggy Umbro number? Our previous entry celebrated the brilliance of baby blue, and its vibrant hints make this shirt a stunner.

3. 1980-84 Home

Forget Nike and Umbro, let's venture back to the Admiral days.

This was the last produced by the manufacturer, and what a beauty it was. England endured a pretty wretched period while donning the last of their Admiral shirts, with the lack of a vintage moment perhaps dwindling the shirt's significance.

However, from an aesthetic perspective, only few can top it. Admiral drifted away from one-colour prominence and ensured both red and blue stole the show here.

It's a quintessential 80s shirt with modern tinges.

2. 1965-74 Away

Okay, we may have succumbed slightly to on-field association, but the World Cup winning shirt is the epitome of a classic.

The 1966 heroes donned all-red in the final against West Germany, with Sir Geoff Hurst ensuring the shirt remains the most iconic in English football history.

Simply red with a crewneck collar, what else is there to discuss?

1. 1990-92 Home

Italia '90 should've been England's time in the sun under Sir Bobby Robson. Expectations were on the floor for the Three Lions, but how could you possibly perform poorly while donning Umbro's masterpiece?

While some might claim this is a shirt elevated by England's campaign in Italy, there's no denying the wonder of the kit itself.

A one-button collar came to the fore with crewnecks out the window, while the muted diamond zig-zag pattern works wonderfully in the background. The Three Lions crest remains vintage despite the hint of modernity which prevails over this shirt, while the shortest of navy shorts operate in perfect harmony.

The best.

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