FC Barcelona surprised its fans in today’s match against UD Las Palmas by sporting an unusual combination: their classic blue and garnet jersey paired with white shorts. This change, far from being a simple aesthetic choice, carries deep meaning and symbolism as a tribute to the club’s origins during its 125th anniversary celebrations.

A Journey Back in Time for Barça

To understand this decision, we must go back to 1899, the year FC Barcelona was founded. In those early years, the official kit featured the blue and garnet jersey paired with white shorts, a design that accompanied the club during its formative years and marked an era in its sports history. With this attire, Barça laid the foundation of its identity, blending the colors blue and garnet with white, symbolizing purity and elegance.

This historical detail has been revived as part of the club’s 125th-anniversary celebrations. It serves as an intentional nod to those early days when football was just beginning to gain popularity and Barça was taking its first steps toward greatness.

The Occasional Return of White Shorts

While white shorts were eventually replaced by blue or garnet ones, they reappeared on specific occasions throughout the club’s history. In the 1950s, during the era of Hungarian star Laszi Kubala, and in the 1970s, when Johan Cruyff was an icon, Barça wore this combination in several matches, evoking a nostalgic connection to its origins.

Additionally, other sections of the club, such as basketball and handball, also used white shorts for decades, especially up until the 1980s, cementing the color as a significant part of Barça’s heritage.