Atlético de Madrid and Nike have unveiled the 2025-2026 home kit, a design that takes fans on a journey through time. After years of experimental patterns and contemporary graphics, this jersey restores the essence of the club’s visual identity—bold red and white stripes—while integrating the latest performance technologies. It’s a kit that embodies the spirit of Atlético: tradition, resilience, and pride.
Design and Technical Features
The new home shirt makes an immediate statement with its five vivid red vertical stripes alternating with four white ones, a pattern that runs seamlessly across the front and back. This uninterrupted design is a hallmark of Atlético’s heritage, bringing back the purity of stripes that supporters have long associated with the club’s golden eras.
One of the most striking details is the retro-inspired white collar, a design choice that recalls classic football aesthetics from the mid-20th century. Complementing the collar is the yellow-outlined club crest, positioned proudly on the chest for maximum visibility. Blue Nike logos complete the design, adding contrast to the predominantly red-and-white theme.
From a technical perspective, the jersey belongs to Nike’s Match collection and features Nike Dri-FIT ADV technology for moisture control and temperature regulation. Crafted from 100% recycled polyester, the fabric is lightweight, quick-drying, and tailored for maximum mobility, ensuring comfort both on the pitch and in the stands.
History and Inspiration
Stripes have defined Atlético de Madrid since 1911, when the club adopted the red-and-white pattern inspired by English side Southampton. Over the decades, variations emerged—some with thicker stripes, others with modern effects—but the classic layout has always symbolized Atlético’s unwavering identity.
The 2025-2026 home kit marks a return to this purist approach, restoring the iconic look last seen in the 2019-2020 season, before a period of design experimentation. The inclusion of a retro-style collar echoes jerseys from the 1970s and 1980s, an era that produced legendary players like Luis Aragonés and witnessed Atlético’s rise as a major European force.
The yellow outline around the crest also carries historical significance. It references design details found in earlier kits, while serving a functional role by enhancing visibility under stadium lights and high-definition broadcasts.
By blending these retro cues with a cutting-edge Nike template, this kit strikes a perfect balance between heritage and modernity—a visual manifesto of Atlético’s motto: “Coraje y Corazón” (Courage and Heart).
Usage and Debut
The new kit will make its competitive debut in August 2025, when Atlético begins its La Liga campaign at the Civitas Metropolitano. Fans can also expect to see the team wearing it during UEFA Champions League nights, ensuring the iconic stripes are showcased on football’s biggest stages.
The launch campaign, themed “Más que Rojo y Blanco” (More than Red and White), celebrates the bond between the club and its supporters, emphasizing the jersey as a symbol of identity, culture, and passion.
Did You Know?
- The first Atlético kit with uninterrupted classic stripes since 2019-2020.
- The T90-inspired collar pays homage to Nike’s early-2000s designs, linking two eras of football aesthetics.
- Atlético’s nickname, “Los Colchoneros” (The Mattress Makers), originated because early mattresses in Spain had red and white stripes—just like the club’s shirts.
- The red and white colors were originally chosen for their availability and affordability, using leftover fabric from mattress covers in the early 1900s..
