As the Lunar New Year approaches, several top European football clubs have embraced the occasion with special kits designed to commemorate the Year of the Snake. This year, the festivities will begin on Wednesday, in line with the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
Paris Saint-Germain stood out by wearing their Lunar New Year kit during their match against Stade de Reims at Parc des Princes. The shirt’s back features a unique “Year of the Snake” typeface, created in collaboration with designer Jay Chou and his streetwear label, Phantaci, displaying players’ names in Mandarin script while the front remained unchanged.
Barcelona is set to follow suit, as both their men’s and women’s teams will don special prematch Lunar New Year kits during their upcoming matches against Alavés and Levante. These shirts will also showcase the players’ names in Chinese.
In the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur debuted a limited edition prematch shirt adorned with a golden serpent. However, the team’s fortunes were not as bright as the shirt, as they suffered a fourth consecutive league loss at home against Leicester City. Chelsea joined the celebrations with a scaly black and gold design for their prematch warm-up against Manchester City. Interestingly, while Manchester City did not produce a one-off kit this year, they entertained fans with a pre-match show featuring traditional martial arts and a captivating dragon dance.
Manchester United also released a Lunar New Year-themed shirt back in December, though it did not make an appearance during their recent victory over Fulham. Meanwhile, Championship club Sheffield United took a bold approach by designing a bright and intricate kit that drew attention for its unique aesthetic, although its vividness might overwhelm some viewers.
As clubs across Europe celebrate the Lunar New Year, it highlights the growing cultural appreciation within the football community, fostering a sense of unity and recognition among fans around the world. This embrace of diverse cultural traditions not only enriches the sporting experience but also strengthens the connection between clubs and their international supporter base.