Season 2014 will remain in the hearts and minds of Atlético de Madrid fans as an exceptional season that saw players “Risk Everything” match by match to be crowned La Liga Champions. A philosophy based on teamwork and a winning spirit put the club firmly back on the European Football map.
This same winning spirit was responsible for the victory in April 1975, when Atletico de Madrid defeated the South American champions Independiente 2-0 in the second leg of the Intercontinental Cup, winning 2-1 on aggregate to become the champions of the world for the first time.
To honor this glorious moment in Atlético de Madrid’s history, their new home kit for this season was inspired by the 1975 side and will be worn during the 40th anniversary of the triumph.
The new home shirt replicates the same design worn by the side who became world champions with three wide stripes on the front and back, as well as the distinctive white box to display the players’ numbers on the back.
To add a subtle modern flourish the shirt’s stripes have a tonal background chevron graphic on the front. The chevron also echoes the shape of the bottom of the Atlético club crest.
The shirt features a unique blue polo neck collar with a V-shaped insert and high blue cuffs on the sleeves.
Inside the neck is a pennant tab featuring the Spanish flag and “Campeón del Mundo 1975″ (Champions of the world) to once again mark one of Atlético’s greatest ever achievements.
The new home shorts are blue with a white stripe along each side, while the new home socks are red with a white band at the top and a wide tonal stripe consisting of chevrons.
While this new kit features Nike’s signature design details, it also offers players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability.
The new home kit will be available at Atlético de Madrid Official Stores, specialist stores and at nike.com in Spain from June 6 and the rest of the world from June 26.
NIKE DRI-FIT TECHNOLOGY
Nike Dri-Fit technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirt and shorts where it quickly evaporates. This helps players to perform at their absolute best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.
The laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels featured in key areas of the kit increases air circulation to the players’ bodies to regulate their temperatures throughout ninety minutes on the pitch.
The kits are made of a new dual-knit fabric consisting of both cotton and recycled polyester, which as well as removing sweat offers a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Nike continues to place environmental sustainability at the heart of their kits, which are again made from recycled polyester this year. These kits have been created to provide both unrivalled performance benefits and lower environmental impact.
The kits are made from recycled plastic water bottles. The shorts are 100 percent recycled polyester; the shirts are 96 percent recycled polyester, while the socks are 78 percent.
Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles, and over the last four years Nike has diverted almost two billion of these bottles from landfills to produce their kits.
By using recycled polyester Nike is also reducing the energy consumed in the entire process by up to 30 percent.
A NEW AND UPDATED PERFECT FIT
Nike took 3D body scans of many of the world’s leading footballers to create a kit with an updated and perfect new fit. The new fit allows the body to move more naturally within the kit, and so effortlessly improves players’ comfort and performance.
The Nike Elite Match fit sock for 2014 also boasts a sleeker and updated design created especially for football.
Nike’s designers spoke to many of today’s elite players to gain an insight in to what they wanted from a sock during a game. There are now strategically cushioned zones to provide comfort and protection around the big toe and the anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support provides a firm foundation for the foot to prevent any slipping.
There is less material on the sock to enhance players’ touch, while flex grooves on the ankle and top of the foot prevent bunching.
NIKE PRO BASELAYER
To provide players with the very best innovation for modern football, the Nike Pro baselayer to be worn underneath the match-day kit is the lightest ever and boasts increased breathability.
There is a full range of baselayer styles for players to wear whatever the conditions, allowing them to remain cool and dry at the height of summer, and warm and dry in the depths of winter.
The Nike baselayer short has also been redesigned for 2014 after a comprehensive study of the needs of the world’s leading players.
“When we asked players to talk about the kind of protection they need during a match, several of them showed us scars on their upper-back hip area from sliding,” says Nike’s Global Creative Director Martin Lotti. “We set out to add more protection, while not in any way sacrificing the need for lightweight breathability.”
The Nike Pro Combat Ultralight Slider Short has been designed to meet these specific needs and allow players to now tackle and go to ground with even greater confidence.
Featuring increased abrasion protection zones to match the players’ sliding pattern, the short is also 20 percent lighter than previous designs and made with 87 percent recycled polyester. A mesh area has been added to cool the areas that generate the most heat.