Lyon Away Shirt 2004-05 Umbro Vintage | OL Collector

OL 2004-05 Umbro Away Kit — The Season of the Fourth Consecutive Title

The 2004-05 season, Olympique Lyonnais was rewriting French football history. This Umbro away kit, emblazoned with Renault Trucks, is precisely the fabric in which Lyon continued its absolute domination of Ligue 1 — a reign that had never before been seen in the French championship.

Kit Details

Season: 2004-2005
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Type: Away
Manufacturer: Umbro
Sponsor: RENAULT TRUCKS
Size: M Boys
Condition: 9/10
State: LITTLE PULLS — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, some small pulled threads with no major snags

What This Kit Represents

In 2004-05, Lyon was no longer a title contender — Lyon WAS the title. The Rhône club was achieving what no one had ever done in France: a series of consecutive championships that would eventually reach seven, and which was starting to get all of Europe talking. This Umbro away kit was the uniform of a war machine that simply had no rivals in Ligue 1 that season. The Groupama Stadium didn't exist yet, but Gerland was already shaking under the ovations.

On the field, a golden generation was running the show. Juninho Pernambucano, the Brazilian magician with devastating free kicks, dictated the midfield. Sylvain Wiltord and Éric Abidal proudly wore the colors, while Grégory Coupet in goal showed unwavering solidity. Michael Essien, before his departure to Chelsea at the end of the season, was still there to torment opposing midfielders with his power and work rate. A team built to win, with a united group rallied around the Aulas-Houiller project.

Moments Etched in This Kit

The Fourth Consecutive Ligue 1 Title — 2004-05
Lyon achieved what no French club had managed at the time: a fourth consecutive championship. The consistency of this team over time was truly astounding, and this away kit is direct proof of that.

The Champions League Journey
OL reached the quarter-finals of the 2004-05 Champions League, eliminated by PSV Eindhoven after a tight two-legged tie. This away kit is the one from European nights — trips to the big stages of the Old Continent, nights where Lyon made everyone fearful.

Michael Essien, Last Season Before Chelsea
This 2004-05 season was Michael Essien's last in a Lyon shirt before his sensational €38 million transfer to Chelsea. Wearing this kit also recalls the era when OL attracted and retained the best players on the continent — before selling them at the peak of their value.

Authentic vs. Replica

An authentic vintage jersey is not the same as a store-bought replica. The materials, the cut, the manufacturing — everything is different. At that time, Umbro produced jerseys with particular attention to textile quality, finishes that aged well, and a visual identity unique to each club. Finding an authentic one from this generation today is rare.

This one is in 9/10 condition with only a few small pulled threads — what collectors call "little pulls." Nothing visible from a distance, nothing that detracts from the kit. For a jersey over twenty years old, this is exceptional preservation that attests to careful maintenance throughout its life.

Vintage Size Guide

This jersey is labeled M Boys — a junior size from the Umbro era. Vintage sizes from the 2000s are generally more fitted and cut differently than modern standards. A 2004 M Boys roughly corresponds to a slim adult figure or a young fan of the current generation. Do not assume your usual size applies directly here.

Before buying, measure your chest circumference and compare it with the actual dimensions of the jersey. As a general rule, lay the jersey flat, multiply the width by two, and compare to your measurements, leaving a minimum of 3 to 5 cm of ease. This is the only way to avoid unpleasant surprises with a collectible vintage jersey that cannot be returned like a regular retail item.

Why Have It in Your Collection

The 2004-2007 period represents the golden age of Olympique Lyonnais — a unique moment in French football history that will probably never happen again. The away kits from this era, produced by Umbro with the Renault Trucks sponsor, have become sought-after collector's items for OL fans and collectors of vintage Ligue 1 jerseys worldwide. The window to find them in good condition closes a little more each year.

There aren't many in this condition, let's be honest. An Umbro Lyon 2004-05 away kit in 9/10 condition, with just a few pulled threads and no major tears or discoloration, is the kind of piece that true collectors recognize at first glance. Time takes its toll on textiles — and when a jersey from that era reaches us in this condition, it means it has been treated with respect. It's up to you to continue in that vein.

To Learn More

• Lyon - Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive — Kit History
• Ligue 1 — Official Website
• UEFA — European Football

This jersey is twenty years of Lyon history condensed into an Umbro kit — if you know what that represents, you already know if it's for you.