The story of halved FC Barcelona jerseys

FC Barcelona's 2024/25 shirt departs from the traditional blaugrana stripes and instead features a halved design. But this is by no means the first time that this pattern has been used. In fact, there have been three previous occurrences that fans may or may not recall. We're here to trigger your memories!

For the first, we are going right back to the very origins of the club. As the earliest team photos show, in the club's inaugural 1899/99 season, the shirts were half 'blau' and half 'grana'.

Blaugrana origins

At the second ever meeting of the FC Barcelona 'board' on 13 December 1899, those present decreed that the colours would be those particular hues of red and blue. Nobody can be absolutely certain why those colours were chosen, if there was any reason at all, but the players looked positively dashing with one side blue and the other red, while the collars and sleeves were coloured the opposite way to enhance the contrast.

The design was completed with the club crest, which in those days was simply that of the city, and three white buttons, and it would appear to have been maintained all the way through to 1910, worn by the likes of club founder Joan Gamper, the man who scored the first ever goal against Madrid, Udo Steinberg, and the master dribbler Romà Forns. 

Centenary tribute

From 1910 onwards, Barça always wore blaugrana stripes. It would not be until 28 November 1998, to herald in the year building up to the club centenary, that the normal 1998/99 shirt was set aside and the team honoured its origins by reverting to a halved design. 

Launched amid fireworks over Camp Nou, that 1899-esque top, with a dark collar and sleeves, was also adorned with the years of the club's foundation and that of its centenary.  

Centred crest

The players kept that shirt for the rest of the 1999/00 campaign. That iconic jersey also had the unusual characteristic of the club crest appearing in the middle, rather than to the side, further honouring the original design.

The centred crest also appeared on the second and third strips, and was maintained until 2001/02. And in more recent times, this peculiar positioning also featured in the 'senyera' shirt used in 2022/23, but it is in 2024/25 that we'll be seeing a centred badge for the first time in 22 years on the home kit itself. 

That centenary jersey now features in memorable photographs of the likes of Josep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Rivaldo, Cocu, Xavi and Carles Puyol in their playing days. 

Treble winning jersey

In 2008, a halved design appeared for the third time. However, there was a difference, because for the first time it was 'blau' on the right and 'grana' on the left, the opposite to the previous incarnations. With the Foundation's name proudly emblazoned on the front, this was the shirt worn in one of the greatest years in club history. 

Donned by players of the ilk of Puyol, Piqué, Sergio, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi and Eto’o, this was the uniform worn as the team marched triumphantly to its first treble of Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League, masterminded by Pep Guardiola. 

As the club starts raring up for its 125th anniversary celebrations, the halved shirt is about to appear again. Let's hope that it's a harbinger of success!