Our rule: 2006/07 season or earlier
We mark a shirt as retro when its real season is 2006/07 or older. It's not a matter of taste: brands often reissue classic '90s or 2000s designs in recent seasons (2022/23, 2024/25...), and those reissues do NOT count as retro here even if the design is identical to the original.
Every product page always shows the shirt's real season -- check that date, not just the design.
Modern reissue vs period-correct original
A reissue made today uses current fabric and cut even if it copies the colours and crest of an old season. A genuine period piece has the fabric, cut and sometimes the wear of its actual year of manufacture.
If you're after the real period piece (not the reissue), check that the season on the listing is the original one, not the relaunch.
Why a retro shirt can cost more
Real stock of period shirts shrinks over time -- the fewer genuine pieces from an old season are still around, the higher the price on resale and specialist stores. A modern reissue, by contrast, keeps being made and usually costs less.
Fan vs player version in retro shirts too
The fan-cut vs player-cut distinction applies to retro shirts as well: period player versions are usually harder to find and pricier than fan versions from the same season. See our fan vs player sizing guide if you're not sure which one you want.
How we show it in the comparator
When a shirt meets the rule (season 2006/07 or older), we tag it "Retro" on its page and it shows up in the catalog's retro section. If you don't see that tag on a reissued classic design, it's because it's technically a reissue from a recent season, not the original retro piece.