Patches for Football Shirts: Know the Types and Their Meanings

Football shirt patches are badges that represent a team's achievements, affiliations and historical moments, and are an essential part of official shirts. Over the years, teams and federations have created different types of patches to celebrate or highlight certain events and achievements. In addition, all football shirts include the team's crest and, in many cases, the logo of its sponsor (although some special versions may not include the sponsor's logo, such as Real Madrid or HP).

Next, we'll explore the most common types of patches and what they mean:

1. League or Competition Patch

One of the most popular patches is the one that represents the league or tournament that the team is playing in. For example, Premier League teams wear the iconic gold league patch on the sleeve, while UEFA Champions League clubs have a patch that displays the logo and the number of titles they have won. This type of patch symbolizes the team’s affiliation and its history in the competition.

Example: Teams participating in the Champions League wear the patch with the UEFA logo and, if they have won the title five times or more, they receive a special version called the "Starball".

2. Champion Patch or “Badge of Honor”

This type of patch is a badge of honor awarded to teams that have won a specific competition. Its design usually highlights the number of victories or championships won by the team in that competition. The "FIFA Champions Badge" is one of the most famous and is awarded by FIFA to the champions of the Club World Cup.

Example: Real Madrid wear this patch after winning the Club World Cup, displaying it in the center of the shirt during the season following the title.

3. Commemorative or Special Patch

Teams sometimes use commemorative patches for special occasions, such as birthdays, important dates in the team's history, or to honor a notable individual. These patches usually have a unique design and are used in a limited number of games, making them collectibles.

Example: In 2022, AC Milan celebrated its 120th anniversary with a special patch that included its founding dates and representation of its achievements.

4. Special Date Commemorative Patch

This patch is used on shirts that commemorate the date of a historic final, such as the Champions League, World Cup or European Championship final. This patch celebrates a specific match or victory and highlights the iconic moment in the history of the club or national team, and is usually printed with the exact date and name of the stadium where the match took place.

Example: Real Madrid have released a shirt with a commemorative patch that displays the date "26 May 2018" and the "Olimpiyskiy" stadium, in reference to the Champions League final against Liverpool in the 2017-18 season.

Conclusion

Patches on football shirts reflect a team’s history and achievements, allowing fans to feel more connected to their team’s colors. These distinctive elements help make each shirt unique and memorable. Do you have a shirt with a special patch?