Home, away, third - what the difference is

A club puts out three or four shirts a season and they are not the same thing dressed differently. Each one exists for a reason, and knowing the reason makes choosing easy.

Home: the colours everyone knows

The home kit is the club in its own colours - the red of Liverpool, the stripes of Atletico, the white of Real Madrid. It changes the least from season to season, it is what people picture when they picture the club, and it is the safest shirt to buy for someone else.

Away: for when the colours clash

Two teams cannot play in colours a referee or a viewer might confuse, so the visiting side changes. That is the whole origin of the away kit, and because it is not tied to the club's own colours it is where designers take the most liberty. Away shirts are often the more interesting design of the two.

Third: for when away clashes too

A third kit exists for the nights when neither home nor away works - most often in Europe, against a side whose colours happen to catch both. It is made in smaller numbers, it is usually the boldest design of the season, and that combination is why collectors go for it.

Fourth and special editions

Some clubs add a fourth shirt, or a one-off for an anniversary or a cup final. PSG's Jordan collaboration is the best-known example. These are the shirts that are hardest to find a season later, which is exactly why they are worth having.

So which one do you buy?

If it is a gift and you are not sure, buy the home shirt. If it is for yourself and you already own the home shirt, the third is usually the one you will enjoy wearing most. And if you want the design people will ask you about, look at the special editions.