{"product_id":"1978-80-saudi-arabia-longsleeve-s-21-match-issue","title":"Saudi Arabia 1978-80 Admiral Match Issue Vintage Shirt","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eSaudi Arabia 1978-80 Admiral Jersey — Long-Sleeved Match Issue, the Grail for Asian Football Collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBetween 1978 and 1980, Saudi Arabian football experienced a period of intense structuring, coinciding with the emergence of major Asian competitions. This \u003cstrong\u003eSaudi Arabia match issue jersey, branded Admiral\u003c\/strong\u003e, flocked with the number 21 and cut in long sleeves, is an item that genuinely saw action on the field — not a copy, not a replica, an \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage match jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e with all that entails in terms of rarity and history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eJersey details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:2;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1978-1980\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e Saudi Arabia (National Team)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Home\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Admiral\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e LITTLE PULLS — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCut:\u003c\/strong\u003e Long sleeves\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber:\u003c\/strong\u003e #21 — period flocking\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Match Issue — jersey prepared for play\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhat this jersey represents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eIn the late 1970s, the \u003cstrong\u003eSaudi Arabia national team\u003c\/strong\u003e was in full construction. Gulf football was beginning to professionalize seriously, driven by growing investments and an already deeply rooted popular passion. The \u003cstrong\u003eAFC Asian Cup\u003c\/strong\u003e was then the continental pinnacle, and the Saudis were starting to establish themselves as a major regional force — they would go on to win several continental titles in the following decades, laying the groundwork during this pivotal period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIt was also the era when \u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral\u003c\/strong\u003e, a cult English kit manufacturer in the 1970s, supplied several national teams outside Europe with recognized technical expertise. Seeing Admiral on a Saudi Arabia jersey at that time is to touch upon the nascent globalization of football, long before Nike or Adidas locked down contracts with all federations worldwide. A rare textile testimony to a bygone era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eMoments etched in this jersey\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe emergence of Saudi football on the Asian stage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBetween 1978 and 1980, Saudi Arabia consolidated its status as a serious contender for continental titles. These years marked a collective rise to power that would lead to resounding successes in the following decades in the \u003cstrong\u003eAFC Asian Cup\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral, the British kit manufacturer that dressed the world\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdmiral was at the peak of its global glory in the second half of the 1970s — the brand dressed England, but also many international teams. This contract with the Saudi Federation symbolizes a kit manufacturer with a truly global reach ahead of its time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA number 21 that has lived\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe #21 flocking on a national team jersey from this era is not insignificant — it's a \u003cstrong\u003ematch issue\u003c\/strong\u003e number, prepared for a specific player in an official competition context. Not a souvenir from the stands, but a tool for a professional footballer from 1978-1980.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eAuthentic vs Replica\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003eAn \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage match issue jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e is a category all its own in the world of collecting. This is not a jersey made to be sold in stores — it's an item prepared by the federation to be worn during official matches. The cut, the finishes, the materials: everything is designed for the player, not for the supporter. And that's palpable both to the touch and to the eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis one is rated \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10 with some little pulls\u003c\/strong\u003e — honesty dictates mentioning it, but let's be clear: that's exactly what you expect from a jersey that has lived. No tears, no irreparable stains, just the slight marks of a textile that has endured more than four decades. For a \u003cstrong\u003e1978-1980 match issue jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e, this condition is truly remarkable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eVintage size guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage sizes from the 1970s-1980s\u003c\/strong\u003e absolutely do not correspond to current standards. An Admiral \"S\" from that era will be significantly more fitted than a modern small — cuts were designed for different body types, with narrower shoulders and often a shorter body length. Never order your usual size without checking the actual measurements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore buying, measure one of your jerseys that fits you well laid flat: shoulder to shoulder width, total back length, chest circumference. Then compare with the \u003cstrong\u003eactual measurements of the vintage jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e indicated in the description or available upon request. This is the only way to avoid unpleasant surprises and fully enjoy your collector's item.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eWhy have it in your collection\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAsian national team jerseys from the 1970s\u003c\/strong\u003e are among the rarest and least documented pieces in the collecting market. Saudi Arabia under Admiral, in a long-sleeved match issue version with a number — this is a cross-section of rarity criteria that makes this piece almost impossible to find. The market for \u003cstrong\u003evintage Asian football jerseys\u003c\/strong\u003e has been booming for several years, and examples of this quality sell quickly as soon as they appear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eAt 8\/10, with little pulls but nothing serious — there aren't many in this condition that resurface after 45 years of existence. The \u003cstrong\u003elong sleeves\u003c\/strong\u003e add an extra dimension of rarity: long-sleeved versions of national teams were produced in even more limited quantities than short-sleeved ones, often reserved for matches played in particular climatic conditions. Serious collector of \u003cstrong\u003einternational vintage football\u003c\/strong\u003e, it's now or never.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eTo go further\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"line-height:2.2;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saudi_Arabia_national_football_team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eSaudi Arabia national football team - Wikipedia\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.footballkitarchive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eFootball Kit Archive — History of jerseys\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.the-afc.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eAFC — Asian Football Confederation\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-style:italic;line-height:1.8;\"\u003eA piece of this nature doesn't get a second chance on the market — if you're here, it's probably not by chance. Go for it or pass, but don't say we didn't warn you.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Asia","offers":[{"title":"Unique","offer_id":54015789957395,"sku":"239843","price":2499.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_1978-80-SAUDI-ARABIA-LONGSLEEVE-S-21-Match-Issue-239843_1.jpg?v=1775551793","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1978-80-saudi-arabia-longsleeve-s-21-match-issue","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}