Borussia Dortmund
“Shirt numbers have traditionally followed simple construction principles, as they were once sewn on by hand before heat-press technology became standard. Dortmund’s numbers, for example, follow a strict matrix-based construction, comparable to the seven-segment displays on old digital watches or substitution boards. While this radical simplicity has a certain aesthetic, it comes at the cost of legibility: the 5 could easily be mistaken for an S.”
Manchester City
“This one has a rather childlike quality, perhaps intentionally so. It almost looks like a tribute to the homemade signs that young fans bring to matches in hopes of getting a player’s jersey.”
Aston Villa
“This 7 is quite original and expressive. The typeface itself is mixing different styles of letters: some have Art Nouveau proportions, like the N, while others feel more modernist, like the M. While each element is individually striking, the combination of so many styles in one typeface makes it feel a bit busy. A great typeface is a cohesive collection of letters, rather than a collection of cool individual letters.”
Real Madrid
“An Antiqua typeface with serifs on a shirt is refreshing and very rare. Compared to the rigid, geometric construction of traditional shirt numbers, this design feels more organic and intuitive, bringing a hand-drawn quality to the numbers. It looks like an Art Nouveau-inspired decorative serif typeface similar to ITC Benguiat.”
Paris Saint-Germain
“Multicoloured numbers are quite rare, as are fonts that resemble brushstrokes. This one brings a handcrafted feel to the design. It reminds me of the banners often seen in Ultra culture. It’s also nice when the numbers match the jersey’s design, which uses the same brushstrokes for the middle stripe—a holistic design approach we rarely see.”
AC Milan
“The numbers have a more classic angular construction, with additional details and ornamental features. I also like the condensed, rounded type used for the player’s name; it’s a genre we don’t often see in this context.”
