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VfB Stuttgart have unveiled two special JAKO football shirts for their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign, with both designs taking inspiration from one of the most memorable kits in the German club’s history. Rather than simply adapting their regular Bundesliga shirts for European competition, Stuttgart and JAKO have created dedicated Champions League home and away kits. Both pay tribute to the distinctive shirt worn during the club’s memorable 1988-89 UEFA Cup campaign. VfB Stuttgart 2026-27 Champions League Home Shirt The new VfB Stuttgart 2026-27 Champions League home shirt retains the club’s instantly recognisable white and red identity. A white base is joined by Stuttgart’s traditional red chest band, which contains the LBBW sponsor branding. However, the most interesting detail is found within the fabric itself. JAKO have incorporated a subtle geometric pattern inspired by Stuttgart’s famous late-1980s shirts. The tonal treatment means the pattern remains understated from a distance while becoming much more noticeable when viewed up close. Red detailing appears around the collar, cuffs and shoulders, while a retro-style JAKO logo sits opposite the VfB Stuttgart crest. A gold star above the badge completes a shirt which manages to combine the club’s traditional appearance with its European history. Spectacular Red Champions League Away Kit While the home shirt uses the historic pattern subtly, the VfB Stuttgart 2026-27 Champions League away shirt makes it the centrepiece of the design. The jersey features a striking red and white all-over geometric pattern which immediately recalls Stuttgart’s European kits of the late 1980s. A white horizontal band cuts across the chest and carries the black LBBW sponsor logo, while the retro JAKO branding and Stuttgart crest sit above. The design is particularly effective with long sleeves, giving the geometric pattern space to continue across the entire shirt and creating an unmistakably retro appearance. It is a bold design, but one with a genuine connection to Stuttgart’s history rather than simply using a retro aesthetic for the sake of it. Inspired by Stuttgart’s 1988 European History The inspiration behind the new Champions League collection stretches back to Stuttgart’s European adventures during the 1988-89 season. That campaign proved to be one of the most memorable in the club’s history, with Stuttgart progressing all the way to the 1989 UEFA Cup Final. The German side eventually faced a Napoli team featuring Diego Maradona, with the Italian club winning an entertaining two-legged final 5-4 on aggregate. The distinctive patterns associated with Stuttgart’s shirts from that period have now been reimagined by JAKO for a new generation of supporters. The launch imagery strengthens that connection further, with vintage furniture, old football photographs, a traditional leather football and Stuttgart European memorabilia creating a deliberately nostalgic setting. Stuttgart Bring Their History Back to Europe The decision to produce dedicated Champions League shirts gives Stuttgart’s 2026-27 European campaign an added sense of occasion. The white home version provides a more traditional interpretation of the club’s famous colours, while the red shirt goes considerably further with its striking retro-inspired pattern. Small touches including the classic-style JAKO branding and period-inspired presentation help connect the new shirts with the era that inspired them. For supporters who remember Stuttgart’s European adventures of the late 1980s – and football shirt collectors who appreciate a proper retro design – these could prove to be two of the standout European shirts of the 2026-27 season. Buy a retro Vfb Stuttgart shirt from The Kitman: