Why the 1986/87
Napoli Home Jersey is a
Standout Retro Classic
When people talk about iconic football shirts, the 1986/87 Napoli home jersey sits comfortably among the very best. More than just a piece of fabric, this sky-blue shirt carries the story of one of the greatest players in football history, Diego Maradona, and a team that achieved the unthinkable: Napoli’s first-ever Serie A title. The blend of history, design, and legendary performances makes it a standout retro jersey that continues to resonate with fans decades later.
The Design: Simple, Bold,
and Timeless
The jersey itself was produced by NR (Ennerre), a brand closely tied to many Italian clubs during the 1980s. Like many kits of its time, the design was simple—no flashy patterns, gradients, or modern textures. Instead, it relied on solid colors and crisp detailing. The shirt was a rich, light blue that immediately captured the identity of the club and the city of Naples, paired with a white collar and sleeve trims that gave it a clean, elegant finish.
The sponsor across the chest, Buitoni, a well-known Italian food company, is now etched into football history largely because of its connection to this Napoli side. The sponsor logo, bold and white against the blue background, created a balance between commercial branding and football tradition that today’s kits often struggle to achieve. This stripped-down aesthetic, with no over-complication, is part of why retro jersey collectors still seek it out—it feels pure, representative of its era, and instantly recognizable.
Maradona and the Team That Made History
Of course, the real reason this shirt is remembered lies not just in its look, but in what was accomplished in it. At the heart of Napoli’s success was Diego Armando Maradona, arguably the greatest player the sport has ever seen. By 1986, he had already delivered Argentina the World Cup with a tournament performance for the ages, and he carried that same brilliance into his club football. Wearing the Napoli jersey, Maradona became more than just a footballer—he was a cultural symbol, a hero to the city, and the driving force behind their climb to the top of Italian football.
But this was not just a one-man show. Napoli’s squad in 1986/87 was full of fighters and talents who complemented Maradona’s genius. Bruno Giordano, the sharp striker, and Fernando De Napoli, the tireless midfielder, were crucial. Defender Ciro Ferrara, who would go on to have a distinguished career at Juventus, began making his name as part of this historic side. Together, this team captured the imagination of a city long marginalized in Italian football and dominated by northern giants like Juventus, Milan, and Inter.
A Season of Destiny
That season, Napoli not only won the Serie A title but did so in style, battling past the heavyweights of Italian football. They combined flair with grit, and with Maradona pulling the strings, they turned dreams into reality. To cap it off, they also won the Coppa Italia, completing a domestic double—something that cemented the 1986/87 campaign as the most celebrated season in the club’s history up to that point.
Why It Endures
The 1986/87 Napoli home jersey isn’t just remembered because it’s retro. It’s remembered because it represents triumph against the odds, the marriage of a city and its adopted hero, and the birth of Napoli as a force in Italian football. When you see the sky-blue shirt with Buitoni across the chest, you don’t just see a kit—you see Maradona raising his arms to the heavens, you see a city united, and you see the underdog story that became legend.
For collectors, fans, and romantics of the game, that’s what makes this jersey a true standout classic.
