Is your wardrobe full of retro football shirts ready for the summer? Well, the right pair of trainers can take a throwback football fit from trendy to trailblazing in a flash. At Gola, we know a thing or two about football fashion. We’ve been at the forefront of British sporting culture for over a century, with our shoes worn on terraces throughout the country for decades.
To help you find the perfect finish for your retro football-inspired look this summer, we’ve put together a guide to put the ideal pair of trainers on your feet to match the top.
Jump to:
- Crisp White Classics
- Bright and Bold Yellow
- Allez les Bleus
- Make the Most of Stripe Season
- Other Iconic Tops
- Shop Stylish Retro Gola Trainers
Crisp White Classics
As discussed in our deep dive into World Cup colours, white is the most commonly featured kit colour in the sport’s greatest tournament. That means there’s an abundance of classic white strips that you may have your eye on or already own. It might be a retro England top with the names Lineker, Gascoigne, or Beckham donning the back. Alternatively, it could be one of the slick shirts Germany has worn in many a successful final.
Whatever the specific jersey, the essence is often the same. Sharp, classic, and instantly recognisable. Bring the ‘90s aesthetic full circle with our specially selected Gola Contact Leather trainers in white and black or Stadia Trainers.
The timeless appeal and minimalist lines of the Contact Leather let the shirt’s striking chest pattern do all the talking, keeping the aesthetic sleek and grounded in vintage court style.
| Retro Football Shirt | Paired Trainers |
|---|---|
| England 1998 (Home) | Contact Leather (Off White/Moonlight) |
| West Germany 1990 (Home) | Contact Leather (White/Black) |
| Republic of Ireland 1990 (Away) | Stadia Leather Trainers (White/Black/Chalk Pink) |
Bright and Bold Yellow
Planning to meet summer head on with the brightest shirt in your collection? We fully support it. Yellow is arguably the colour of the World Cup. It’s inseparable from the tournament’s most successful team, Brazil. There are countless iconic yellow shirts that have become staples of many die-hard football fans’ wardrobes, and luckily we have the trainers to match.
Our range of Gola Elan trainers is the perfect fit for your vibrant, glory-laden shirts that will grace the fan park this summer. First introduced in the 1970s, the Elan is a retro masterpiece. The old-school gum sole harks back to Gola’s sporting roots, while the stunning colourways perfectly match the iconic Brazilian trims. It’s an effortless blend of South American flair and British heritage.
| Retro Football Shirt | Paired Trainers |
|---|---|
| Sweden 1994 (Home) | Classic Elan (Marine Blue/White) |
| Brazil 2002 (Home) | Classic Elan (Evergreen/Black) |
| Colombia 2018 (Home) | Classic Elan (Navy/Sun/Iceberg) |
Allez les Bleus
Blue comes in many shades, so there are various ways to style it. Pale blue may bring back memories of the legendary England change shirt worn at Italia 90, with the subtle diamond pattern, made famous by New Order’s “World in Motion” music video and the peak of 90s football fever.
To paraphrase John Barnes’ iconic rap, “You’ve got to hold and give, but do it at the right time. You can be slow or fast, but Gola’s shoes are sublime.”
Indeed, they are, John. That’s why pairing your retro pale blue jersey with Gola Tornado trainers or Grandslams works so well. The track-and-field-inspired Tornado screams ‘80s and ‘90s UK street culture, and they also work brilliantly with deeper blues like those of France or Italy.
| Retro Football Shirt | Paired Trainers |
|---|---|
| England 1990 (Away) | Tornado ‘88 (Navy/Off White) |
| France 1998 (Home) | Grandslam Elite (White/Sapphire/Navy) |
| Italy 2006 (Home) | Tornado (Navy/Moody Orange) |
Make the Most of Stripe Season
An underrated element of a lot of retro football shirts is the use of stripes. It’s rare you see a striped top pulled off quite so well anywhere outside of a football context. At Gola, we want to help you make the most of your stripiest numbers. When associating stripes with World Cup glory, there’s one nation that stands above the rest.
Argentina’s historical and recent success has seen an influx of sky blue and white shirts with Messi or Maradona on the back hit the streets. If you’ve got one of your own, you should find a pair of Gola Harriers to match it.
Created in 1968, the Harrier is Gola’s flagship style. The deep navy suede and crisp white wingflash offer a stunning contrast to the lighter sky blue top. It’s a nod to football purists and terrace enthusiasts alike.
| Retro Football Shirt | Paired Trainers |
|---|---|
| Argentina 1986 (Home) | Harrier (Navy/Off White) |
| Argentina 2006 (Home) | Harrier (Santorini/White) |
Other Iconic Tops
We’ve covered the staple colours and shirts most likely to grace gardens and screenings across the country this summer, but why stop there? We’ve selected a couple of favourite retro football shirts and picked out the trainers to match.
Netherlands 1988 (Home)
This iconic orange number, adorned with the unique design of a real picture of players celebrating on the front, is the quintessential Netherlands top. It’s always a stunning sight whenever Dutch fans converge on a stadium en masse, all wearing their nation’s colours, and you can match their style by pairing this top with some slick footwear.
- The Trainer Match: Gola Viper (Orange/Navy) and Gola Viper (White/Cameo/Dark Brown/Gum)
- Why it works: An outrageously bold shirt needs a beautifully proportioned trainer to balance the outfit. Rooted in 1970s sports shoe design, the Viper’s minimalist lines and on-trend gum sole ground the bright orange shirt perfectly, giving you a coordinated, vintage-inspired look without clashing.
Mexico 1998 (Home)
A true cult classic. This bright green shirt features a massive, tonal print of the Aztec sun stone across the entire torso.
- The Trainer Match: Gola Europa (Off-White/Green) and Cyclone Leather Trainers (White/Green)
- Why it works: Because the shirt is so busy, you need a shoe that acts as a clean canvas. Straight out of Gola’s archives, the Europa and Cyclone trainers are the ideal lightweight spring/summer choice. The stylish design keeps the look relaxed, allowing the complex energy of the top to take centre stage.
Shop Stylish Retro Gola Trainers
You should now be ready to take on a summer of sport in style. Your retro football shirt can finally find its long-lost perfect match with a pair of Gola trainers that takes your look from street to chic.
For more footwear that could suit other sporting wear and bring British heritage to every outing, browse our full collection of Gola men’s trainers and Gola women’s trainers.
Shop our World Cup colours collection
Related posts
- The Evolution of Football Fashion Across Europe: A Guide to Blokecore and Terrace Style
- The Most Successful Colours in Football
- Terrace Classics: How Gola Helped Shape A Fashion Movement
- From Origins to Icons: The History of Football Boots and Gola’s Legendary Football Heritage
- What are the Most Successful Colours in World Cup history?
