Not all legitimate football kits are created equal. Some differences come down to how a shirt is produced, while others are about how it is used by players.

To avoid confusion, it helps to separate these two ideas:

Production quality: How the shirt is made and what materials/specs it uses
Usage: Whether the shirt was worn, issued, or kept in storage

A shirt can be low- or high-spec in construction, and still be match-issued or match-worn. These things are not always linked.

Below is a breakdown of the most common genuine football kit types, viewed through this lens.

Production Levels

These are physical differences in materials, construction, and finish.

Basic

Basic shirts sit below replica/stadium jerseys in a brand's range. They are designed mainly for lower-level teams, training, or casual wear rather than for fans looking for an accurate match shirt.

They usually share the same colors and general design as official kits, but lack many finer details. Fabrics are heavier and simpler, ventilation zones are often missing, and crests or sponsors may be more generic.

Basic shirts are fully legitimate products, but they are not intended to closely replicate professional match shirts.

Replica

Also known as stadium versions, these are the most common retail shirts sold to fans.

They are designed for comfort, durability, and mass production.

Typical features include a looser fit, slightly heavier fabric, embroidered crests, full retail tags, and easy washability.

Despite the name, replicas are 100% genuine. The term “replica” comes from the brands themselves, although it has since been misused by sellers of counterfeit kits.

Authentic

Sometimes called “player version” or “player spec”, these are high-end retail shirts designed to match what players wear on the pitch.

They are still sold to the public, but use lighter materials, slimmer fits, and more advanced construction methods.

Common features include heat-applied logos, laser-cut ventilation, and premium fabrics. They are usually more expensive than replicas.

Authentics are top-tier retail products, but they are not necessarily issued to players.

Player-Level

For some brands (e.g. Nike), there is occasionally a level above retail authentic.

These shirts are produced specifically for professional use and may use slightly different fabrics, fits, or construction methods. Wash labels are typically printed in these shirts, instead of being physical labels. They are rarely sold to the public and often appear only through surplus or collector channels.

Not every brand or season includes this extra tier.

Usage Categories

These describe what happened to the shirt after production. Usage cannot always be determined from product codes alone.

Player-Issue

Player-issue shirts are made specifically for players and distributed within a club. They may never have been worn in a match though.

They often match authentic or player-level specs but lack retail packaging. Some include internal codes, squad markings, or kitman tags.

A player-issue shirt can be Basic, Replica, or Authentic in construction, depending on the club's supply arrangement.

Match-Issue

Match-issue shirts are prepared for use in official matches and held in squad stock. They may be worn, kept as backup, or unused.

They usually lack retail tags and may have custom sizing, labeling, or match-specific printing.

They are often identical to match-worn shirts but without proof of use.

Match-Worn

Match-worn shirts are those worn by a player in an official match.

They typically feature player customisation, match patches, and sometimes visible signs of wear. Many come with certificates of authenticity or direct sourcing.

These are the most collectible type and often command the highest prices.

Samples

Sample shirts are pre-production prototypes made for testing, approval, or promotion.

They may feature “SAMPLE” markings, missing sponsors, placeholder codes, or unfinished detailing. Some differ significantly from final retail versions.

Samples offer insight into the design process and are often rare.

Why The Separation?

It is important not to assume that higher usage automatically means higher production quality.

Examples include:

Older national teams using Basic or Replica-level shirts for match play
Clubs supplying some players with authentics and others with replicas
Teams contracted at lower tiers receiving only replica-level kits for matches

A shirt can be match-issued and still be a replica. Another can be unworn and still be player-level. Because of this, production level and usage should be treated as separate categories.

Conclusion

All of the above shirt types can be genuine and legitimate. The difference lies in how they are made and how they are used. Understanding this separation helps collectors and buyers:

Avoid overpaying
Describe items accurately
Spot misleading listings
Build better collections

Not every authentic shirt was worn. Not every match-worn shirt is top-spec.

Common Kit Types: What Are the Differences?