{"product_id":"1997-98-vfb-stuttgart-akpoborie-shirt","title":"VFB Stuttgart 1997-98 Adidas Home Akpoborie Vintage Jersey","description":"\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.8em;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:16px;\"\u003eVFB Stuttgart 1997-98 Jersey – Adidas Home – Akpoborie Print\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:1.1em;line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThe 1997-98 season, Bundesliga, \u003cstrong\u003eVFB Stuttgart\u003c\/strong\u003e in full reconstruction after its glory years — and on this \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic vintage Adidas jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e, the name \u003cstrong\u003eAKPOBORIE\u003c\/strong\u003e is printed on the back. A striker, an era, a piece that tells a precise story. Not anonymous, not generic: a player's jersey, the kind you don't find with two clicks.\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 1997-1998\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClub:\u003c\/strong\u003e VFB Stuttgart\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Home\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKit Manufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adidas\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSponsor:\u003c\/strong\u003e GÖTTINGER GRUPPE\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e 8\/10\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eState:\u003c\/strong\u003e PULLS, SLIGHTLY USED PRINTINGS — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, slight marks on the prints, consistent with the age and authenticity of the piece\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 \u003cstrong\u003e1997-98 VFB Stuttgart season\u003c\/strong\u003e was a pivotal period for the Swabian club. The Roten had won the \u003cstrong\u003eGerman championship in 1992\u003c\/strong\u003e under Christoph Daum, then another \u003cstrong\u003eBundesliga in 1984\u003c\/strong\u003e — but in 1997-98, Stuttgart was navigating in the middle of the league table, looking to regain consistency worthy of its standing. The club remained a heavyweight of German football, capable of hurting anyone on a good night at the \u003cstrong\u003eGottlieb-Daimler-Stadion\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThe squad of that era mixed experienced players with atypical profiles. \u003cstrong\u003eJonathan Akpoborie\u003c\/strong\u003e, an explosive Nigerian striker, was one of those players who left their mark without necessarily filling trophy cabinets. His physical power and speed made him a feared forward in \u003cstrong\u003eBundesliga duels\u003c\/strong\u003e. Alongside him, names like \u003cstrong\u003eKrassimir Balakov\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Bulgarian maestro with a velvet left foot, animated Stuttgart's offensive play with obvious talent.\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\u003eAkpoborie, a name that matters\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJonathan Akpoborie wore the VFB Stuttgart jersey between 1996 and 1999, scoring important goals in the Bundesliga. Having his name printed on an \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic match jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e from this period means owning a relic directly linked to an identified player — not an anonymous number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBalakov and VFB's offensive creativity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKrassimir Balakov\u003c\/strong\u003e, who arrived in Stuttgart in 1995, was at that time one of the most technical attacking midfielders in the entire Bundesliga. His consistent performances drew attention to VFB, keeping the club on the radar of respectable teams in the German league despite a season without a title.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Göttinger Gruppe sponsor — a piece of economic history\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe sponsor \u003cstrong\u003eGÖTTINGER GRUPPE\u003c\/strong\u003e displayed on this jersey also deserves a mention: this German financial company experienced an extraordinary fate, going from glory to spectacular fall in the late 90s. Wearing this jersey also means holding in your hands a \u003cstrong\u003etestimony of a bygone economic and footballing era\u003c\/strong\u003e, an authentic snapshot of German football before the Bosman era was in full swing.\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 jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e is not a replica taken out of a gift box. It's a piece produced at the time to be worn — by players, or sold to fans in official club shops. The finishes, labels, materials: everything is different from a modern reproduction. On an \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic Adidas from the 90s\u003c\/strong\u003e, you immediately recognize the quality of the prints and the construction details specific to that era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eThis one shows an \u003cstrong\u003e8\/10 condition\u003c\/strong\u003e with some pulls and slightly worn prints — it's honest, it's transparent, and it's exactly what you expect from a \u003cstrong\u003evintage collector's jersey from 1997\u003c\/strong\u003e. A jersey that is too perfect for a piece of this age should, on the contrary, alarm you. These small marks are proof that you have a real one in front of you, not a counterfeit from a workshop with no history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.4em;font-weight:bold;margin-top:28px;margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eVintage Sizing Guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:14px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdidas sizes from the 90s\u003c\/strong\u003e absolutely do not correspond to current standards. A 1997 XXL generally fits like a modern L, sometimes even like an M depending on the cut. The fabric is less stretchy, the cut straighter and less fitted than today's technical jerseys. If you order a \u003cstrong\u003evintage XXL jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e expecting a contemporary XXL, you risk an unpleasant surprise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eBefore confirming your order, take a measuring tape and measure your chest circumference, then compare with the flat measurements of the jersey. Shoulder-to-shoulder width is also a key indicator. If you usually wear a modern L, this vintage XXL should fit you comfortably — potentially even with a little extra room depending on your body type. Never rely solely on the label.\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\u003ePrinted jerseys of VFB Stuttgart players from the 90s\u003c\/strong\u003e are not common finds. And those bearing a specific name like Akpoborie — a striker with a history, a presence in the Bundesliga, an identity — even less so. You don't come across this kind of piece every morning on major resale platforms. This is the kind of \u003cstrong\u003evintage Bundesliga collector's jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e that appeals to club fans as much as to enthusiasts of German football from the nineties in general.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"line-height:1.8;margin-bottom:20px;\"\u003eAt 8\/10 with pulls and slightly worn prints, this jersey remains in very good condition for its age — over twenty-five years old. There aren't many in this condition on the market right now, and even fewer with such specific player printing. If you are looking for an \u003cstrong\u003eauthentic VFB Stuttgart 1997-98 jersey\u003c\/strong\u003e to complete a serious collection or simply to display with pride, now is the time.\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\/VfB_Stuttgart\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eVFB Stuttgart - 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 - Jersey History\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.uefa.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003eUEFA - European Football\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"font-style:italic;line-height:1.8;\"\u003eThis jersey won't wait long for you — printed pieces from this era sell quickly to true connoisseurs. It's up to you to decide if you let it pass.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"VFB Stuttgart","offers":[{"title":"XXL","offer_id":54009533432083,"sku":"353930","price":149.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/4839\/3235\/files\/eng_pm_1997-98-VFB-STUTTGART-AKPOBORIE-SHIRT-XXL-353930_6.jpg?v=1775382898","url":"https:\/\/supporterid.com\/en\/products\/1997-98-vfb-stuttgart-akpoborie-shirt","provider":"SUPPORTER ID®","version":"1.0","type":"link"}