Galatasaray SK (Away 2012/13)

The previous two posts were my make-up for Flashback Friday. This is the one for today – although I had earmarked it for Thursday. Having just posted Galatasaray‘s current home jersey, I wanted to also comment on their away jersey.

Nike does not have too many general designs lately. Most clubs get their own customized version. However, the design of Cimbom‘s away jersey is the exception. Shakhtar Donetsk uses a very similar one and the current Australia jersey also has it. In this case, we have a white jersey, with a vertical yellow stripe on the left side which is bordered by two thin red bands. Within the yellow stripe, we find the club’s crest. In order to make the sponsor stand out, the stripe is broken which in this case looks a bit odd, since the two-lined sponsor barely penetrates the stripe, but forces a rather large gap. However, sponsor, swoosh and crest are in the perfect positions. Where the shirt starts looking a bit odd is on the right sleeve, where we see a repetition of the vertical stripe. It being the sleeve, the band is now horizontal creating an odd visual. I am also not big on the sleeve sponsors.

The back is all white and you can only see the sleeve band. Name and number are applied in red in a nice font. Again, as with the home jersey the sponsor on the back makes things look too crowded.

Honestly, I always like jerseys where a stripe in the club’s colors runs down the left side through the club’s crest. Some of my favorite jerseys feature that pattern. But for some reason it does not work here quite that well. First of all, the crest has a white background and is somewhat squeezed between the red bands. Add to it that the three stars are in red and it almost disappears. Also, with the huge sponsor a huge gap is necessary. But mostly, I wish the band on the arm were left off. I think a thinner stripe on the front and an otherwise plain look would have made this into a great jersey, but like this it seems half-baked. An attempt to be original, but more trying than actually achieving it. Add to it the multitude of sponsors and it is a bit too much. I am sorry, I really would love to like this one …

My rating: 6/10 stars.

How do you rate this shirt?