VFB Stuttgart 2013-14 Puma Away Shirt Harnik Player Issue

VFB Stuttgart Away Shirt 2013-14 – Puma Player Issue #Harnik

The 2013-14 season, Bundesliga, and on the back of this VFB Stuttgart Player Issue away shirt: the name of Martin Harnik, the Austrian forward who embodied the attacking spirit of the Roten during this pivotal period for the Swabian club. An authentic Puma Player Issue shirt — not just a replica for the stands — with the Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsor embroidered on the chest, in a 9/10 condition that borders on perfection for a piece from this era.

Shirt Details

Season: 2013-2014
Club: VFB Stuttgart
Type: Away
Manufacturer: Puma
Printing: HARNIK (Player Issue)
Sponsor: Mercedes-Benz Bank
Size: 3XL
Condition: 9/10
State: Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsor present — authentic wear of a worn vintage jersey, exceptional condition for a match-worn piece from this era.

What this jersey represents

The 2013-14 season was a turbulent one for VFB Stuttgart. The club, founded in 1893 and one of the monuments of German football, was experiencing a difficult transitional period — after years of comfortable Bundesliga finishes, the Roten began to feel the ground shifting beneath their feet. Staying up became an obsession, coaches came and went, and the Swabian team tried to rediscover the identity that had earned them their last German championship title in 2007. This Puma away shirt is a textile witness to this period of struggle and mixed pride.

At the heart of the squad during this time, Martin Harnik was one of the few constants. The Austrian international, who arrived in Stuttgart in 2010, was a player of character — technical, combative, capable of making a difference in difficult moments. Alongside him were players like Christian Gentner, the German captain embodying loyalty to the club, as well as Vedad Ibišević and Daniel Didavi, names that resonate with anyone who followed the Bundesliga closely during that decade. A solid locker room in a less solid season — that's exactly what a player's jersey is.

Moments etched in this jersey

The fight for Bundesliga survival
The 2013-14 season placed Stuttgart in an uncomfortable position in the standings, far from their former European ambitions. Every point snatched away — on the road, in this very jersey — became a victory in itself for the Swabian supporters.

Martin Harnik, resilient attacker
Harnik consistently finished among the team's top scorers during this period, carrying the attacking effort with valuable consistency in moments of doubt. Seeing his name flocked on an authentic Player Issue jersey means owning a piece of his commitment on the field.

The Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsor, a Swabian institution
Stuttgart is also the city of Mercedes-Benz — the car manufacturer is rooted in the very identity of the Baden-Württemberg region. Having Mercedes-Benz Bank embroidered on this Puma away shirt is not just a logo: it's a cultural and industrial signature that gives this piece an additional dimension for any discerning collector.

Authentic vs Replica

A Player Issue jersey is a separate category in the world of vintage collector jerseys. Unlike replicas sold in stores, the Player Issue is prepared to be worn by the player themselves — or distributed to close staff and team members. The finishes are superior: more resistant technical fabrics, professional quality heat-pressed or embroidered flocking, a tailored fit designed for performance and not for the comfort of the supporter in the stands.

This Puma VFB Stuttgart away shirt 2013-14 in Player Issue version with Harnik's name printing is exactly this type of piece. In 9/10 condition, it has practically no noticeable signs of wear — which is exceptional for an authentic piece from this era. The seams are intact, the Mercedes-Benz Bank sponsor is pristine, the printing is legible and clean. It is far from the damaged jerseys circulating in vintage football flea markets.

Vintage Size Guide

Vintage football shirts — and Player Issue shirts in particular — do not always follow modern size charts. Generally, cuts from the 2010s are more fitted than what manufacturers offer today. An indicated size may correspond to a size down according to current standards. Here, we're talking about a 3XL — which is still a generous size, but it's always better to check exact measurements rather than relying solely on the label.

Before finalizing your purchase, take a jersey you usually wear and measure its shoulder width and total length. Then compare it with the actual dimensions of this Puma VFB Stuttgart jersey — if the seller doesn't provide them, don't hesitate to ask. This is the most reliable method to avoid unpleasant surprises with an authentic 3XL Player Issue away jersey.

Why Have It In Your Collection

VFB Stuttgart is a club with immense history — five German championship titles, a UEFA Cup, generations of great players developed or having played at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Yet, authentic away shirts from the 2013-14 period, and even more so in Player Issue flocked version, are genuinely rare on the vintage Bundesliga football shirt market. It's not the golden season that makes them rare — it's precisely because few people have kept them in this condition, and because Player Issues don't often end up in private collections.

In 9/10 condition, this Harnik jersey is in a state you won't easily find again. There aren't many in this condition on the market — a Bundesliga Player Issue with period flocking, intact sponsor, without discoloration or visible wear, is the kind of piece that quickly disappears from serious collectors' displays. If you're looking for a Puma Stuttgart collector's jersey that truly represents an era and a specific player, this one checks all the boxes.

To go further

• VFB Stuttgart - Wikipedia
• Football Kit Archive - Shirt History
• UEFA - European Football

A Harnik flocked Player Issue jersey in 9/10 condition isn't something that waits around — if you're a VFB Stuttgart fan or a vintage Bundesliga enthusiast, you know what you have to do.