{"product_id":"1978-80-saudi-arabia-shirt-m-19-match-issue","title":"Saudi Arabia 1978-80 Admiral Match Issue #19 Vintage Shirt","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eSaudi Arabia 1978-80 Admiral Jersey — Match Issue #19, a piece from the desert\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBetween 1978 and 1980, the \u003cstrong\u003eSaudi Arabia national team\u003c\/strong\u003e competed in its first major Asian qualifying campaigns wearing kits designed by \u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral\u003c\/strong\u003e, a British equipment manufacturer at the height of its glory. This \u003cstrong\u003ematch issue jersey number 19\u003c\/strong\u003e is not a vague replica — it's a field garment, worn during real international matches, at a time when Saudi football was just beginning to assert itself on the Asian stage.\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\u003eEquipment manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Admiral\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey — slight traces from the field, consistent with a match issue from this period\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;\"\u003eThe late 70s was a pivotal period for \u003cstrong\u003eAsian football\u003c\/strong\u003e. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) structured its competitions, qualifications for the \u003cstrong\u003eWorld Cup\u003c\/strong\u003e became a real challenge, and nations like Saudi Arabia invested heavily in their national football. It is in this context that this team played official matches in this \u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral match issue\u003c\/strong\u003e jersey, at a time when each international match represented a considerable event for Saudi football.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eAdmiral, then a partner of many international federations — including the famous English national team — brought at that time a recognized technical know-how in the manufacture of \u003cstrong\u003eprofessional football jerseys\u003c\/strong\u003e. Having your jersey signed by Admiral was a guarantee of seriousness, a mark of international legitimacy for a team in full construction. This number 19 clearly indicates operational use: this jersey was assigned to a specific player, for a group, for matches.\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 rise of Saudi football in the late 70s\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1978-1980 period coincides with the rise of the Saudi federation, which multiplied official and friendly matches against the best Asian teams. It was at this time that the foundations of modern Saudi football were laid, with locally trained players and an increasingly structured technical staff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAsian qualifications for the 1978 and 1982 World Cups\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSaudi team\u003c\/strong\u003e participated in the AFC qualification zones for the World Cups of this period, notably facing regional opponents such as South Korea, Iran, or Kuwait. These qualifying matches, sometimes played in extreme conditions, are exactly the type of matches for which this kind of \u003cstrong\u003ematch issue jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e was prepared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral and its iconic equipment\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBetween 1974 and 1982, Admiral equipped some of the most watched national teams in the world, making its productions from this decade true collector's items. An \u003cstrong\u003eAdmiral jersey from the 70s\u003c\/strong\u003e intended for an Asian team is today extremely rare on the \u003cstrong\u003evintage football\u003c\/strong\u003e market — the majority of these pieces have not survived.\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;\"\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003ematch issue jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e — or \"match worn\" — is a separate category in the world of \u003cstrong\u003evintage football jerseys\u003c\/strong\u003e. Unlike a replica sold to the general public, this type of jersey is made to be worn by a player during an official match. The numbering, the cut, the finishes: everything is designed for the field, not for a sports store display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis jersey features a number 19 directly affixed to the back, characteristic of an \u003cstrong\u003eofficial match preparation\u003c\/strong\u003e. In 9\/10 condition, it shows the discreet but authentic signs of real use, which considerably enhances its historical interest. A replica from this era would have neither this numbering nor this manufacturing authenticity.\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 jerseys from the 70s\u003c\/strong\u003e are sized according to the standards of the time, which do not correspond to modern sizes. A \u003cstrong\u003evintage Admiral size M\u003c\/strong\u003e from 1978 generally corresponds to a current S\/M, with a shorter cut, narrower sleeves, and a different drape than what we know today. Do not order based solely on your usual size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore buying, measure your own current jersey flat: take the shoulder-to-shoulder width and the total length, then compare with the actual product measurements available on the product sheet. This is the most reliable method to avoid unpleasant surprises with a \u003cstrong\u003evintage collector's jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e that cannot be tried on in-store.\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;\"\u003eA \u003cstrong\u003eSaudi Arabia Admiral match issue jersey from the 70s\u003c\/strong\u003e is practically non-existent on the \u003cstrong\u003evintage collectible football\u003c\/strong\u003e market. Admiral pieces from this decade are already highly sought after for European national teams — so imagine for an Asian national team. Collectors specializing in \u003cstrong\u003erare AFC jerseys\u003c\/strong\u003e or historical Admiral equipment know exactly what we're talking about. This type of piece doesn't come around twice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eIn 9\/10 condition, this jersey is in exceptional condition for its age. Forty-five years have passed since it was made, and it still looks remarkable. Not many in this condition are circulating — most match issue jerseys from this period have disappeared into locker rooms, donations, or forgotten places. This one has survived, and that's a story in itself.\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;\"\u003eIf you're looking for more than just another jersey for your collection — something truly rare, with history and experience — this piece is exactly for you. It won't come around twice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Asia","offers":[{"title":"Unique","offer_id":54015789990163,"sku":"237013","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-SHIRT-M-19-Match-Issue-237013_5.png?v=1775551796","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1978-80-saudi-arabia-shirt-m-19-match-issue","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}