AS Roma 2001-02 Kappa Montella vintage collector XL jersey

AS Roma 2001-02 Kappa Shirt — The Montella Print, Witness to a Golden Era

The 2001-02 AS Roma season was that of a club fresh from its third Scudetto, looking to confirm its dominance on all fronts. This Kappa shirt with the Montella print — "l'Aeroplanino" himself — didn't appear out of nowhere; it's a piece of fabric that lived, sweated, and carried the ambition of a Roma team that wanted to make Europe tremble. Welcome to the grit and glory of vintage Italian football.

Shirt Details

Season: 2001-02
Club: AS Roma
Kit Manufacturer: Kappa
Sponsor: INA ASSITALIA
Printing: MONTELLA
Size: XL
Condition: 7/10
State: BOBBLES, USED PRINTINGS, LITTLE PULLS — authentic wear and tear of a worn vintage shirt, not one stored in a display case

What This Shirt Represents

AS Roma had just won the 2000-01 Scudetto after an eighteen-year drought. A magical interlude orchestrated by Fabio Capello, with a team built to win and a dressing room full of character. The 2001-02 season was therefore the aftermath — when a championship-winning Roma had to manage the favorite status, the pressure of defending the title, and the accompanying European ambitions. A perilous exercise that the Giallorossi approached with fierce determination.

In this high-caliber squad, Vincenzo Montella was one of the key offensive players. "L'Aeroplanino" — a nickname he earned through his outstretched arm celebrations — was Roma's leading striker, capable of scoring important goals in big moments. Alongside him were Francesco Totti, captain and soul of the city, Emerson in midfield, Walter Samuel in defense, and the indefatigable Cafu on the right flank. A hungry generation.

Moments Etched into This Shirt

Roma in the 2001-02 Champions League
After winning the league title, Roma entered the Champions League with real ambitions. The group stage was challenging, and the club showed it could hold its own against the best European teams, even if the competition was more intense than the national championship.

Montella, a Meaningful Print
Wearing Montella's name on the back signifies an attachment to Roma's most popular striker of that era, after Totti. Top scorer in Serie A for several seasons with the club, he embodied Italian efficiency: technical skill, a nose for goal, and a flair in the box that few possessed at his level.

The INA ASSITALIA Sponsor, an Era in Itself
The INA ASSITALIA logo on the chest is one of the most recognizable visual signatures of Roma from the early 2000s. This Italian insurance group was present on the Giallorossi shirt during a pivotal period for the club, and today this emblem has become a true marker of vintage football for serious collectors.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage shirt is not the same as a mass-produced replica. An authentic shirt is designed to be worn on the field or directly in the stands by a true fan — the finishes are different, the fabric sometimes more robust or, conversely, more technical, and the manufacturing details tell a story that re-editions cannot faithfully reproduce. That's what gives an original its value: the impossibility of truly copying it.

This Kappa AS Roma 2001-02 shirt is rated 7/10 with bobbles, slightly worn printing, and some small pulls. This is the normal condition for a shirt that has seen life. Not a museum piece out of a sealed box — a shirt with history in its fibers. For purists of collectible football shirts, this is precisely what makes it credible.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage shirts from the 2000s are generally cut smaller than current standards. An XL from 2001-02 often corresponds to a modern L, sometimes even an M depending on body type. The cuts of that era were less generous, less "oversize" than what major brands offer today — the aesthetic of the time favored a close-fitting, sporty look.

Before finalizing your purchase, take your actual measurements: chest circumference and back length in particular. Then compare them with the exact dimensions available in the product photos. A vintage shirt that's too tight or too baggy is a missed opportunity — so measure first, then order. That's the advice we'd give a friend.

Why Have It in Your Collection

The 2001-02 Roma shirt with the Montella print is a rare combination in the market for vintage Serie A shirts. Pieces from this era that bear a player's name — not just an anonymous number — are becoming increasingly difficult to find in good condition. The Italian retro football market continues to grow in value, and shirts from the Capello era at Roma are particularly sought after by European collectors.

Rated 7/10 with honestly documented imperfections, this shirt remains very presentable for display in a collection or for wearing in a confidently vintage style. There aren't many in this condition with this specific print still floating around on the market. Once it's gone, it's gone — and this type of piece doesn't come back to the same place twice.

To Go Further

• AS Roma — Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — History of Kits
• Serie A — Official Website
• UEFA — European Football

If you're looking for an authentic piece of the golden Roma era of the early 2000s, printed with the name of one of the club's most iconic strikers, this 2001-02 Kappa shirt ticks all the boxes — no fuss, no exaggeration, just a beautiful piece of vintage Italian football history.