Talking Trikots: Why the current Bayern Munich away kit should be the home kit for the rest of the season

Adidas really pulled out all the stops for Bayern Munich’s new away kit this season. Released last May, the kit marks the first time Bayern have had a black away kit in a very long time, and it deserves all the attention it garners. Perhaps even more than it garners? This is a completely random idea, but this beautiful kit deserves to be the face of Bayern Munich this season, and replace the home kit rather than remain the away kit. Before you shout protests of blasphemy, hear me out.

Reason 1. It’s simply gorgeous

It’s been a while since Bayern has had a kit as good looking as this one. Jet black with gold trim and highlights, you can’t really go wrong with such a color combination. Some people dislike the Bavarian diamonds on the front of the shirt, but that’s what gives it the uniqueness it deserves, that’s what makes it a Bayern kit rather than some generic jersey that could be given to any other team. The kit literally glows in all its glory whenever the team wears it on the pitch, and it gives Bayern a very good look to all who may be watching.

With modern football being much more than just a game in which 22 men kick a ball around and the Germans always win (as long as they’re not playing Korea), looks are extremely important. Football streetwear is fast becoming a thing, and it’s important that the club’s main jersey looks good not just to Bayern fans, but to light fans in general. People will be drawn to Bayern because of this shirt, and who knows? They might stay for the rest of the party. A good looking shirt could very well be a good marketing tool, and the more chances it gets to shine, the better.

Reason 2. It guarantees goals

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As of the end of October 2021, Bayern have played four games wearing this kit, once in the last game of last season, and thrice in the new season. The results are as follows: a 5-2 win against Augsburg, a 4-1 win against RB Leipzig, a 4-0 win against Benfica, and a 5-2 win over Union Berlin. As you can see, Bayern scored 18 goals in those four games, scoring at least four goals in every game. All four wins were deserved, and rarely was the result in any sort of doubt.

It’s not like the opponents were pushovers either; Leipzig and Union are both teams that can be more than a handful for any opponent in the Bundesliga, while Benfica is one of the best teams Portugal has to offer. Even Augsburg has given Bayern a hard time in the past few years. The point is, this shirt offers up quite a few goals, and has left every Bayern fan with a smile on his or her face after the final whistle. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if that was the case in as many games as possible?

Reason 3. It already has a very special memory within

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This kit may be only four games old, but it already has a special place in the hearts of many Bayern fans. Remember the last game of last season, when the kit made its debut? It was the farewell of Jérôme Boateng, Javi Martínez, and David Alaba, not to mention sextuple-winning coach Hansi Flick and assistant coach Hermann Gerland. It was also the game in which Robert Lewandowski broke Gerd Müller’s 40-year-old record for most goals in a single Bundesliga season. Goals from Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman, and an own goal made a splendid afternoon for all of FC Bayern. To top it off, Manuel Neuer even saved a penalty.

It’s common that a title winning jersey carries on to the following season and gets to be in the spotlight for an entire year, such as the treble-winning kits of 2013 and 2020. But this time, because the shirt is only worn in select away games, it doesn’t get to shine as much. Bottom line is, Bayern fans deserve to make a lot more memories in this glorious shirt.

Reason 4. The home kit is hideous

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Now, I wouldn’t even be writing this piece if it wasn’t for this reason. The home kit for this season is an absolute travesty. It looked ghastly from the moment it was leaked, and its official release did nothing to make it look better. I mean, come on. Burgundy and bright red V-shape stripes? It looks like something that belongs in an anatomy lesson, not on a football pitch. That’s one of the worst looks to ever grace a football shirt, let alone a Bayern shirt. It’s been a while since Bayern had such a bad-looking home kit, and this shirt is definitely the worst home shirt of the decade. It’s a shame, considering Bayern have had some great home kits over the past ten years.

It also happens to have the dishonor of being the kit that was worn in the club’s worst defeat in 43 years, the 5-0 reverse to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB-Pokal. Bad shirts equal bad results. Good shirts equal good results. Remember the club’s first treble back in 2012/13? That red and gold shirt was something special. Sadly, the same cannot be said for this year. The home kit is absolutely hideous, and I will never spend a cent on it unless Bayern wins the Champions League this season.

So those are the four reasons why the current away kit should be promoted to the home kit. Yes, it’s not red, but there have been a few examples of non-red kits being the home kit in the 90s, so it’s not too far a departure from tradition as one may think. Of course, it’s never going to happen, and Bayern are going to be stuck wearing that god awful home shirt for the majority of the season. One can only hope that the away kit is at least worn in as many games as possible, and that more good memories will come with it.