The Showboat marketplace is now LIVE and we've got the some of the biggest suppliers in the U.K already on board (with loads more to follow over the coming weeks). The point of the marketplace is to create a single hub of trusted, authentic shirt suppliers in one space with the most competitive prices for buyers. We've spent a year working on this and your support at this early juncture will only make the marketplace stronger and keep our suppliers doing what they do best: sourcing the very best shirts.
So, with that in mind. Here's this week's first XI: the eleven shirts were buzzing to have for sale on Showboat this week. Enjoy. And grab one before they're gone.
Napoli 1991-93 Match Issue Home Shirt (L)
This stunning Napoli number stands out for a number of reasons. It's rare to see shirts from this era in long sleeves. It's rarer still to find a match issue one. Likely to have been worn by a substitute given the number 15, there's also a strong chance it's matchworn given obvious signs of game use with slight mud marks on the back. The shirt was never publicly sold to this specification making it extremely rare. This would be a stunning addition to any collection, especially those chasing 90s Serie A grails.
AC Milan 1992-93 Home Shirt (L)
An iconic AC Milan shirt worn during their title-winning 1992-93 season. Curiously, the shirt is the only time both adidas and Motta were paired together on an AC Milan shirt despite the historic partnerships both have with the club. It was worn by the likes of Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard in a season when the club also won the Supercoppa Italiana in this strip. The shirt has long-lasting European connations too as Milan wore it throughout their Champions League campaign, which was actually the first time the tournament went by that name having been rebranded from the European Cup. Marseille beat Milan 1-0 in the final that year, a game which turned out to be heartbreaking on a number of levels as Marco van Basten suffered an ankle injury he would never recover from. It turned out to be his last official game for the club despite staying with the club for another two seasons.
Manchester United 1994-96 Third Shirt (XXL)
A quietly iconic Manchester United shirt that, unlike many United shirts of that era, was actually worn over two seasons. It was the shirt worn the day they won the league title in dramatic fashion at the Riverside Stadium after Kevin Keegan's infamous rant. The club won the FA Cup that season after finishing trophyless the season before. Worn by the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Andrei Kanchelskis, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona.
Brazil 1991-93 Home Shirt (L)
One of the biggest bargains on Showboat currently at just £100. The only slight against this shirt is that it wasn't worn at a World Cup but it was worn at the 1991 Copa America, where Argentina pipped Brazil in the final. It was worn by the likes of Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Bebeto, Edmundo and Romario. It also represents a high point in Brazils short lived but fondly remembered partnership with Umbro.
Blackburn Rovers 1994-95 Home Shirt (XL)
One of the most historic and beloved football shirts in Premier League history. For some the shirt represents the (temporary) end to Manchester United's dominance on English football. For others, it's about Alan Shearer having his moment of glory. For everyone else it's about the shirt itself. Beautifully symmetrical, nostalgic sponsor, cult manufacturer. Worn by the likes of Chris Sutton, Graeme Le Saux, Colin Hendry, Tim Sherwood and, of course, the Premier League top scorer, Alan Shearer.
Napoli 2000-2001 Home Shirt (XL)
The second Napoli inclusion this week but we're a sucker for a lager sponsor (and a lager, let's be honest). The club started the millennium back in Serie A after two years in Serie B, but it was to prove a tough campaign as they were relegated on the last day of the season. Worn by the likes of Edmundo and Nicola Amoruso, the shirt has continued to be something of a cult classic thanks to the double Peroni logo, the beautiful Napoli crest and, of course, that Diadora logo. A brilliant long-sleeved number, this.
Celtic 1991-92 Football Shirt (XL)
This was not a vintage season for Celtic under manager Liam Brady. But that's not always an indicator of a great shirt. This retro classic has aged spectacularly well thanks in part to the wonderfully unfashionable Ford logo (that is now very much back in fashion). This was worn by the likes of Paul Lambert and John Collins and comes in excellent condition. Not to be missed.
Borussia Dortmund 1995-96 Home Shirt (S)
Quite simply, one of the most iconic shirts of the 90s. This Drake Ramberg designed masterpiece should sit in every serious collectors collection. It was worn by Dortmund when they won their second Bundesliga title in a row and by Matthias Sammer in the year he won the Ballon d'Or. This shirt, in excellent condition, is fantastic value.
Sampdoria 1994-95 Third Shirt (XL)
A marvel of a shirt from an era when just about every football fan in the world fell in love with Sampdoria. The 94-95 season wasn't the absolute pinnacle for 'La Samp' who won their one and only league title several years earlier, but it was still well within their golden era when they were managed by Sven-Gorän Eriksson and littered with world class players like Clarence Seedorf and Enrico Chiesa. This one, with Mancini #10 on the back, is peak nostalgia.
Ajax 2020-21 Away Shirt (S)
A modern classic that is currently one of the most displayed items on the Showboat collectors app. This season was a highpoint for the team with them winning the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup under Erik ten Hag. Worn by the likes of Jurriën Timber, Lisandro Martinez, Mohammed Kudus, Ryan Gravenberch, Dušan Tadić and Antony - the shirt represents a time when Ajax were on the cusp of establishing themselves as a major European force. Looks great under a jacket in the pub too.
Werder Bremen 1994-95 Home Shirt (S)
This is a forgotten gem alright. You'll be forgiven if we can't reel off several legendary players who wore this because, frankly, we can't. This Bremen side weren't bad - they finished second in the 94/95 Bundesliga campaign - but nor were they great. And sometimes that's fine. Sometimes all that matters is finding a relatively obscure foreign shirt from the 90s and buying it because it looks bloody good.
