Ranking Atlético Madrid's 10 Best Home Kits of All Time

Atletico Madrid's famous red, white and blue kit has more than one origin story.

Some say the early kits were the product of unused material for mattresses, hence the club's enduring nickname 'Los Colchoneros' - the mattress makers.

Another legend is that Atleti sourced their first strips at the turn of the 20th century from Blackburn Rovers. However, on one trip to England, a board member returned with red and white Southampton shirts, which were matched with blue Blackburn shorts - a colour combination which stuck.

Whatever the true reason, Atleti have one of the most recognisable strips in all of football. Here are their ten best home kits over the years...

10. The Last Minute Replacement (2006 - 2007)

We start off with the kit that wasn't intended to be used at all.

Nike had originally produced a shirt of red-and-white halves for the 2006/07 season. However, fan reaction was hugely negative, with many protesting over the removal of the club's famous stripes.

The manufacturer bowed down to pressure and produced another more traditional-looking home jersey instead, while keeping their original design as an away strip.

9. Nice to Mita You (1987 - 1990)

This late eighties design marked the first time Los Rojiblancos sported a kit sponsor, with Japanese electronics company Mita paying 240m pesetas for the privilege of interrupting the famous stripes.

The vintage Puma effort has become an enduring fan favourite (worn by the likes of Andoni Goikoetxea and Julio Salinas) would not look out of place down at five-a-side in 2020.

8. 'Land of Fire' Title-Winning Kit (2013- 2014)

Sponsorship from the Azerbaijani tourist board raised eyebrows in 2014 but as the team kept winning, any scepticism about their kit disappeared.

In fact, everyone came to love the red collars and subtle blue detail as Diego Simeone's side marched their way to the La Liga title.

Imagine a snarling Diego Costa running at you in a 'Land of Fire' top. Scary.

7. No Carbs Before Marbs (1995 - 1996)

Azerbaijan weren't the first to use Atletico Madrid players' torsos as travel brochures.

Controversial club president Jesus Gil (also the mayor of Marbella) used Atleti to promote his up and coming tourist destination back in the 1980s.

Aside from the sponsor, the Puma design worked nicely, while the blue and red shorts with 3D effect numbering looked especially retro.

6. Movie Madness (2003 - 2004)

When Columbia Pictures sponsored Los Indios' kit between 2003, few might've envisaged seeing the logos of Hellboy and Spider-Man front and centre on their red-and-white stripes.

But that's exactly what happened. The likes of Carlos Aguilera and Fernando Torres would play every week, without knowing which film was next to be featured on their shirt.

Aside from the sponsor, the blue lining of the sleeve and neckline added some much needed variation to previous iterations of the jersey.

Among the 16 films adorned throughout the sponsorship deal were: Closer, Anacondas, Resident Evil 2, Gothika, Spanglish, European Gigolo, White Chicks and xXx 2.

What a year for cinema.

5. Claws Out (2017 - 2018)

Clearly, Nike had learnt their lesson about trying to stylistically alter Atléti's home kit too much from 2006 - and this time they kept the stripes.

Instead, the manufacturer added claw-like lines across the jersey, which was a nice update and freshened up the club's on-field looks.

Costa and co scratched and scraped their way to win the Europa League that season.

4. Traditional Threads with Blue Sleeves (2012 - 2013)

Sometimes simple is better.

2012/13's pared-back effort was a welcome change to bring in a more traditional look, having gone through changes in the red tone and other small alterations in previous seasons.

And many would have easily recognised the team when they went on to lift the Copa del Rey that year, as well as smack four goals past Chelsea to win the UEFA Super Cup.

3. The One with the Red Collars (2009 - 2010)

The thing that stands out the most about this kit was the red collars.

It just elevated the usual look of Los Rojiblancos. And with the likes of Diego Forlán scoring plenty of goals in these threads, including his brace to beat Fulham in the 2010 Europa League final.

2. A Splash of Royal Blue (2014 - 2015)

Sticking with the love for collars, here's a later iteration of Los Colchoneros' jersey that also stood out - but for the blue collars.

Having just won the 2013/14 La Liga title, Nike needed to produce a kit that would continue to elevate the profile of the rapidly rising club. And the added touch of royal blue certainly does the trick - not only with the collars, but also with the sleeves.

1. Plain Red-and-White (1972 - 1980)

The simplest of the bunch.

Red and white stripes, with the club emblem. That's it. That's the kit.

Masterpiece.

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